Green Living
Denmark is committed to creating a green and environmentally sustainable society. Over 20% of Denmark’s energy currently comes from renewable energy, and the goal is to make this 100% by 2050. Much of Denmark’s renewable energy comes from its wind farms, with Denmark being the world leader in developing wind turbines.
Denmark also has a strong cycling culture, as is demonstrated by the whopping 400km of cycle paths in Copenhagen alone. An impressive 40% of the city’s adult population commute to work by the humble bicycle.
History and Legend
In a Netherlandish armorial (collection of coats of arms) from the late fourteenth century, a red banner with a white cross – similar to the Danish flag, known as the Dannebrog – is annexed to Valdemar IV Atterdag’s coat of arms. Danish legend goes that the Dannebrog fell from heaven during a battle in Estonia.
Society
Denmark has a rich history stretching back to the era of the Vikings, some 1000 years ago, and also has claim to having one of the oldest monarchies in the world. The Danish Constitution was made in 1849 and is the bedrock of Danish society, and the modern-day Danish political system is characterised by wide-ranging solutions that encompass the whole political spectrum. Denmark is often said to be one of the world’s best countries to live in. This could be due to the country’s strong welfare-based values which ensure economic equality in society and means that corruption is negligible. The benefits of living in Denmark are more than simply economic too, with opinion polls consistently showing that the Danish are among the happiest people in the world.
Welfare
The core belief of the Danish welfare system is that all citizens have equal rights to social security. Various services, such as health and education systems, are available to all citizens, free of charge. This welfare model is subsidised by the state, and consequently the taxes in Denmark are amongst the highest in the world.