350.org founder Bill McKibben shows how Denmark leads the world in promoting renewable energy

    1 of 1 2 of 1

      The founder of the global climate-action group 350.org, Bill McKibben, just sent out a tweet that should catch the attention of world leaders.

      At the time of McKibben's tweet, 115 percent of Denmark's electricity was being generated by wind and solar.

      The surplus was being exported to Sweden and Norway.

      Later this year, heads of state will attend a United Nations COP21 climate conference in Paris to try to stem greenhouse-gas emissions and stave off a planetary crisis.

      Denmark is acknowledged as the world leader in renewable energy. Its goal is to end fossil-fuel use by 2050. When the winds are blowing hard and the sun is shining, Denmrak's capacity for generating wind and solar power increases.

      Here in Vancouver, Mayor Gregor Robertson recently introduced a motion at council to ask staff to examine steps the city can take to generate all of its energy, including transportation fuels, through renewable sources.

      This was also the topic of a conference in Vancouver last week put on by the SFU Centre for Dialogue's Renewable Cities initiative.

      B.C. Hydro generates more than 95 percent of its power through renewable sources, thanks to its heavy reliance on hydroelectric facilities. However, Canada's overall record in addressing the climate crisis has attracted international contempt.

      In a 2013 ranking of 61 countries, Canada ranked 58th in making progress in reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. The only countries that fared worse on the list were Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, and Iran.

      Comments

      3 Comments

      Bill Jones

      May 18, 2015 at 8:13am

      Unfortunately since the wind usually shows up at night when not needed, the wind is dumped often for free into the Euro grid then daytime Swedish/French nuke and German coal power is imported at premium rates daytime to run the country. That's why Denmark has the highest power rates in Europe in the low 40 cents a kwh, and many times the ghg's per capita as all nuclear France.

      While Denmark generates lots of wind electricity, it doesn't actually use much of it.

      Of course McKibben knows all this, but instead of bolstering the AGW fight by being truthful, he supports Big Oil's by getting a reputation as just another propaganda outlet.

      travelling man

      May 18, 2015 at 9:48am

      Bill McKibbens tweet is incorrect or at least somehow taken out of context. I was just in Denmark one month ago and i most definitely saw many active coal fired generating stations. Also I think it's important to set lofty goals but at the same time there's no way in hell that Denmark will not be using fossil fuels by 2050. How will this diesel trains they love so much get between the cities? it can't be done with electric power. A lot if people there also drive and then there's the farming equipment and like everyone else a total reliance in plastic made from fossil fuels. Using plant based ethanol fuels will not get rid of fossil fuels completely by 2050.....it's too soon.

      yet despite my critique, nice work Denmark. Cheers!

      FN

      May 18, 2015 at 8:01pm

      Denmark is trying to reduce its fossil fuel use, but it is extremely misleading to claim that "At the time of McKibben's tweet, 115 percent of Denmark's electricity was being generated by wind and solar."
      A third of the electricity used in Denmark is generated from coal. Denmark also relies on nuclear energy and on electricity generated from natural gas. Yes, it generates lots of electricity from wind, but much of it is lost in transmission.