It's not an unreasonable question. Because even a climate-neutral Denmark already tomorrow does not bring humanity much closer to the ultimate goal of a world that is not in acute danger of over-consuming itself to death. Rather, the best answer to the question lies in the power of good example.

Any major obstacle becomes easier to overcome when others have shown the way. This applies right from childhood, when the older sister helps the younger brother to crack the code to cycling without support wheels. And this applies in global politics, when a country shows the rest of the world what a well-considered, economically and socially responsible green transition can look like.

There is no doubt that a green conversion of a country requires a feat of strength. There are countless billions of kroner in the difference between a bad and a well-executed green transition with sensible balances between investments in, for example, the expansion of green energy production and a lower energy and CO2 consumption. This is where Denmark, as a leading country, can really make a difference in the global climate accounting.

If Denmark is to take on that role, however, it requires us to think more holistically and utilize all climate potential – especially in already existing technology that is just waiting to contribute. At the same time, it is important that the leading stars of the climate battle do not just stare blindly at their own reflection and climate targets like another Narcissus, but also seek to help other countries – for example through Danish exports of energy-efficient technologies, district heating and renewable energy.

If we are to succeed in the climate mission - also outside the country's borders, it requires higher ambitions and a better framework - here the new Parliament and the upcoming election period will be decisive.

Denmark has concluded a number of climate agreements with countries such as India, Vietnam and Egypt. It is strong climate leadership that moves beyond Denmark's borders. On the other hand, there are still gaps in Denmark's own efforts if we are to be the good, green example that other countries copy and reflect. For example, we have an electrification strategy, we have targets for renewable energy and the number of electric cars. We have a green gas strategy, a strategy for sustainable construction and a Power-to-X strategy.

Energy efficiency must be targeted
But we have yet another strategy for smarter and more efficient energy consumption. We should have such a strategy. Both for the climate, which has to absorb a greater CO2 emission as a result of an unnecessarily large energy consumption. And for the many Danes, companies and municipalities who are hit extraordinarily hard by the combination of high energy prices and high energy consumption.

"There is no plausible path to climate neutrality without far more efficient energy consumption," says Fatih Birol, director of the International Energy Agency. It is therefore quite obvious to gather efforts for lower energy consumption in a strategy. Such a strategy should contain concrete energy efficiency targets. You have that in the EU and in other countries - but not in Denmark.

We should, for example, have targets for energy consumption in private homes and in public buildings, for how we make better use of excess heat from, for example, data centers and industrial production, for how digitization and flexibility can lower our consumption, and targets for how industry can make its consumption more efficient to the benefit of both the green transition and the companies' competitiveness.

The potentials are great. Electricity and heat consumption in Danes' homes emits approximately five million tonnes of CO2e per year, municipal buildings 230.000 tonnes and industry almost six million tonnes. This means large amounts of surplus heat, of which we only use and recycle approximately one eighth, thus letting the vast majority of the good energy go to waste. Investments in more sustainable energy consumption will not only benefit the climate, but also health via a better indoor climate and the wallet through a lower energy bill.

For example, investments in energy renovation for DKK 5,6 billion can generate an annual saving in municipal energy costs of DKK 800 million – a payback period of just seven years, after which the DKK 800 million can be invested in better welfare, or whatever else the local politicians may wish.

Furthermore, energy efficiency will contribute to us being able to meet the national climate targets more quickly and cheaply, simply because we can displace the black energy more quickly. At the same time, a lower demand for energy will eventually release green energy from the sun and wind that can be exported to other countries that are not energy efficient enough to cover consumption with renewable energy.

We are not at the front at all
It should therefore be a fixed task that the politicians in the coming election period deliver targets and a comprehensive strategy for Denmark's energy consumption at least until 2030 – but preferably all the way to the final goal of climate neutrality. It is the best way to ensure that energy efficiency contributes maximally to the green transition.

But is it because Denmark is already performing so well that goals and a strategy have so far been superfluous? No. Certainly not. There is no basis for saying that Denmark today is or is among the most energy efficient countries. In addition, the development in Danish energy consumption is unfortunately moving far too slowly.

The recognized energy databases Odyssee and Mure place Denmark in a modest overall seventh place for energy efficiency in the EU – behind countries such as Estonia, Romania and Greece. It is not good enough. We already have data from large parts of our energy consumption - but use that data far too poorly and therefore also manage our energy consumption too poorly.

The technology to control and save energy otherwise already exists. Much of it is even produced in Denmark by skilled, skilled employees. Insulation, pumps, windows, controls and other Danish technology displace more than 500 million Danish kroner each year. tons of CO2e globally. That figure could be significantly higher if Denmark takes the lead and becomes a showcase for the energy-efficient society of the future.

Before long it will be Christmas again. With stories and songs about, among other things, the three wise men who found the baby Jesus and showered him with "gold, frankincense and myrrh". Did the men from Eastland ever find Jesus without the guiding star that showed them the way in the sky? We'll never know.

Hopefully we will also never know what would have happened if countries like China, the USA and India do not speed up their green transition before it is too late. Denmark cannot force other countries into the trough. But we can show them a reasonable way to get there. Here lies Denmark's greatest climate potential.

The comment was written by Bjarke Møller, director of the Green Transition Denmark, Katrine Bjerre M. Eriksen, director, SYNERGI, Emil Fannikke Kiær, political director, Danish Industry, Ulrich Bang, market manager, Danish Business, Troels Blicher Danielsen, managing director, TEKNIQ , Lene Espersen, managing director, Danske Arkitektvirsomkeder, Henrik Garver, managing director, Association of Consulting Engineers, Aske Nydam Guldberg, acting. chairman, IDA, Henrik W. Petersen, federation chairman, Blik & Rør, Gunde Odgaard, head of secretariat, BAT Kartellet, Henning Overgaard, federation chairman, 3F, Emil Drevsfeldt Nielsen, head of business policy, Dansk Metal, Bang, director, Builders Association