Centre for Political Studies

Peter Metrak

Background

CEPOS is the Danish Centre for Political Studies - an independent research institution. CEPOS was founded on March 11, 2004 by Danisch academic, arts, business and media representatives. Chairman of the board is Bernt Johan Collet. The main aim of CEPOS is furthering and strenghtening the foundations of a freely functioning society - is dedicated to extending personal and economic freedom. CEPOS reaserches are supporters of tax-cuts and private enterprise. They also in favour of limited government. Examples of CEPOS acts can be as follows:CEPOS is in favour of opening Danish borders for emmigration and lesser re

CEPOS University

CEPOS launched its own university - CEPOS University in 2006, considered by other Danish universities as a high level university in terms of offered classes and learning. At the CEPOS University courses are taught by number of professors, the best teachers from universities, business leaders as well as media analysts. At the CEPOS University economic and political problems are discussed, following the free market and classical liberalism ideas. Additionally, CEPOS University offers number of summer seminars focused on everything from history and human rights to economics and law. CEPOS university offers serious involvement into politics without being attached to a particular party. Moreover, CEPOS University offers unique opportunity for anyone with a critical approach toward the current social debate.

Funding

It is commonly known that some of the organisations that challenge scientific warnings about the climate change have refused to reveal who finances their work. The absence of transparency rules in Europe allowed European independent think tanks to behave in a secretive fashion. CEPOS was among groups that refused to give precise details about how they are funded. According to Greenpeace report, Koch Industries, a U.S. conglomerate dominated by oil and chemical interest, by financing various groups, aiming to deny climate change and oppose clean energy. According to Greenpeace, from 2005 to 2009, Koch Industries contributed almost 25 million dollars to groups opposing renewable energy and decisive action aimed at reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. One of the research institutions linked to Koch Industries was CEPOS in Denmark. CEPOS in its publication questioned if Denmark’s investment in wind power was bringing environmental benefits and that publication was supported financially by the Institute for Energy Research (IER) in the U.S. That institute, in turn, according to Greenpeace, had been aided by Koch Industries. CEPOS Chief Executive made a controversial statement questioned whether CEPOS has ever received financial help from the fossil fuel industry and who has been funding CEPOS and was a main donor a . He generally replied ‘no’ and added that they don’t give out information about donors. However, according to Greenpeace, climate deniers create enough doubt about the climate science to limit public pressure on governments to act on climate change. Defending CEPOS irresponsibility accusations and disinformation about climate change, Martin Agerup stated that he is in favor of a free market approach towards environmental issues. He added that he is not denying that climate change is happening. However he added that he is septic towards the current approach on fixed targets of reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and legally-binding international agreements regarding this matter.

People

The chairman of the CEPOS board is Bernt Johan Collet, a former Danish Minister of Defense. He also serves as a chamberlain at Her Majesty's Court. Moreover, Bernt Johan Collet is Master of the Royal Hunt.

Another important person is Martin Agerup, Chief Executive for Cepos, economist and economic historian.

CEPOS report on wind energy

On of the studies made for CEPOS that received a great deal of attention was the study by Hugh Sharman on Danish wind experience. The main points made by author were on the costs of Danish power and on wind and the implications for the US. It is known that the cost of electricity in Denmark is high, but as the CEPOS study points out, this has not resulted from wind deployment, but from Danish tax polices. According to the European Union's statistics prepared by Eurostat, the pre-tax price of electricity for an average household in Denmark is almost equal to an average household in Europe. CEPOS emphasises that after taxation, the price of electricity significantly rises and is much more higher than in Europe. CEPOS stresses that although Denmark is a small country, but has been able to develop a great deal of wind power. The reason for that power is that Denmark is strongly inter-connected with its neighbours, Germany, Norway and Sweden. As a result Denmark can use their hydropower to balance the fluctuations that wind imposes on the system. Denmark has no electricity storage within its electricity system and because of the fact that Denmark neighbours have much lager power systems, they balance the stochastic variations in Denmark's wind power, turning their hydropower systems up and down. Hugh Sharman explains that these neighbouring countries play a role of the 'electric storage batteries' for Denmark.

CEPOS recently criticised the performance of Danish wind energy. CEPOS made a controversial study on wind energy, claiming that most of the Danish wind power has ben recently exported as well as using wind turbines in Denmark is an expensive way of reducing emissions of CO2. CEPOS stated in its report that usage of wind turbines causes energy taxes rising for private consumers in Denmark. The CEPOS report - many controversies rose around -

Controversies

It is known that CEPOS has been criticised for spreading disinformation regarding the Danish wind industry.

Connections

CEPOS has been known as an opinion-maker on controversial issues. One of the issues CEPOS was ivolved in was a survey on satisfaction of muslim immigrants living in Denmark. It is known that a survey conducted by Statistics Denmark