"I still see Denmark as world leading in this field!"

Laurie S. Fulton, the US Ambassador to Denmark, gave this statement when she attended Green Partnerships for Growth at DONG Energy in Gentofte on Wednesday.

Green Partnerships for Growth is an American-Danish cooperation that will provide the framework for growth both in the US and Denmark by means of a green cooperation within areas such as job creation, food production and energy, among other things.

"Right from research to development and execution, I think that Denmark is the leading country within new and exciting technologies and that's fantastic," she says.

How can we do it in the most efficient manner?
Martin Lidegaard, Danish Minister for Climate, Energy and Building also attended the event. He spoke about Denmark's ambitious climate targets, and among other things he said:

"Many of the solutions we're working on will be decisive - not just in 10-15 years, but also 30-40 years from now. But as early as in 2020, we may have created 400,000 new jobs globally in the green sector. So the question is not whether or not to do it. The question is how we do it in the most efficient manner."

"In future, our heat and electricity systems will be based entirely on sustainable energy, and in 2050, the transport sector will have followed suit. We've initiated a historical effort to improve buildings and the industry, and we'll see our business grow as we reduce CO2 emissions."

The minister emphasised the great achievements that we have already accomplished within wind energy.

"We install a wind turbine, pay it off in ten years, and then we have energy free of charge. That's what's charming about these solutions. This is why it's important that we enter into partnership agreements with universities, organisations, companies and governments. Private companies must establish the financial foundation in order for us to achieve our targets and together make up a good example for others."

A very good foundation
DONG Energy's ambitious climate strategy does not intimidate Ambassador Fulton. Our target of reducing CO2 emissions by 50% from 2006 to 2020 and by 85% from 2006 to 2040 is very similar to the new targets introduced by the US government. According to these new targets, Americans must achieve an 80% reduction of CO2 emissions by 2035.

"Like DONG Energy, we have ambitious climate targets. Of course time will show if they were too ambitious, but if we aren't ambitious together, who will then push us to reach our targets?" she says.

"Many small companies have a lot of good ideas on energy optimisation. If companies in the US and Denmark can work together on the best ideas and at the same time do good things for the planet, then we can all learn from it an move on efficiently. I therefore believe that this cooperation can be a very good foundation for heading the development together."

DONG Energy acts
According to Laurie Fulton, Denmark and DONG Energy in particular are great examples of how today we can do more than just think, talk and have meetings.

"DONG Energy takes it a step further. You act. And we have a lot of businesses in the US that could benefit from this way of thinking - as problem solvers," she says.

Laurie likes the ideas of solar power, wind and biomass, and the USA also has ambitious plans for the transport sector, which by means of new technologies will reduce its fuel consumption and CO2 emissions significantly in the coming years.

"And why not find the solutions together? It doesn't matter if its Danish or American companies, as long as we reach our common, global targets," says Laurie Fulton.