Copenhagen, the Green Global Capital?

A view of the world from the satellite by Jean-Luc Karleskind

In December 2009, Copenhagen has been at the centre of the world when it hosted the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Copenhagen Summit. I have come to Copenhagen to find out more.

On the bed table of the hotel there isn’t a bible but the book “100 PLACES TO REMEMBER before they disappear”. The hotel actually sells it for 399 DKK. On page 4, I learn that the book is produced in accordance with the Nordic Eco-label “The Swan”. This ensures that strict environmental criteria are met with a restricted emission of CO2 in the production of the paper. This doe not prevent the book of being a beautiful coffee table book on glossy paper with magnificent photos. If anything else, it demonstrates that friendly to the environment does not mean necessarily ugly yellowish paper. The book contains a convincing pleading by Robert Glasser, Secretary General of CARE www.care.org. According to Glasser, climate change is already happening and therefore we have to both cut greenhouse emissions and adapt to the effects of climate change along four lines:

1) Technological (higher sea walls)
2) Behavioral (cut emissions)
3) Managerial (new approaches to farming)
4) Policy options (new regulations)

Is this already happening in Denmark?

Hotel Alexandra happens to be certified “The Green Key”. Looking it up on Google, I find www.greenkeyglobal.com. Mmh, a maple leaf, must be Canadian. I can see that Sofitel US and Fairmont are Green Key certified. Not only for lunatics and shabby places. Not that Hotel Alexandra is shabby but it is a bit original being a retro hotel. For sure, here the hotel is acting according to the policy option line. There are many hotels mainly in Canada that are certified Green Key.

Waking up this morning at 7.30, I see masses of bicycles on HC Andersens Bd. We are during the winter time, temperature is around 0 degree C, it is still dark… After breakfast, I asked the receptionist and she explained proudly that she too had come to work with her bicycle living half way to the airport. It is indeed faster than the bus. The weather? Well, only snow prevents her from cycling and they have had three weeks if snow this year (so far). Those Danes are acting on the behavioral line.

Surely, this is a very superficial first glance observation. Having been somehow been let down by my contacts here in Denmark, I have to resort on the best library, the internet, in order to find out more…

Source: http://www.karleskind.me

About Hotel Alexandra

Epoque Classic Superior Hotel, Boutique Hotel in Copenhagen > Denmark

Hotel Alexandra is a boutique hotel located in the very heart of Copenhagen at the “Town Hall Square”! The Alexandra is beautifully decorated with classical Retro Danish furniture Design, and the hotel’s 100 year old walls are dressed in Danish art – Here you will find a sight for sore eyes! The long History and Hotel tradition, gives the guests an opportunity to take in the warmth of a personal, non-chain atmosphere. Hotel Alexandra offers allergy free rooms for guest who might need this kind of accommodation. Furthermore, as of March 1st 2009, Hotel Alexandra will become CO2-neutral in its total energy consumption of electricity, district heating, and gas. The Hotel is already the Copenhagen hotel that has for the longest time been environmentally certified by trade organization HORESTA’s eco-label ‘Den Grønne Nøgle’ (The Green Key). Hotel Alexandra’s rooms offer dry cleaning, laundry, room service, TV, footbath, internet all this is standard in the Hotel. Restaurant- KBH Bistro is a french cuisine were you will have a diverse selection of wines, this is why it is also named Wine Bistro. KBH Bistro provides service to the room when you feel like relaxing.

Location:

Hotel Alexandra is located in the very centre of Copenhagen, on the best corner of the City Hall Square, near the Copenhagen City hall, the Tivoli gardens and walking distance from Strøget, which is the longest pedestrian shopping area in Europe. This boutique hotel is only a 15 minute taxi/ bus ride away from the conference centre “Bella Center”, and 20 minutes by taxi or 30 minutes by train from the city airport. – View Location Map.

General Information: