Two simple steps to becoming a carbon neutral economy

Jesper Tornbjerg

Denmark is well known for the pioneering role that it has played in driving the sustainability agenda. And, remarkably, the country is well on the way to becoming a carbon neutral society – one of only a handful of sovereign territories to enjoy this status. But how did Denmark get here? According to journalist and Danish native, Jesper Tornbjerg, transitioning is very simple and requires at least two steps: decarbonise power production, and switch to green electricity. Importantly, he adds, the Danish case is proof that carbon neutrality can be very good business.

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Jesper Tornbjerg, 57, Senior Communication Manager at The Danish Energy Association, has been engaged in Danish and international energy policy for the past +30 years. As a journalist, he has covered energy and climate change from the first energy plan including CO2 targets (Denmark, 1990) over UN COP3 in Kyoto and COP21 in Paris to a recent agreement by the majority in the Danish Parliament setting a 70% GHG reduction target for 2030. Jesper is the writer of the publication “Green Energy for All – from Oil Price Shock to International Icon: 40 years’ experience from ‘The Danish Energy Model’ with high energy efficiency and constantly increasing sustainable energy” (2015). As a new project, he’s writing and publishing 17 books for children regarding the UN Sustainable Development Goals.