The Guardian: Denmark's collaborative culture makes it a breeding ground for sustainability

Proactive government, social responsibility and a willingness to collaborate have put Denmark ahead on sustainability.

For one, the small Scandinavian country holds few things in higher esteem than good science. Just look at a list of the country's largest companies. Pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, shipping and oil/gas giant Maersk, renewable energy provider Dong, thermostat manufacturer Danfoss, and so forth: lab coats reign.

Second, they're happy - or happier than most - to co-operate. That's partly down to size: with a population of less than 5.6 million people, clubbing together makes sense.


Sustainability wise, that puts Denmark pretty far down the track from the off. Notions of participation, dialogue, collaboration, societal responsibility and wealth distribution - all the themes around which the modern sustainability movement is built - come relatively naturally to Danes. The country's generous welfare system and progressive labour laws are objects of national pride, not ideological division.

What distinguishes Denmark from almost all its European peers, however, is the proactive approach of successive governments to sustainability issues. The country's environmentalists point out that Denmark was the first in the continent to establish an official environment ministry in 1971, almost three decades before the UK).

Early regulatory crackdowns on industrial waste and pollution have since expanded into tax incentives for low-carbon technologies (Denmark boasts some of the most cutting edge wind turbine manufacturers in the world today) and renewable energy generation. The country's bias towards science and knowledge-based industries has helped smooth the way, according to Peder Holk Nielsen, chief executive of industrial biotech firm Novozymes: "It's been easier in Denmark than it has been in some of our neighbouring countries where there are massive [heavy] industries that need to be defended."

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