From Vikings to Wind Turbines – Denmark’s journey toward sustainability

Originally aired August 3, 2021

Denmark has become a global leader in wind energy and sustainable development, transforming itself over decades from a fossil fuel–dependent economy into a model for the clean energy transition. Dan Jørgensen, Denmark’s Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, joins András Simonyi to discuss how Denmark made this journey, what political and social factors made it possible, and what lessons other nations can draw from the Danish experience.

Speakers

Dan Jørgensen

Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, Denmark

Dan Jørgensen serves as Denmark’s Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, leading the country’s ambitious push to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 70% by 2030. A veteran Social Democrat and former Member of the European Parliament, he has championed Denmark’s transition from fossil fuels to wind and renewable energy for over a decade.

András Simonyi

Managing Director, Center for Transatlantic Relations, Johns Hopkins SAIS; Former Hungarian Ambassador to the United States

András Simonyi is Managing Director of the Center for Transatlantic Relations at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies. A former Hungarian Ambassador to the United States and NATO, he is a leading voice on transatlantic security, energy policy, and European affairs.