State of Green and the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs have launched a new European map highlighting green projects and partnerships across the continent. But not only in Europe. Danish companies and institutions collaborate globally to address pressing challenges in energy, water, and urban development.
For hundreds of years, Denmark was a society heavily reliant on agriculture and fishing, and Danes still feel a strong connection to the land and the surrounding waters. This respect for nature is why Denmark is a pioneer in promoting sustainability.
Our climate refers to the average weather pattern in a region over a long period, such as in polar, tropical, and temperate areas. The Earth’s climate is warming rapidly due to the large amounts of carbon released into the atmosphere by humans, which exceeds the capacity of nature to absorb it. This carbon was stored underground for millions of years as fossil fuels, such as gas and oil. By extracting and burning these fuels for energy, transport, and industry, we’re releasing that stored carbon back into the atmosphere.
The Danish Green Together Experience is a digital platform that showcases green solutions, expertise, and partnerships from around the world. Sustainability means different things to different people. To the Danes, sustainability is a holistic approach that encompasses renewable energy, water management, waste recycling, and green transportation, including a strong bicycling culture.
It took 1 million years to form the fossil fuels we consume in just one year. As Europe strives to achieve its ambitions and goals under the EU Green Deal, Denmark is poised to play a pivotal role. A newly launched European map on the Green Together Experience platform showcases how Danish companies, cities, and institutions are already contributing to the continent’s climate and sustainability goals.
What is sustainability?
Through decades of extraordinary and sustained efforts, Denmark has developed a world-class green energy system that delivers a cleaner, everyday life and increased green energy.
In particular, Denmark has focused on making buildings more energy-efficient, a crucial step in a country where heating is required for more than half of the year. We all create carbon emissions, either as individuals or organizations. We rely on fossil fuels to heat our homes and workplaces, to travel, and to manufacture the products we buy and use. The annual amount of emissions a person or organization creates is called their carbon footprint.
The launch of the Green Together Experience coincides with Denmark’s preparation to assume the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2025 – a moment when visibility into green partnerships and practical solutions is more crucial than ever. Through an interactive and data-rich overview, the map invites international stakeholders to explore green projects and partnerships that span borders and sectors.
Danish companies are among the global market leaders in making buildings efficient, particularly Rockwool (insulation), Velux (windows), Danfoss (heating applications), and Grundfos (careful use of water).
We have entered a climate emergency. This means rapidly changing weather systems worldwide. In Europe, we are experiencing more frequent storms and flooding in the winter, as well as increased drought in the summer. We are now living through the effects of these changing patterns, and they are only set to become worse. It will mean growing numbers of wildfires; farming conditions becoming unpredictably difficult, and rising sea levels covering our low-lying coastlines.
The new map brings together more than 30 real-world case stories across Europe, from offshore wind farms in Poland to water efficiency in Spain and district heating in the Czech Republic. The platform also includes information about Denmark’s green collaboration with countries across Europe, as well as emphasizing the key potential for green growth and partnership.
Denmark is committed to contributing to the United Nations’ achievement of its 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. It has developed a specific action plan to address both environmental sustainability and social goals, such as equality and inclusion.
Fortunately, there are numerous ways to reduce our carbon footprint and help slow the warming of our planet. This can include changing the way we travel, heat our homes, eat, and buy products. However, to make an impact, all levels of society must make a change, including government, big corporations, charities, and individuals.
*****************************************
Related: Green Living in Copenhagen
*****************************************
Explore green cooperation across Europe
All case stories on the map are part of the broader Green Together Experience – a digital platform designed to showcase how Danish public and private partners collaborate to address environmental challenges through international cooperation. Visitors can explore sector-specific examples within energy, cities, and water, with each project placed at its real-world location.
Denmark is the sixth-largest shipping nation in the world, and the Danish company Maersk Line is the world’s largest container shipping operator, handling 12 million containers annually.
According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), shipping is responsible for 2-3% of the world’s greenhouse gases. This means that the potential and impact of decarbonizing international shipping are excellent. As a significant maritime power, Denmark has a responsibility to use its influence to advance shipping globally.
******************************************
Related: Denmark – the Cleanest Country in the World
******************************************
Our Living Planet
Animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms living together in one area form ecosystems – complex networks of life that are part of what we call biodiversity. This biodiversity, both local and global, is deeply interconnected and supports essential systems that provide us and all living things with clean air, fresh water, and food.
Whether used at international expos, diplomatic meetings, or local stakeholder visits, the platform will serve as a practical tool for initiating dialogue and inspiring green action. The Green Together Experience platform will be visible at official events and venues across Denmark’s EU Presidency, showcasing both Denmark’s and Europe’s green goals and ambitions.
In the very middle of Denmark lies Samsø island, famous for its delicious potatoes. Since 2007, Samsø has been 100% sustainable, relying entirely on renewable energy sources, including wind, solar, and biomass.
To meet that goal, many of Samsø’s inhabitants replaced their oil-burning heaters and insulated their homes.
The island is now implementing a new strategy for reusing all waste. A new biogas plant will also generate the necessary power for the ferry “Princess Isabella,” which connects Samsø with the mainland of Denmark.
Human life depends on a healthy, living planet. Our survival and well-being are tied to the natural ecosystems and cycles that meet our basic needs and enable us to thrive. For humanity to flourish, we need a world that is rich in life, diverse in species, and resilient in the face of change—protected not just for us, but by us.
Circular economy
Accessible online and designed for use at events, meetings, and campaigns, the platform supports embassies, trade councils, and international partners in promoting Denmark’s green leadership through tangible and credible examples.
Danish Companies and Institutions Collaborate Globally to Address Pressing Challenges in Energy, Water, and Urban Development, Tor Kjolberg reporting.
All images © Green Together Experience