Uber-green Denmark tops for business: Forbes

We’ve said it before, but we’ll say it again — this time with the blessing of none other than Forbes magazine: taking strong action to cut carbon emissions and boost renewable energy supplies is good for business.

For the second year in a row, Forbes has named Denmark number one when it comes to policies and conditions that are most likely to appeal to entrepreneurs and investors. Coming in after were 2. the US, 3. Canada, 4. Singapore, 5. New Zealand, 6. UK, 7. Sweden, 8. Australia, 9. Hong Kong and 10. Norway.

Ireland, just recently an economic “Celtic Tiger,” on the other hand, dropped dramatically in the rankings: from second place last year to 14th this year.

Climate Progress blogger Joseph Romm notes with glee that Forbes’ number-one pick offers climate-change activists a “terrific talking point”:

“Denmark has one of the strongest cap-and-trade commitments in the world — 20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2008-2012. And it has a requirement that 20 per cent of its overall energy mix be renewable by the end of 2011. And its efficiency measures are such that Energy Minister Connie Hedegaard said last year, ‘In 2025, (Denmark’s) total energy consumption will not have risen in 50 years.’ … And Forbes says that’s great for business!”