GREEN GROWTH: FROM RELIGION TO REALITY - Sustainia

Chapter 4such the policies in the new plan represented a continuationof previous policies as described above with anincreased focus on the GHG emissions associated withenergy consumption.As evidenced by figures 1 above and 5 below, the 1990smarked the golden age of wind power deployment inDenmark with rapidly increasing shares of wind powerin electricity generation. The ministry of environment –Auken’s initial portfolio – was merged with the ministryof energy in 1994, symbolic of the further integration ofthe two policy areas. (Hansen 2003; De Lovinfosse 2008t)2.2 The birth of the green growth argumentThe idea of supporting the clean tech sector to createexport-led growth via ‘green exports’ can also be tracedback to this period. The energy plan of 1996, Energi21,points to a Danish interest in positioning itself in internationalenergy markets by investing in clean tech: “It isthe Government’s intention to support a continuation ofthis [the massive growth of Danish energy technologyexports in recent years] positive trend through the initiativesin Energi21.”3 (Danish Government 1996:13)2.3 Political contextThe overall political context of the Danish energy story isdescribed below in figures 6 and 7: During each election,voters were asked the open-ended question “What is themost important problem today that politicians shouldtake care of?”4Two things are important to note. First, the environmentwas never seen as the most important problemamong the Danish electorate. While the data cited abovein section 1.2.2 suggests that many Danes were interestedin energy and environmental politics, the graphshere show that historically, only a relatively small minorityhas subscribed to the notion that ‘the environment’is the most important problem facing politicians. Many,in fact most, thus considered themselves interested in3 Translated by author.4 Translated by author.5 Four of the nine categories havebeen omitted here for clarity ofpresentation, as they have scoredrelatively low historically and areconsidered less important for thepurposes of this analysis: balanceof trade and payments; tax; EU,foreign & defence policy; other.The question is asked open-endedand researchers have then codedanswers under these nine categories.This implies that energyissues might have been coded asan economy or unemploymentissue because voters consideredthe economy and unemploymentthe problem – the major cause ofboth problems of course was theenergy crisis.Relative importance of issues in public opinion 1971-2009 570%60%50%40%30%20%10%0%1971 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1987 1988 1990 1994 1996 1998 2000 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009The EnvironmentUnemploymentEconomy in generalWelfareImmigrationFigure 6: Voters generally regard economic issues (unemployment, the economy in general and welfare) as the most importantissues politicians need to take care of.Source: Andersen, 2002; Andersen, 2008; Arbo-Bähr 2010Relative importance of issues in public opinion: the environment 1971-200920%10%0%1971 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1987 1988 1990 1994 1996 1998 2000 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009The EnvironmentFigure 7: While the environment has never been the most important issue in the eyes of voters, it was generally seen as moreimportant in the 90s and again towards the end of the 00s.Source: Andersen, 2002; Andersen, 2008; Arbo-Bähr 201036