Danish official speaks at Humphrey about climate change

Deputy Chief of Mission for the Royal Danish Embassy SØren Jensen spoke at the University of Minnesota Thursday about the United States’ role in the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this December.

Jensen spoke at the “Denmark’s Greener Future: Influencing Global Energy Policy” event hosted by the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs

Jensen filled in last minute for Denmark’s ambassador to the U.S., who was scheduled to speak, but was summoned Wednesday by President Barack Obama to accompany him on an impromptu trip to Denmark.

The conference aims to create a new world-wide doctrine to reduce man-made greenhouse gas emissions before sections of the Kyoto Protocol expire in 2012.

The United States, Jensen explained, will have a crucial role at the conference in either persuading or deterring other major energy consumers, such as China, India, and Brazil, from reforming their environmentally harmful ways.

“If the U.S. does not come along [with environmental reform], nothing will happen in Copenhagen,” he said.

Jensen said he hopes Denmark can serve as an example of what green technology could bring to the U.S.

A Dane uses half the energy of an American, Jensen said, partially because the Danish people incorporate green thinking into their everyday lives.

Jensen highlighted how a becoming a green country could lead to a prosperous economy for the U.S., citing Denmark’s green job market and the less than 4 percent unemployment rate as an example.

“Over the past 25 years, Denmark’s economy has gone up nearly 75 percent, and we are using the same amount of energy [as we did 25 years ago],” he said.

Jensen also stressed the imperativeness of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2050 from emission levels in 1990.

However, Jensen said that most U.S. reports are not aiming for the midpoint 2020 targeted reduction.

Dean of the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs Brian Atwood said Jensen’s lecture made him look at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from a completely different point of view.

“There’s no reason why the U.S. can’t do something Denmark can do,” Atwood said. “And if the U.S. can [reform emissions], certainly Minnesota can.”

Some environmentally friendly solutions Jensen suggested for the United States included using natural gas over other fossil fuels, and investigating the use of oceans as a source of power.

The role of students in this green movement is critical, said Rep. Jeremy Kalin , DFL–North Branch, and head of the White House climate change group , which works directly with the White House on climate change.

“[Senators] Klobuchar and Franken need to hear the voices of young people push for change as soon as possible,” Kalin said. “We need to say, ‘I vote, and I believe in a clean energy revolution.’”

Jensen urged students to mail their congressmen and push the political process to create change before the Copenhagen conference.

“It’s a battle we can win,” Jensen said. “But we cannot wait.”