Budget cuts for Danish green projects draw flak

Sonderborg, Denmark

NOT long ago, Denmark was making headlines for harvesting so much wind power that it was leading the way in generating renewable energy, while becoming a centre of innovation and growth for green and clean technology.

Then, in June, a centre-left government was replaced by a right-wing, minority coalition determined to tighten spending and balance the budget in a programme to grow the economy.

The budget cuts include a key fund that was used to seed green technology projects - a government subsidy that environmental advocates said had paid itself off many times over.

"This funding has proven instrumental for Danish advances in clean tech for many years, and it is incomprehensible why it is being cut now…