Denmark:
The Center for World Climate Policy
Roberto Nicolasora

Coming to Denmark is like a pilgrimage to me. This is my fourth study travel to the land of the famous Hans Christian Andersen’s underwater fairy tale “Little Mermaid”. The magic still remains as tourists swarm taking photos even if the head is no longer the original one. It has been vandalized twice by cutting the head replaced by new ones.

Denmark is relatively flat by land. I once asked a Dane student how does he like his country and he said “it’s boring”. I asked why? “Because there are no mountains, only rolling hills” he replied. I told him there are two things I love in Denmark, the bread and the windows. Apart from the healthy variety of bread, I think Denmark has all the windows of the world in various designs, shapes and colors. Watching them from afar with lighted candles is really cool. One’s visual sensitivity should muster enough thoughts for this awesome moment.

These months’ people are out enjoying the summer sun. By October, leaves turn red and gold as “autumn leaves start to fall”. That inspired the immortal song. You can still find them in the pages of their traditional songbook used in the “morgensamling” and still sung until today’s nth Danes generation. I believed this is the heart of the Danes tradition because everyone both young and old knew the songs by heart. On the other hand this natural changing season must have changed in some ways too through the years.

Krogerup Hojskole as a venue for climate change and environmental awareness is in itself an atmosphere to behold apart from the very rich history of its existence. Surrounded by huge towering trees is a forest by standard. Apple and pear trees within the school’s premises are there for everyone’s grab. Red and blue berries as ornamental plants and other fruit bearing trees on pathway sides is a recognizable sight, however no one seems to notice anyway. Wild edible bear berries like weeds just grow everywhere. Then you have a wide area of wheat field and a variety of organically grown vegetables for the school’s daily food consumption. This is paradise for vegetarians. Arrays of colorful flowers add contrast for the green scenery providing the artistic and interior landscape. And by logic the area cannot escape from the threat of climate change even if preventions are gradually installed. It’s a global problem! Unless countries realize the magnitude of its effect and exercise political will in responding the inevitable disaster then we all join and moan into the pit of our own creation.

Climate change as a global concern is one of the main summer course at Krogerup Hojskole thru the Crossing Border project. The Danish government and non-government institutions are working up mechanisms to reach one of their goals in 2015, that of a green and blue capital city towards a healthy major city. These are built-in consciousness-raising in all schools, government and business establishments. May not perfect but people take diligent efforts actualizing their care and concern for the environment.

Consequently because Denmark is a very rich country, they have the necessary facilities and resources setting up structures responding to these visions. In practice they project themselves as the world’s best city for cycles cutting the use of energy consumption. The government is seriously addressing the problem of global warming. They organize a lot of forum, study groups, workshops and conferences regarding the current issue of climate change. Denmark positions them selves as the center for world climate policy. The advocacy is to engage people and countries to set their own action even basic and minimal initiatives. At the end of this year the Danish government will host the summit conference for climate change. World leaders and active citizens are expected to deal severely the issue of climate change that is a global concern.

The Autumn Term at Krogerup Hojskole is not excluded in the climate change awareness. Students are encouraged to take part in this campaign. Special sessions with knowledgeable persons about this global issue present and provide a space for discussion not only for the students but also the community residing near the school. Soon they will disseminate the current situation on energy, food and fuel consumption detrimental to the young generation and the universe itself. These are building up activities for the forthcoming climate change summit in December.