Thank you, Finn.

I am proud to have been part of State of Green as a Patron since the organization’s inception 12 years ago and It is a pleasure for me to kick-off this new and highly relevant initiative: “Green Talks”.

Let me start by welcoming our online audience who are watching today’s launch of the “Green Talks” series of events from all over the world.

Thank you for joining us.

As you are all aware the Corona health pandemic has had many tragic consequences already. Even though it seems as if we are locked in on a positive recovery track, an unparalleled uncertainty has made its way in into our daily lives and we have yet to see the potential long-term economic effects of the global lockdown.

Hence, Governments all over the world today face dilemmas, hard choices and important decisions concerning the economic recovery. We are at a crossroad, where the question is not whether we can afford to tackle two crises at the same time - the Corona crisis and the climate crisis – but whether we can afford not to.

We know that the dramatic global warming of our Climate over the last decades is caused by human behavior and the way we have organized our societies.

Let us seize the opportunity to prioritize the fight against climate change in our efforts to bring the global economy back on track. Business leaders from all corners of the world support the idea of economic recovery going hand in hand with green transition.

Only a few weeks ago, more than 180 European business and political leaders (including Danish Minister Dan Jørgensen) formed the European Alliance for a Green Recovery and called on the European Commission to prepare a comprehensive recovery plan that integrates the green transition and digital transformation.

In Denmark, we have a decade-long and well-established tradition for close cooperation between the private sector, labour and government. In the next session we will hear more about one of the popular and effective Danish models; namely the public-private partnerships and the strong collaboration behind them.

Denmark has set a very ambitious goal of a 70 percent reduction of CO2-emissions compared to 1990. It will undoubtedly take a lot of hard work and close cooperation to achieve that goal in a cost-efficient way. But I am encouraged by the fact that Danish business leaders not only have said that the goal is realistic, but they have also worked out specific suggestions, recommendations and concrete actions on how to reach it.

Although times are challenging right now, I am still optimistic for the future and the lives of future generations. We need to secure a global economic recovery that is both sustainable and equitable. In that context, I think it is fair to say that Denmark has a lot to offer in terms of inspiration and concrete green solutions. We have a long tradition of setting ambitious world-leading national energy targets.

By 2030, at least half of our total energy consumption will come from renewable energy sources, and by 2050 we will be a low-carbon society independent of fossil fuels. That bodes well for the future and Denmark can serve as a role model.

Finally, let me say a few words about the specific stage and room I am standing in today. This is State of Green’s showroom, a facility I have visited many times with visitors from all over the world in my capacity as Patron of this organisation.

Here, I have had the pleasure to witness first-hand the increasingly important role green solutions and services from Denmark play globally, and I am confident that today’s launch of this new online platform will be an important add-on to ensure continued dialogue and partnering with international decision makers to speed up the global green transition.

We all face a tremendous task today. The global economy needs a significant boost after the global health and economic crises. We need to find new ways to create sustainable growth and new green jobs. Building a future low carbon economy does not come easy. It takes a lot of work, money and innovative solutions, but we cannot afford not to do it.

I have no doubt that while the task at times may be daunting, there is a way forward to a more sustainable, green, and prosperous future for all of us.

I hope you will feel inspired by the talks today and I wish for all of us a prosperous sustainable future.

Thank you for your attention.