ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS ARE NO OBSTACLE TO ECONOMIC GROWTH
The 1973 oil crisis that trebled the price of a barrel of oil in the space of a few months sent shockwaves to the core of Danish society. The implications for the mechanical industry, as most other sectors, were deeply worrying.

But since then, the industry has largely turned the crisis to its own advantage and so much so that, paradoxically, the 1973 crunch actually contributed to building a Danish industrial success.

This was possible because the oil crisis put focus on efforts to save the environment and limit energy consumption. In addition to a short-lived ban on Sunday driving, the crisis sparked several far-reaching initiatives, including the introduction of ‘green’ taxes on fossil fuels; new limits on the energy consumption of buildings and electronic devices and restrictions on the discharge of greenhouse gases.

Such initiatives increased the need for the development of energy saving and environment protecting technologies in Denmark. They helped encourage initiatives by Danish companies within the mechanical industry – and gave them a head start over their competitors in other countries on the development of new technologies.

Completely novel research and development was often necessary because the problems could not be solved by existing technologies.
      As a result, many Danish companies today hold an absolute leading position within the field of energy and environment technology – areas which are predicted to have large global growth rates in coming decades.

Innovative and visionary companies have invented and promoted technological solutions – many of them breaking new ground – that have improved competitiveness and earnings in Danish industry.
      The Danish success stories within the mechanical industry are many. They show that targeted efforts can result in environmental advantages, jobs, and business possibilities at the same time.

Mainly as a result of more effective energy technologies, Denmark has since 1985 succeeded in achieving an economic growth of more than 25 per cent without increasing the gross consumption of energy. During the same period, the Danish total release of CO2 has been reduced – not least as a result of the successful development of windmills.

The Danish mechanical industry has already proved to be capable of creating growth by doing things differently and smarter than before. This development should continue if we want to maintain growth in a situation of increased competition.

If we manage to take up the challenge and use our head start to become even more innovative, the Danish mechanical industry has a good chance of doing well in international competition and creating even more growth in the future.

Therefore, we must continue to create new products that are more effective, less resource consuming, and less environment-straining – and maybe even more intelligent, but still at competitive prices.

In Denmark, as well as globally, problems will continue to exist within this area, which will require solutions. Therefore the demand for environmentally compatible and resource-saving technologies will grow, not only in Denmark but also throughout the world. With the Danish companies’ head start, the possibilities of exporting high technology solutions are growing. Especially if the companies – in co-operation with universities and the government – increase investments in research and development.

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