Connie Hedegaard (DK) – KR Foundation & CONCITO

Connie Hedegaard has had climate action as a centrepiece of her political effort since she was appointed Minister of Environment to Denmark in 2004. Her political career she initiated in 1984 when she was elected to the Danish parliament as the youngest ever to exercise the mandate. In 1990 she decided to leave parliament and focus on a career in journalism, achieving 14 years in the print press, as TV anchor and as head of Danish Radio News (DR), respectively.

Connie Hedegaard was the European Commissioner for Climate Action from 2010 to 2014, during which she led the negotiations towards the adoption of the EU 2030 Climate and Energy Framework. As EU Commissioner, she was also responsible for the 2050 Roadmap for moving to a low carbon economy and represented the EU in the international climate negotiations. Prior to her position as Commissioner, she was the Danish Minister for The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen (2009), Danish Minister of Climate and Energy (2007-2009), and Danish Minister for Environment (2004-2007).

Currently Connie Hedegaard is chairing a number of foundations and executive boards, including OECD’s Round Table for Sustainability, KR Foundation, Aarhus University, and Denmark’s green think tank, Concito. Moreover, she serves as board member in Danfoss, Nordex, Teknologisk Institut , European Climate Foundation and the Danish Annual Democracy Festival, Folkemødet. Ms. Hedegaard holds a master’s degree in history and Literature and has authored and contributed to several books, publications and columns.