Michael de Laine

By Michael de Laine, The Copenhagen Voice, 2 June 2009

Local government is a crucial partner when countries are to implement the ambitious targets for the reduction of global CO2 emissions that the world’s governments are expected to agree on at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP15) in Copenhagen in December, Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmuseen said today.

Addressing the Local Government Climate Change Leadership Summit, Rasmussen told the 700 representatives of local authorities from more than 100 countries from around the world that their target for action should be the sectors with the largest emissions - transport, power generation and housing.

Action by governments alone will not make CO2 emissions reductions happen, he said. “You in local government are crucial partners. Your target should be the sectors with the largest emissions. In most countries they are: transport, power generation and housing.”

COP15’s objective is to reach an ambitious and comprehensive global climate change agreement.

“This is an important task,” Rasmussen said. “It is also a difficult and complex task. We must unite all our efforts to succeed. Recently, 700 international business people gathered here to present their views. And in March, 2,500 experts presented the scientific evidence on climate change. All these conferences constitute an important part of the preparation for December. All sides in our societies need to participate in meeting the climate challenge. Every input is valuable.”

At COP15 in Copenhagen countries must agree to ambitious targets for the reduction of global CO2 emissions. By 2050 global emissions must be down by 50% compared to 1990.

“Industrialised countries must take the lead, but without actions by the emerging economies in the developing world, we cannot meet the goal,” the Danish Prime Minister said. “Emerging economies are already engaging in strong efforts to limit the growth in their emissions. These efforts must be reinforced and supported.”

Rasmussen noted that the worst consequences of climate change are already occuring in developing countries, although the rich countries are to blame for the problem.

“Poor countries must be given a helping hand to adapt to climate change, and the rich countries must help finance their efforts to secure their populations and their land,” he said. “Targets are of no use without policies and measures to implement them. Eventually, it is the policies we adopt in every country that will bring us on the right track – towards a low-carbon economy.”

Saying that the good news is that this track is possible, the Danish Prime Minister highlighted “some encouraging figures” - every American emits about 20 tonnes of CO2 a year, while the number is 11 tonnes in Denmark.

“Our wealth is about the same,” Rasmussen said “This implies that you can get the same wealth from 11 tons as you get from 20 tonnes. The challenge is to get down to 4 or even 2 tonnes per capita in the coming decades. And do it without jeopardizing economic growth and without undermining our welfare. This is the big question all over the world.”

He said that the answer is policies and incentives that work towards low-carbon societies, and the countries, regions, local authorities and private companies that can answer this question will be the winners in 10 or 20 years.

“We need incentives to develop new technologies and disseminate them all over the world,” the Danish Prime Minister said. “Governments must do their part in financing research and development. We must adopt policies that encourage climate friendly behaviour and that punish polluters.

“But action by governments alone will not make it happen. You in local government are crucial partners. Your target should be the sectors with the largest emissions. In most countries they are: transport, power generation and housing. You must make an efficient and climate friendly transport planning. You must in cooperation with government look for new energy sources, not least renewables. And you must look at urban planning and housing.”

Today, more than half of the world’s populations live in cities. More than 75% of energy is consumed in the cities. And by 2030, two-thirds of humanity is expected to live in cities.

“Fortunately, a lot is happening in cities around the world,” Rasmussen said. “Eco-cities are being built with focus on urban development combined with low carbon solutions such as renewable energy, energy efficiency and clean water - examples are the Tianjin Eco-city in China and the Masdar City in Abu Dhabi. São Paolo in Brazil is focusing on green transport with more public transportation and building new roads for bicycles only. And in Mali and Uganda partnerships with rural populations and local entrepreneurs has been established to promote climate friendly solutions.”

He added that Danish municipalities and regions have important roles to play. Albertslund is home to examples of new as well as renovated low-energy houses. Lolland has one of the world largest offshore wind parks, and it houses projects involving hydrogen fuel cells and using algae for biomass for energy use. And the American internet magazine ‘Treehugger’ has just named Copenhagen as the world’s best city for bicycles.

“It is encouraging that many of the solutions already exist and that you – the mayors, the representatives of local and regional governments and all your local partners – are doing a lot to promote and introduce intelligent and sustainable solutions,” the Danish Prime Minister said. “We need your actions and your determination to secure success. I encourage you to act now while you can, and not wait until it is too late. I will send the same message to my colleagues around the world.”

Click here for a draft of the full speech.