While much of Europe retreats from environmental commitments, Denmark has boldly stepped forward with one of the world's most ambitious climate targets. The Nordic nation has pledged to slash planet-heating pollution by at least 82% by 2035, using 1990 levels as the baseline.
A Leader in Climate Action
This groundbreaking announcement, made on Monday, positions Denmark ahead of both the United Kingdom's 81% target for the same year and the European Union's considerably weaker goal ranging between 66.3% and 72.5%. The commitment comes despite political uncertainty following election setbacks for the ruling Social Democrats on Tuesday.
Climate scientists have consistently emphasised that the journey toward net zero matters as much as the destination. Delaying significant action until the 2040s, a common tactic among financially strained governments, risks accumulating dangerous levels of pollution even if eventual targets are met.
Europe's Green Backslide
Denmark's leadership stands in stark contrast to the broader European landscape. As ministers gather for the Cop30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, many European governments are actively rolling back environmental policies while maintaining verbal support for long-term climate goals.
The European Union faces particular criticism for what critics describe as dismantling its landmark Green Deal under the guise of improving competitiveness. Last week, the European parliament voted to weaken legislation designed to combat deforestation in supply chains and scaled back green business regulations.
Most alarmingly, the centre-right European People's Party aligned with far-right groups to pass these measures, breaking traditional political firewalls. Alberto Alemanno, founder of the Good Lobby, warned this collaboration "not only dismantles the Green Deal, but also redefines the political majority governing Europe from now until 2029."
The Path Forward
Despite these setbacks, the EU did approve a new climate target aiming for a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. However, this includes controversial provisions allowing up to 5% of cuts to come from foreign carbon credits, which environmental experts frequently question for their effectiveness.
As Denmark demonstrates what true climate leadership looks like, the rest of Europe faces a critical choice: follow this ambitious example or continue down a path of diluted commitments that jeopardise global climate goals.
