Mr. Ole Thonke is the Climate Ambassador and Under-Secretary for Development Policy for Denmark

OLE THONKE: Unlocking Renewable Energy’s Full Potential for Climate and SDG Breakthroughs

Climate Ambassador and Under-Secretary for Development Policy Denmark

Q: If you could prioritize one innovation or policy that would make climate action more impactful in achieving the SDGs, what would it be? Energy powers everything—from hospitals and schools to water systems and jobs and Sustainable Development. However, energy is responsible for about 70% of global CO₂ emissions. The good news is that renewable energy like solar and wind is now cheaper than fossil fuels in most places. There is vast untapped potential to expand renewables, which can create green growth, jobs and incomes worldwide. Renewable energy can be integrated both into grids and used in rural areas through small-scale, independent systems. Yet, one challenge remains: affordable, large-scale energy storage. Investing in better storage technology would allow us to rely fully on renewables instead of polluting fuels. The technology is moving fast forward, and in only five years we expect it to be ready and affordable.

Q: What unique challenges or opportunities do you see in your sector or country for advancing synergies between action on climate and the SDGs? Adapting to a changing climate and achieving the SDGs are two of the toughest tasks ahead. We need to plan long-term and adopt an economy-wide approach—making sure our cities, infrastructure and economies can handle extreme weather and rising sea levels. Ministries of Finance have to be at the centre of this, as their influence over budgets, investment strategies and economic policy makes them essential to making whole-of-government action work.