In this Danish vision of a greener future, it appears that power plants can be reimagined: they will no longer be dirty, unsightly, and polluting eyesores. A fellow skier on the roof tells me, “It’s a monument, similar to the Eiffel Tower, which is absurd because it’s literally trash!”
I am attempting to ski down a steep slope; this is unlike anything I have ever experienced.
Partially because it’s a dry ski slope that feels more like ice, so I’m struggling to maintain my balance, and mainly because I’m 80 metres above Copenhagen on the roof of a spectacular power plant that converts the city’s garbage into heat and electricity for its residents, I’m struggling to maintain my balance.
I’m experiencing “hedonistic sustainability” – the notion that being environmentally conscious can also be enjoyable and that you don’t have to sacrifice pleasure to do good for the planet.
It is a concept conceived by Bjarke Ingels, the architect responsible for this one-of-a-kind structure.
The Amager Bakke waste energy plant dominates the Copenhagen skyline, serving as a bold symbol of the city’s commitment to climate action.
By 2025, it will be the first carbon-neutral city in the world. A third of Denmark’s electricity is generated from renewable sources.
Every day, 350 truckloads of non-recyclable waste are brought to the centre and burned, heating water that is piped directly to 680,000 local homes through a district heating system.
Because the smoke is purified, no toxins are released into the atmosphere. And in the plant’s depths, innovative carbon capture technology is being developed to eliminate all C02 emissions.
According to my boss, Jacob Simonsen: “We are proud to be a part of the solution because we are a part of the city.
You pay us to remove the small amount of waste we receive from the United Kingdom. Of course, we are delighted to assist you and also to receive your contribution in order to generate affordable, clean energy for the city of Copenhagen.”
I wish to determine if the United Kingdom can learn from Copenhagen’s approach. Therefore, I visit the Danish Parliament to meet a politician who has helped place sustainability at the top of the agenda in Denmark. Ida Auken says, “I sincerely hope Copenhagen can serve as an example for other cities.”
Her message to Boris Johnson was as follows: “You must do this immediately. I fear that our children will look at us and wonder why we did nothing. You were aware of it and you saw it, but you did nothing.”
However, Copenhagen’s population of approximately 1.3 million is a fraction of London’s, and Denmark’s green image is far from ideal.
It remains Europe’s largest oil producer and one of the world’s most intensively farmed nations.
There are numerous critics. Extinction Rebellion staged a surreal protest, invading Copenhagen’s City Hall while dressed as frogs, birds, insects, and even fungi. Nine individuals were arrested.
I was told by one of the organisers, Ida Dalsgaard Nicolaisen: “It is a terrible lie that we are an environmental leader. Denmark excels at making promises and telling compelling tales about its sustainability.
“But this is not the case. Per capita, we are one of the most polluting and emitting countries in the world.”
The one area in which Copenhagen excels, however, is cycling. With bike paths, bike bridges, and rental bikes everywhere, this city is already considered to be the most cycle-friendly in the world, but the authorities want to go even further.
By 2025, 75 percent of all trips in the city are intended to be made via bicycle, foot, or public transportation.
As I observe the busy school-run, with parents happily pedalling their children to school on cargo bikes (mostly because it is more practical than using a car), it occurs to me that Copenhagen has made it easy and even enjoyable to live more sustainably.
Other cities can certainly learn from this.
