The energy sector accounts for around one-third of global CO2 emissions. Thus, countries’ urgent need to combat climate change is strongly related to energy companies’ ability to change from ‘black’ to ‘green.’
A Danish example is DONG Energy. The company says its cut in CO2 emissions from electricity and heat production accounts for more than half of the Denmark’s total CO2 reduction from 2006 to 2014. But how can one single company cut more than half of a country’s CO2?
From coal-intensive utility to clean-energy leader
Ten years ago, DONG Energy was one of the most coal-intensive utilities in Europe, but the company decided to change.
More clean energy, less CO2
The absolute reduction in emissions equals the same amount of CO2 as emitted by roughly seven million cars in a year, which is equivalent to removing all cars from the streets of London and New York City for almost a year and a half.
In the coming years, DONG Energy expects to cut even further on its CO2 emissions, reaching a 60 percent reduction in 2020 compared to 2006.
“We want to contribute to creating a world with 100 percent independent, green energy — a world where people have a good and healthy life and opportunities to develop without having to worry about their energy consumption damaging the planet.”
DONG CEO Henrik Poulsen elaborates on the company’s clean-energy ambitions in its recently published sustainability report:
Published Mar 15, 2016 4pm EDT / 1pm PDT / 8pm GMT / 9pm CET
