Nobody wants an ambitious deal here in December more than the Danes. Partly because their reputation is at stake, but mainly because they know how important it is. They have funded Bjørn Lomborg for some years to make the sceptics’ case (perhaps taking a commitment to open debate a bit far) but he is losing the argument: industry is betting on a low-carbon future, government on a green recovery, and people in general see that responsible living is no hardship. On the contrary.
Which is where the Foreign Ministers come – march – in. This is a small country of 5.4m people. It has watched with increasing concern as deadlines for agreement on EU financing have slipped; recession has become an excuse for procrastination; influential voices say that maybe partial agreement is the best we can hope for this year; Obama has become bogged down in healthcare reform. Denmark cannot fight back alone.
Well, here comes some help. Britain’s stock is already high, because we have been forcing the pace. The Stern Review; the Climate Change Act; the Prime Minister’s financing speech. And now we’re convening serious European Foreign Ministers to try to get more ambition into the global debate. Let’s hope tomorrow has that impact. In the meantime, I’d better get my head around the Danish energy statistics (28% of its electricity, but only 17% of its total energy, from renewables and so on) in the sure knowledge that ministers always ask for the fact you cannot remember, particularly on arrival just before midnight or in the early morning after a short night…
Posted at 18:03 09 September 2009 by Nick Archer | Comments[0]
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