Former US Vice President Al Gore, has visited the Novo Nordisk headquarters in Bagsvaerd outside Copenhagen to learn of the company's work to address the climate change challenge and to share ideas on how to put a halt to global warming.
Gore accepted the invitation in recognition of the work that Novo Nordisk carries out in the field of sustainability and environmental issues. He met with some 300 Novo Nordisk employees, who are engaged in implementing the company's strategy to reduce its CO2 emissions. The debate focused on human-induced climate changes and what corporations like Novo Nordisk and individuals can do at work and at home.
The meeting was hosted by Lise Kingo, executive vice president, who is responsible for the company's climate strategy. It sets an ambitious target of an absolute reduction of the company's CO2 emissions of 10% by 2014 compared with 2004.
'We believe that our drive to reduce CO2 emissions is an obligation and also an opportunity to be better prepared for a carbon-constrained future and less vulnerable to fluctuation in energy prices,' said Kingo.
Novo Nordisk's climate strategy is closely linked with the company's strategy to expand the business while improving production efficiency. It has two elements: energy-saving initiatives, and more use of renewable energy. To inspire action, in November last year Novo Nordisk invited its employees to the movies to see Al Gore's Oscar award-winning film An Inconvenient Truth.