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Cycling & Recycling in Denmark
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July 2009
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- A new national park and a wealth of ‘green’ initiatives make Denmark the perfect place to visit prior to the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009.... Denmark is gearing up for its moment in the world’s spotlight in December, when our capital Copenhagen plays host to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (7-18 December, 2009). Preparations for this important event are well underway, when politicians, campaigners and other interested parties from around the globe will converge on the city to further discuss and develop the protocols and initiatives that they hope will put a stop to the worsening imbalance in the Earth’s climate.
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Denmark is the perfect host country for an international convention on climate change as it is surely one of the ‘greenest’ countries in Europe. Environmental awareness is practically a way of life for ordinary Danes and the government has spearheaded some exciting ‘green’ initiatives to help maintain Denmark’s natural biodiversity and minimise the country’s overall carbon footprint.  From a travellers point of view, one of the most visible strategies has been the creation of five new national parks across the country. The first of these, Thy National Park, was officially opened last year in Thy along the north-west coast of Jutland. On 29 August 2009, however, Thy will gain a sibling when Mols Bjerge will officially become Denmark’s second national park. Occupying an area of rolling, hilly countryside on the Djursland peninsula, Mols Bjerge (or ‘Mols Mountains’) will cover around 180km² of scenic farmland and wildflower-rich heaths, forests and coastal plain. The new national park will encompass some of the hilliest terrain in all of Denmark and provide all manner of recreation opportunities, from walking and angling to simply lazing on the seemingly endless sandy beaches. |
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Thanks to an extensive network of cycle paths and country lanes, Mols Bjerge also lends itself well to an exploration on two wheels. In fact, cycling is one of the real joys of a holiday in Denmark – as well as an everyday mode of transport for Danish people. Cycling options are not limited to the national parks, however – or indeed the countryside – as Denmark’s cities are also very cycle-friendly. The two largest cities, Copenhagen and Aarhus, even provide free ‘ City Bikes’ for the use of residents and visitors alike. Both cities offer extensive networks of cycle paths, making them easy and safe to navigate by bike. The City Bikes and cycle paths are just one example of the government’s
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successful ‘green’ initiatives. In fact, cycling is now so popular that there are almost as many bikes as people in Denmark and about one third of Copenhageners regularly commute to work by bike, corresponding to a significant reduction in the number of car journeys within the city. Denmark is also a frontrunner in the development of renewable energy technologies. These can be seen first-hand on the island of Lolland in south Sealand, which has become the world’s leading demonstration centre for renewable energy. Thanks to its offshore wind turbines and the EU’s only full-scale hydrogen energy testing facility, Lolland is self-sufficient in its energy needs and these facilities (plus those harnessing wave, solar and geothermal power) have become tourist attractions in their own right! Renewable energy is widely used across Denmark, though nowhere more spectacularly than at CO2PENHAGEN. This new music and arts festival (a collaboration between businesses, students and both local and international artists) takes place at Denmark’s Technical University (just outside Copenhagen) from 4-6 September 2009 and will be the first festival ever to be fuelled entirely from renewable energy sources! |
 From an organic gastronomic point of view, the country's heritage food culture and its classic dishes are still alive and kicking, but have been joined by a new Nordic cuisine where local organic Danish produce are “criss-crossed” with gourmet extravaganzas from around the world. This development has created a new visionary organic perspective on the Danish food scene as well.  You will also find organic basic food in every supermarket in Denmark which is easy to identify as all organic food is marked with the Danish “Ø-mærke” – a diploma authorised and controlled by the Danish state in order to prevent the labelling from turning into a competitive tool between supermarket chains.  More and more Danish restaurants, cafés and caterers are also serving organic food only. It is possible to find organic eateries in all price categories all over the country and they aren’t necessarily any more expensive than most non-organic restaurants.
 Getting there…? Those inspired by the Danes’ low-impact lifestyle can follow the ‘flight-free’ route by visiting the country by sea with DFDS Seaways. Alternatively, fly Norwegian airlines, Ryanair, bmi or SAS Scandinavian Airlines to various Danish gateways from several UK airports and opt to offset your flight’s carbon emissions...
 It is also possible to plan ones journey in Denmark with public transportation by using the Danish journey planner, which includes buses, trains and metro in all of Denmark.  And finally, whilst visiting, one might also consider a dip into the water at one of its 218 Blue Flag-awarded beaches on the Danish coast or into the harbour baths in the Danish capital where the water is as clean as the nearby Oresund!
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