High consumption emissions weaken Denmark’s role as pioneer in the green transition
On average, each Dane emits 13 tons of CO2 annually, which is approximately double that of an average global citizen. The largest consumption emissions arise from our consumption of transportation, food, housing, and energy. However, there are also significant emissions from consumption in the public sector, the culture and leisure sector, as well as our purchases of clothing, personal care items, and home furnishings.
In the report, CONCITO concludes that extensive changes in our consumption patterns and lifestyles are needed if Denmark is to truly be a leading green nation that can inspire other nations to take the necessary climate action. According to the Paris Agreement and the scenarios outlined by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for the 1.5-degree target, global greenhouse gas emissions must be roughly halved by 2030 compared to today.
Reducing the climate footprint from consumption is difficult but necessary
“Therefore, Denmark should strive to halve our global consumption emissions by 2030. It is difficult, but necessary – and it needs to happen fast. If all the world’s citizens lived like Danes, the world would emit almost twice the amount of greenhouse gases as today. That would be catastrophic for the climate,” says Michael Minter, Program Director at CONCITO.
The report calculates Denmark’s total global consumption emissions at 74 million tons of CO2 equivalents (CO2e). This is a reduction compared to the previous calculation from 2014, but it is not considered to be due to changed consumption patterns. The main reason is that electricity production increasingly comes from wind turbines and solar panels, thus having a reduced climate impact.
Reductions must come from both the individual and the society
Reducing Denmark's high consumption emissions requires both individual awareness of our climate footprint and systemic changes in the form of technological improvements and regulation of our consumption, making the climate-friendly choice the easy and natural one. Through a series of consumption profiles in the report, CONCITO illustrates that Danes’ personal climate footprint varies greatly from the average of 13 tons and is closely linked to the level of income. It is also emphasized that there are limits to how much we can reduce the climate impact of consumption on our own.
“Everyone, regardless of the level of income, has the opportunity to make climate friendly choices in their everyday life. However, the necessary reductions in Denmark will not be achieved through individual choices alone. It will require strong political and democratic visions for the good climate-friendly life, ambitious regulation regarding our consumption, a strong circular economy, and major technological improvements,” says Charlotte Louise Jensen, Behaviour Analyst at CONCITO.
The public sector should lead the way with climate-friendly consumption
Individually, we can reduce our climate footprint significantly by changing our dietary habits (especially eating more plant-based and replacing beef with pork and poultry), flying less, driving electric cars, living in smaller homes, and buying fewer new material goods.
However, the public sector, who accounts for approximately one-fifth of the Danish emissions, has a big responsibility as well. Here, reductions can be achieved through green procurement of materials (e.g., furniture and building materials), food (e.g., more vegetarian dishes in canteens), and transportation (electrification of cars, busses, etc.).
“It is clear that we face a major shift in our consumption patterns and lifestyles, and it will not happen by itself. The politicians have a responsibility to create the framework for an attractive, climate-friendly future, and the public sector must help by leading the way,” says Michael Minter, Program Director.
About the report
The report “Denmark’s global consumption emissions” is made by CONCITO and provides an updated and detailed insight into Denmark’s consumption emissions and the steps needed to live up to Denmark’s global climate responsibility.
Denmark’s global consumption emission of 13 tons of CO2e per Dane is distributed across 15 product categories and services. The percentage distribution is indicated in the category name.
The results in the report are calculated by 2.-0 LCA consultants and based on data and modelling from Aalborg University’s “Getting the data right” project and the EXIOBASE update project.
Read more about the report here.
