Samira Nawa, a member of the Danish parliament and the daughter of an Afghan refugee family, has been appointed Denmark’s Minister for Climate, Energy and Public Services. The appointment comes alongside the formation of a new coalition government led by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen following the March parliamentary elections. Nawa, a member of the Social Liberal Party, has served in Denmark’s parliament since 2019 and is regarded as a prominent figure in the fields of climate, economics and the labour market. She received the highest number of personal votes among candidates from her party in the latest election. Prior to joining the cabinet, she served as her party’s spokesperson on climate and energy and has advocated for the expansion of renewable energy, a reduction in dependence on fossil fuels, and investment in green infrastructure. Born in Aalborg, Denmark, to a family of Afghan refugees, Nawa holds a master’s degree in economics from the University of Copenhagen. The new Danish government is also the first in the country’s history in which women hold a majority of cabinet positions. Of the 21 ministers, 11 are women. In her new role, Nawa will be responsible for advancing policies related to renewable energy, green transition, and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
