The Organisation for Sustainable Energy, OVE, was founded in 1975 based on a desire to formulate alternatives to the introduction of nuclear power in Denmark. Today, nuclear power has been rejected in Denmark but we are still far from a sustainable energy supply.

OVE works for an integrated energy- og resource policy that aims at 100% supply of renewable energy and utilisation of local resources. A sustainable society does not only revolve around technological solutions but entails a strong public commitment, influence and initiative. Democracy and public participation are cardinal principles in everything we do.

We work for a total transformation of Danish energy supply towards 100% renewable energy in 2030. This is not only a vision – we have outlined a detailed plan describing exactly how it can be achieved. As of today, there exists a range of profitable technologies that could do the job given the right investments. It is not technology that is stopping us; it is lack of political determination.

We do everything we can to make Denmark a CO2 neutral country: We do political work in the Danish parliament and in the EU, we cooperate with key stakeholders in the energy- and construction sector, do advocacy and information work, design education materials, we offer free counselling on energy conservation to all Danish citizens from 10 regional offices.

Access to energy is just as big a problem for poor people as access to money and land. For a poor person in a developing country, generating energy for cooking, heating and lighting is a daily battle which often leads to solutions that have harmful additional effects on the environment.

Through energy- and environment projects in Asia and Africa, we expand poor people’s knowledge and possibilities to create sustainable solutions that benefit their communities and environment. The projects are carried out in cooperation with Asian and African NGOs, whose ability to influence their political leaders is enhanced as well. Through the international network, INFORSE, we seek to influence global agreements and we have special consultative status in the UN system.

Climate change is a fact. Global warming that, as we speak, is making the climate more unstable and extreme, is caused by a non-sustainable lifestyle in wealthy countries like Denmark. Paradoxically, it is to a large extent the poor in the developing countries who suffer the consequences because they depend more heavily on their environment and have fewer resources to adapt. Climate change must be met with both a complete phase out of fossil fuels and with more assistance to the poorest who suffer from changes that we in the developed countries carry a big responsibility for.