Euro Exim Bank

Going for Green

The World’s Best Business City 2010, the World’s Best Bike City 2010, Europe’s Best City For Foodies 2012, INDEX: Award 2013, ranked first in the ‘Most Livable Cities’ guide and voted the best country in the world for commercial success potential in 2013. These are just a few of the prestigious titles and awards that Copenhagen has received in the last few years. Add European Green Capital 2014 to the list, and Copenhagen, already exhibiting pioneering sustainable solutions, is one high-achieving capital.

In 2010, Stockholm was awarded the first European Green Capital Award, followed by Hamburg (2011), Vitoria-Gasteiz (2012) and Nantes last year. Copenhagen’s Green Business Model was a winner, encouraging economic growth, using a model other cities could emulate, and challenging environmental and social issues.

Copenhagen wants to offer the best urban environment by 2015, promising that 90% of the population will be able to walk to a park, swimming pool or green area within a quarter of an hour. Currently, that figure stands at a modest 60%. By 2025, a mere 10 years later, it intends to be the first carbon-neutral city by building more wind farms, renovating its heating systems, encouraging energy savings and tempting people out of their cars and onto their bikes. This is a city made for cyclists, and there are plans to increase the number of people who cycle from 36% to 50% by 2015. But don’t be fooled – there’s much more to Copenhagen than bikes.

Copenhagen is widely known to be the international forerunner in social sustainability, political responsibility and eco travel.

 

The harbour has been transformed from a grimy sewage tip to a hygienic, public swimming bath, thereby encouraging real estate in the area and increasing the amount of cafes and bars by 300%! Danish offices COBE and SLETH, together with the engineering company Ramboll, have won the North Harbour project to develop a new, eco-friendly, dynamic metropolis. More than a fifth of Denmark’s energy is currently renewable, and the Danish government has set a goal of running the entire country on renewables by 2050. You can’t get much greener than that!

Population forecasts predict that there will be a 100,000 inhabitant increase in Copenhagen towards 2025. Copenhagen’s Climate Adaption Plan aims to resolve the increasing population and climate change issues by climate proofing the Danish capital right away. Responding to these issues now will save money and give future generations the upper hand. Turning these challenges, such as rising sea levels, into opportunities to develop new ways of dealing with climate change, showcases Copenhagen’s ability to gain new knowledge and skills, transforming itself into a green city with endless possibilities.

Cycling, eating organic food and reducing carbon dioxide are just a few things on the city’s to-do list. Moving from eco-friendly to eco-nomy, the World Bank ranks Denmark as the easiest place to do business. The capital has become synonymous with excellence in many fields such as design, pharmaceuticals, biotech and cleantech, with Denmark ranking no.1 in terms of clean-tech sales as a percentage of GDP (approx 3%) in the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) report. Some of the world’s best enterprises have established their local headquarters here such as Microsoft, Fering Pharmaceuticals and many more. With its accomplished commercial reputation, Copenhagen is the ideal city to host a business meeting, with numerous high calibre hotels and conference locations to choose from.

The Tivoli Hotel & Congress Centre, the most outstanding building in Denmark thanks to the pioneering design of architect Kim Utzon, accommodates meetings from as little as six people up to 300, while the magnificent Congress Hall can seat 2,400 individuals. The legendary and magical Tivoli Gardens are within walking distance, so choose this location and you will be in for a real treat.

Galleries and nightclubs abound in Copenhagen, and the city’s culture and character is evident on every street. One street you should definitely walk down is Pusher Street, situated in Christiania, the Freetown of Copenhagen. The beautiful statue of The Little Mermaid, just off Langelinje Pier calls to mind the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen, while a trip to Rosenborg Castle, originally the summer home of Christian IV, the longest-reigning monarch of Denmark-Norway, is thoroughly recommended. Copenhagen is widely known to be the international forerunner in social sustainability, political responsibility and eco travel. Forget going for gold – the Danish capitals colour of choice is green.

Currently 51% of food consumption in Copenhagen’s public institutions is organic. The environmental strategy Environment Metropolis – Our Vision 2015 hopes to increase this figure to 90% by 2015. Visit Geranium, (ranked 45th best restaurant in the world), a two Michelin star restaurant in Osterbro, or BioMio (100% certified organic) in the Meatpacking district to give the percentages a helping hand. Hotels like Crowne Plaza Copenhagen Towers, the first carbon dioxide neutral building, will help advocate an even higher degree of eco-consciousness. Using new technologies, energy consumption for cooling and heating can be reduced by almost 90%.

For more on Copenhagen’s green projects and polices and how your company can get involved please visit: www.denmark.dk