PRESS RELEASE:

It is positive that the government, together with a broad majority in the Danish Parliament, is now allocating approx. 5 billion DKK from the green margin to invest in Denmark's green transformation. But it is only a small plaster on the wound in relation to the climate and nature crisis that we are in the middle of. This is what the Green Transition Denmark says in response to today's news that the government, SF, the Conservatives, the Unity List and the Radicals The Liberals will give extra money for climate adaptation, the district heating pool, afforestation, clean-up after generation pollution and PFAS, and purification of drinking water.

"It is commendable that a broad majority will invest approx. 5 billion DKK more in the green transition, and it is positive that they will increase the diesel tax, increase the district heating pool and clean up after the large generation pollutions, but unfortunately there are a number of serious thistles in the agreement that should be removed," says Bjarke Møller. He is particularly critical of the priorities regarding agriculture and road transport.

More gray than green in agriculture

"The plan delivers a more gray-scaled than green restructuring of agriculture. Why is more than half a billion set aside? DKK for methane-reducing feed additive, when the minister knows full well that there is still a lack of knowledge about the effect of these chemicals on animal welfare? You give almost four times as much to an uncertain technical fix as you give to plant-based foods and ecology. This is the completely wrong weighting," emphasizes Bjarke Møller. "We need a structural restructuring of Danish agriculture with a significant reduction in animal production, much larger investments in plant-based foods and rapid extraction of low-lying soils."

Green Transition Denmark praises that the agreement records how the 500 million DKK in the marine nature fund must be distributed, and that plans are also made for more afforestation.
"More afforestation is an effective way of sucking CO2 out of the atmosphere in the future, it contributes to biodiversity and can also contribute to lowering some of the nitrogen and phosphorus that is washed into our water environment. That is why it is good that until 2028 they will give DKK 625 million. DKK for more afforestation. But in reality it is far, far too little. In comparison, the Svarer expert committee suggested that over 3 billion should be given. DKK for afforestation until 2030. RGO would like to encourage the parties to the agreement to raise the level of ambition further and plant far more trees in the forests and in the cities. It is a far better way to capture CO2 than via energy-intensive capture technologies on the chimney of climate-damaging biomass power plants," says Bjarke Møller.

Efforts on the roads are a mixed bag

The effort in relation to road transport is also a mixed bag, says the Green Transition Denmark.
"It is progress that they want to increase the diesel tax by 50 øre per litres, but it is still quite a bit below the German level, and on top of that they have chosen to continue to exempt agriculture from the diesel tax. It is far better for the climate if the diesel tax is at least raised by 90 øre per litres. It should be the end of Denmark appearing as a black diesel magnet for trucks south of the border," says Jeppe Juul, head of transport policy at RGO.

He is upset that the parties to the agreement will temporarily reduce the rates for the kilometer-based toll. "It is fine that you want to give up 750 million. DKK extra to promote the green transformation of road transport, but it is bad that they want to reduce the rates for the kilometer-based road tax by even more. They will give 161 million. DKK extra for trucks that run on biogas, but the money will be much better spent supporting electric trucks. In the future, all road transport should run on clean green electricity, and it is high time that the Danish Parliament accelerates electrification here," states Jeppe Juul.

The agreement can be read here