What is the purpose of Monday’s seminar?

“The seminar will provide an opportunity for the business sector, politicians and society in general to meet and discuss issues relating to climate change and how we can develop sustainable products. This is an important discussion, which we must conduct together, on how far we are prepared to go.

“And from my experience, there is a shared interest in tackling these issues. I think it is very encouraging that there is such a strong interest from the business sector. The business sector wants clear, long-term and global rules. And it wants strict rules. The business sector is in favour of carbon dioxide taxation, which shows its commitment to the issue. Even businesspeople have children and grandchildren.”

How important are theses cross-border discussion to resolving the issue of climate change and how important is it that the business sector is involved?

“It is crucial. We as politicians can set ambitious goals and give our support to research and development, but it is the companies who will develop the products, who will come up with the IT solutions and the clever solutions to climate change. It is the companies who will develop zero-energy houses – houses that produce as much energy as they consume – and environmentally friendly car tyres that reduce fuel consumption. This is the task of the business sector. Our role is to point them in the right direction.”

You have previously spoken of the need for a transition to an eco-efficient economy. How will you bring this into today’s seminar?

“This is what I will be speaking about. When I took up my post as minister, I discovered that you cannot simply talk about the environment for the environment’s sake. Then, very few of my colleagues cared. But they became interested when we linked it to other issues, such as the economy and the possibility of environmentally friendly economic growth. And now we see many countries beginning to catch on to this. Now we need to quickly establish that this is the direction in which we must go.

“This is on a par with the industrial revolution, when we took a giant step forward for public welfare. Now we will take the next giant step and we will do it in an intelligent manner.”

Have you any practical examples of companies that are working eco-efficiently today?

“There are unendless examples of companies that are already developing climate friendly products. For example, General Electric is investing billions in developing and producing a range of environmentally friendly solutions. Another example is Skanska, who have said that they want stricter rules for the building industry.”

What else will you be doing while you are in Copenhagen?

“There will be a range of different activities. I will be there to support Minister for the Environment Andreas Carlgren. And I will participate in a seminar arranged by the International Energy Agency, IEA, on energy efficiency. It is exciting to see how energy has been emphasised as a key to solving the problem of climate change. No-one talked about this three years ago. While I am here I will also hold a telephone discussion with a school where I will talk about the climate change conference and answer the pupils’ questions. I think it is very important that we also inform people about what we are doing.”