Just as the two political parties making up the Danish government was about to engage in a media war over the handling of COP15 and the Copenhagen Accord a key figure leaves the show after getting caught for drunken driving.

Liberals vs Conservatives

Connie Hedegaard – former Minister of the Environment of the Conservatives – have been getting unrivaled praise for her preparation and initiation of COP15. Lars Løkke Rasmussen – Prime Minister of the liberals who took over as the heads of states checked in at the Copenhagen hotels – not so much.

No doubt, as I have only been able to hint at in some of my previous articles here at TH!NK, the rivalries runs deep beneath the surface of the Danish government. The criticism coming from the opposition parties is not as hazardous as the internal friction. There is at least two points of disagreement: What went wrong at COP15 and how do we handle the Copenhagen Accord.

Regarding the latter the government parties agree on following EU guidelines. Which are “20% to 30%” reductions. But the liberals insist on keeping pledges as low as possible whereas the conservatives are eager to spur on green economic transitions.

According to the liberal Lars Christian Lilleholt aiming for 30% rather than 20% would have “serious consequences for European jobs and industry”. The conservative Per Ørum Jørgensen disagree entirely: “I think that it could create a process that creates more jobs and new green jobs”. Connie Hedegaard has moved her interest to the European arena and has declined to comment. Her replacement is toeing the line and supports Lilleholt.

Lilleholt refers to COP15 as an “eyeopener” and cannot see the EU ever pledging 30% emissions reductions: “No, at present we must be very careful. It will require a completely different international agenda than what we saw at the climate summit [… further ambitions would require] the other global players joined in with a massive reduction.”

“[Our experiences tell us] if you just make some tough environmental standards for sustainable production, then you also created new industries. In many European countries, there is a huge export potential for those who invest even more on renewable energy,” Ørum Jørgensen counters.

(Sources in Danish: Klimamål skaber splid i V og K, V: Vi skal ikke være tossegode and V beskyldes for at svigte klimaet all from government positive Berlingske Tidende.)

More than 1,300 ppm = game over

Early Saturday morning the conservative Per Ørum Jørgensen was pulled over by police who felt inclined to measure his blood alcohol content. It was established to be between 0.13% and 0.14% which is considered more than what is suitable for driving.

For any politician, especially a conservative, that means a leave from responsibilities. From his press release:

“I've done something unforgivable that does not match my views and values. I regret bitterly. I have recently had some personal problems that I have not taken care of in a proper manner.”

It's absurd in a way but this will probably influence Denmark's stance on the Copenhagen Accord and save the liberals from further criticism of the COP15 shortcomings. But of course, if we are to believe The Net only two things get attention right now: first of all "The Super Bowl", secondly the connecticut power plant explosion. Plenty of opportunity to stay under the big radar.

(Source in Danish: K-ordfører taget for spirituskørsel)

Also don't miss Danish parliament evaluating COP15 and Danish prime minister grilled on COP15.