DO WE NEED A U-TURN?
As the political consensus about net-zero comes under pressure, should we re-evaluate how we are teaching climate change? Not if we look to Denmark for inspiration, writes Joe Human.
Politicians getting cold feet
In March 2025, Kemi Badenoch, the Leader of the Conservatives in the UK, ditched her party’s commitment to achieve ‘net zero’ by 2050, a target enshrined into law in 2019 by her predecessor, Theresa May. Kemi Badenoch’s claim is that it would bankrupt the country, though her views have been convincingly contested by leading experts.
Climate U-Turns are becoming increasingly common, which can be disconcerting for anyone. For educators it poses a problem about how we teach the issue of global-warming. What had seemingly become a mainstream consensus about climate change is crumbling and can no longer be taken for granted.
However, I would argue that the evidence and the facts have not changed and perhaps the example being set Denmark can give us the confidence ‘to keep calm and carry on’.
With climate change still threatening our planet, Denmark has emerged as a beacon, demonstrating how a nation can successfully transition to a green economy while maintaining prosperity and acting consistently.
What they do in Denmark
Denmark, a country of just 5.8 million people, has set itself ambitious climate goals that would intimidate much larger nations: a 70% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, and being completely carbon neutral by 2050. What makes Denmark remarkable isn’t just these targets, but the systematic way their people have set about achieving them.
Wind energy has become Denmark’s signature achievement. Driving through the Danish countryside or sailing along its coastline reveals forests of wind turbines spinning in the Nordic winds. Today, wind power generates over half of Denmark’s electricity, with offshore wind farms becoming a Danish speciality. The country is now planning the world’s first energy islands – artificial islands serving as hubs for multiple offshore wind farms.
‘We’ve proven that green transition and economic growth can go hand in hand,’ says Energy Minister Lars Aagaard. Indeed, since 1990, Denmark’s economy has grown by approximately 60% while reducing carbon emissions by more than 40%.
The renewable energy sector now employs over 75,000 Danes and generates billions in export revenue. Danish companies have become global leaders in wind energy technology, creating a virtuous cycle of innovation and economic opportunity.
But Denmark’s success extends beyond electricity production. The country’s district heating systems serve nearly two-thirds of Danish households, dramatically reducing energy waste. Copenhagen’s state-of-the-art waste-to-energy plants convert household garbage into both electricity and heating, addressing two environmental challenges at once.
The country also employs carbon taxes which provide a clear signal to the market while funding green initiatives.
What truly sets Denmark apart is its commitment to a transition which is fair to all. Job training programmes help workers transition from fossil fuel industries to green jobs. Energy efficiency programmes target low-income households to ensure benefits reach everyone. Urban planning prioritises cycling infrastructure and public transport, making sustainable choices easy for all Danes.
As the world struggles to address climate change, Denmark’s green revolution stands as proof that a better future is not just possible: it is already happening.
And the Danes know what climate u-turners seem not to: that taking strong action will increase a country’s economic growth and that abandoning net zero will cost it dearly in the end. And if that gives us the confidence to lay out the evidence about climate change and how it can be tackled in our classrooms, then so much the better.
Former international teacher, Joe Human lives in the Lake District in England’s North West. He is a community climate activist in his home town of Keswick where he volunteers for the Sustainable Keswick group.
FEATURE IMAGE: by Mark König on Unsplash
Support Image: by Razvan Mirel on Unsplash
