The government is now strengthening the global Danish leadership within green transition with the appointment of Tomas Anker Christensen as Denmark’s climate ambassador.
The government’s national goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 70 % in 2030 is now being followed up by an international effort with the appointment of a climate ambassador.
Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod says:
“Climate is a key element in the new Social Democratic government’s foreign policy. We are now appointing a Danish climate ambassador and thereby making another green and sustainable imprint on the international climate agenda. We want to make the EU a climate union, and in the UN, we have taken the lead on the energy track and Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) on sustainable energy. Furthermore, we exert green diplomacy through our bilateral cooperation around the world. Denmark can and wants to make a huge difference. Here, the newly appointed Danish climate ambassador Tomas Anker Christensen will play a key role.”
Minister of Climate, Energy and Utilities Dan Jørgensen is enthusiastic about the choice of Tomas Anker Christensen, whom he knows as a skilled ambassador with great insight into the climate and sustainability agenda:
“The government has chosen Tomas Anker Christensen because he has a strong network, extensive knowledge of the climate area and the necessary access to international partners. It is that kind of weight and experience that is needed if we are to lift the global climate ambition level and get Denmark back at the center of international negotiations.”
Minister for Development Cooperation also welcomes the appointment:
“The Social Democratic government regards climate as a key priority in development assistance. We have increased green development assistance, and we want to incorporate climate initiatives within this assistance where possible. For example, when Ethiopian farmers are receiving knowledge about how to make more out of their crops, they must also learn how to become more resistant to drought.”
Climate summit is just around the corner
The new climate ambassador will be busy from day one. Among other things, he will participate in the international climate negotiations under the auspices of the UN and the upcoming climate summit, COP25. He will be a key part of the Danish effort to increase the global climate ambition level in the implementation of the Paris Agreement. The climate ambassador will also help show Danish leadership on Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) on sustainable energy. Here, Denmark in particular assists countries that emit the most to phase out coal and oil, and, not least, convert them to renewable energy such as wind and solar energy. SDG 7 is also about making the world’s countries much more efficient and ensuring that all citizens – including the very poorest for instance in Africa – will have access to renewable energy. As part of the SDG 7 leadership, Denmark will focus on securing more funding for the global green transition.
Tomas Anker Christensen is currently Danish ambassador to Cairo and has long experience in the field of climate. He has been Head of Department for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Center for Global Challenges, where he was at the head of the establishment of the 3GF – an international partnership for green transition. Subsequently, he was employed by the UN Secretary-General’s Cabinet, where he for a period was head of the climate team with responsibility for preparing and conducting the 2014 UN Climate Summit. In the period 2015-2017, he was head of cabinet for the president of the General Assembly (Mogens Lykketoft and Peter Thomson, respectively) with particular focus on implementation of the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Thereafter, Tomas Anker Christensen was appointed special advisor to the UN’s special envoy on climate, Michael Bloomberg.
Tomas Anker Christensen will take up his new role on February 1st, based in Copenhagen and will take office in both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities.
For press inquiries:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
Press advisor to the Foreign Minister, Poul Kjar, tel. +45 4186 5975
Press advisor to the Minister for Development Cooperation, Maria Westh, tel. +45 5077 8664
Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities:
Press advisor Lasse Bendtsen, tel. +45 4172 3884
