Denmark and Norway making strides towards net zero, Germany and UK lagging behind – report

Germany and the UK are lagging behind on the path to climate neutrality, while Denmark and Norway are making “significant strides”, according to a report by the foundation Bertelsmann Stiftung in cooperation with The Research Institute for Sustainability – Helmholtz Centre Potsdam (RIFS). “Denmark and Norway are rapidly advancing in their transitions to green electricity and heating. Norway is also on the verge of completing the switch to e-mobility,” the foundation said. “Germany and the UK still have considerable ground to cover in the transition to renewable heating, transportation, and electricity.”

The comparison of the four countries’ progress in electricity, transport, heating shows that, in each sector, at least one country has made substantial headway toward complete emission-free operations, Bertelsmann said. "Systemic change towards zero emissions before mid-century has yet to occur in most countries", said RIFS’ Germán Bersalli. "However, examples of pioneering nations in various sectors demonstrate that accelerating energy transformation is still achievable with substantial policy efforts."

The report laments that despite Germany making progress in expanding renewable energies, it is held back by its “underdeveloped” power grid infrastructure. “Denmark, should it continue along its current trajectory, could achieve the phase-out of fossil fuel-based electricity generation by 2029.”

Norway is on track to achieving a 100 percent market share of EV sales next year, while Denmark and the UK lack clear transport strategies, according to Bertelsmann. The country has also nearly fully decarbonised its heating sector and will achieve 100 percent market coverage with heat pumps by 2030. Denmark has also been very successful in transitioning to emission-free heating since it banned oil and gas boilers in 2013, the report said.