Last Week in Denmark (17.04 - 24.04) Episode 15 Year 2
The end of natural gas in Denmark! CO2 tax, Mette in Kiev, Record employment
Ukraine HQ
Our prime-minister, Mette Frederiksen went to Kiev to meet with Volodymyr Zelenskyj and see the horrors of the war. She brought a gift of 600 million DKK in weapons and military equipment and promised help for demining (taking the mines out) from the residential areas, so that citizens can start rebuilding. Also, she confirmed that Denmark will rebuild the city of Mykolajiv, as requested by Zelenskyj during his Folketinget address.
Danish Politics HQ
The political game
Unkept promise: Before the last parliamentary elections, the social democrats promised “a permanent doctor or nurse for every long-term hospitalized patient until 2020”. Unfortunately, 3 years have passed since that promise and it still has not been fulfilled. Less than half of the long-term hospitalized patients have a permanent responsible doctor or nurse.
Reactions to the CO2 tax: The political parties are not enthusiastic about the government proposal on increasing the tax on air pollution from 180 DKK to 750 DKK per tonne.
Radikale Venstre (B) and Enhedslisten (Ø) believe that the proposal is not ambitious enough and are against giving discounts to companies like Aalborg Portland (which is the largest emitter in the country).
Venstre (V) is positive towards the government proposal and supports the discounts for companies that have a hard time making the green transition.
Konservative (K) believes that if we raise the CO2 tax, then other taxes for companies need to be lowered. However, they criticize the large discount for the cement producer, Aalborg Portland.
Law proposals
Proposal for a new CO2 tax: Danish companies will have to pay more for the pollution they create.
From 180 DKK to 750 DKK per tonne from 2030 (increase of the CO2 tax)
The large polluters who pay the European CO2 tax are currently exempted from the Danish CO2 tax. In the future, they will pay on top of the EU CO2 tax, 375 DKK.
There is a special group of companies that will pay only 100 DKK more in CO2 tax (on top of the European CO2 tax) (Aalborg Portland, Rockwool, etc.). Why? To avoid losing jobs as the companies might decide to move to another country.
A green fund of 7 billion DKK to help companies in their green transition. 3 billion DKK will go towards the “carbon capture” technology.
Independence from natural gas: Until 2030, Denmark will phase out the usage of natural gas to warm up homes. The households that use natural gas will be informed this year that they need to start the process of connecting to district heating or to acquire a heat pump. 17.7% of all homes in Denmark are heated with gas.
A letter will be sent by the government to the 400,000 households that still use gas for heat, to be informed when district heating will be available in their area and if not, what other alternatives are there for them. As a starting point, there will be no financial help from the state for the switch. Most families can afford to invest 100,000 DKK into a heat pump. Otherwise, there will be low-interest loans for green investments.
Green ambitions: According to the government, the production of green energy must quadruple until 2030. This means a lot more windmills and solar panels around the country. Denmark needs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70% until 2030.
Danish Economy HQ
60% of the people with a non-european background are employed. This is a record percentage for Denmark and an increase of 6% since last year. The minister of integration is however not fully satisfied. According to him, more could find employment. However, the reality is that for a non-Dane with low Danish and English skills, chances to find a job are very small.
Bitcoin fraud: When someone promises you that you can earn a lot of money and fast on your investment, don’t believe them. There is no such thing and 99% of the cases you will end up losing a lot of money, maybe all you have. Unfortunately, many people in Denmark have fallen in the trap of investing in virtual money. Read more here.
Egg-pocalypse: If you cannot live without eggs, you might have to set aside a larger weekly sum for their acquisition. The egg industry is announcing that the price of one egg might reach 6-7 DKK soon. Why? Rising prices for bird feed, energy and other raw materials due to the war in Ukraine. Also, Ukraine was the largest egg producer in Europe and that combined with outbreaks of bird flu in France and the United States, made eggs more expensive. Time to get your own chicken.
How to save money, reduce reliance on Russian energy, support Ukraine and help the planet?
Turn down heating and use less air-conditioning
Adjust your boiler’s settings
Work from home (if you can)
Use your car more economically
Reduce your speed on highways
Leave your car at home on Sundays in large cities
Walk or bike short journeys instead of driving
Use public transport
Skip the plane, take the train
Read here (in English), on why each of the listed actions are beneficial.
Daily Life in Denmark HQ
Five ways to reduce your monthly food cost
Collect edible plants from nature like nettles and dandelions. There is an app called Vild Mad, that can help you identify wild plants and learn how to use them. For example, you can use nettles to replace spinach and kale.
If you have space, get a few chickens. You can start with 2-3 chickens (one chicken costs 30 DKK).
Ask the butcher if he has cheaper meat cuts in the back.
Do not buy vegetables or fruits per item. Instead look at the per kilo price. The rule of thumb is that two out of three vegetables in the basket must cost less than 20 kroner per kilo.
Reduce food waste.
Denmark, together with Australia and New Zealand lost the fewest people to the pandemic. On the other side, Bulgaria, Serbia, Russia and România had the biggest losses in terms of human life. (of course compared to the size of the populations)
Corona pills: World Health Organization is endorsing the usage of Paxlovid for mild and moderate COVID-19 patients at highest risk of hospital admission. The data shows that the risk of hospitalization is reduced by 85% following this treatment.
Culture
New Danish movie on Netflix: The first Netflix production of a Danish movie called “Toscana” is now available on the streaming platform. In the feelgood drama, Anders Matthesen plays a chef who has to sell his father's business in Tuscany, where he meets an Italian woman who makes him see his life in a new light.
Sport
World champion: 22-year old boxer Oliver Meng (from Falster) won his second World champion belt, the Youth Lightweight Champion WBC IBF belt.
World champion II: 32-year old boxer Sarah Mahfoud (from Faroe Islands) made a comeback and won again the IBF world title belt in featherweight, after two years break.