Like the story of your capital, my story shows how this can be done to the benefit of all. I'm a farmer who was born and raised on an island called Samso, just off the coast of Denmark. Back in 1995 at the UN climate talks in Kyoto, my country – along with Sweden and Germany – agreed to cut our greenhouse gas emissions by 21 per cent. To follow through on this commitment, Denmark launched a competition for communities. The prize? Becoming Denmark's first 100 per cent renewable energy community and "go-to" destination for people all around the world to understand how to successfully transition to a low-carbon economy. My island ended up winning the competition and becoming the world's first island powered by 100 per cent clean energy. Hard work and putting people first got us there within 10 years. At the beginning, we were a small, rural community of 5000 people who primarily relied on fossil fuels. Agriculture is Samso's main industry, followed by tourism. Like most rural communities, we're quite conservative when it comes to change. We know what we have, and it's good! We want to make sure that any improvements don't harm existing qualities. So, we started with each individual. Creating a long-term or "master" plan is fine, but you need to break this down, step by step, so every person – whether they be a farmer, business person or resident – can see what they will be required to do, and how this change can benefit them.

On our island, this included new income streams for our economy, new jobs for our residents, and even cheques in the mail for households – rather than an electricity bill – because people had the opportunity to become direct shareholders. A wind turbine looks different when you own it! Seeing such benefits can transform someone quickly from a so-called nimby (not in my backyard) to a yimby (yes, in my backyard). This is not unique to my island, or my country, of course. There are communities in Australia that are already switched on and creating their own community energy projects. Such people are turning their frustration at the political leaders into good; taking control of their power, creating local jobs and protecting their home for future generations. The examples are big (like Canberra and the ACT) and smaller. Victorian country town Yackandandah might be small, but its dreams are big: they want to become the first place in Australia to be 100 per cent renewable. Like us, they have involved people from the very beginning. They have organised lots of meetings, and talks about the future possibilities. They have answered questions, encouraged ideas and started small to demonstrate the benefits. A wind turbine looks different when you own it! Such benefits can transform someone quickly from a so-called nimby (not in my backyard) to a yimby (yes, in my backyard). Now, they have a perpetual energy fund that lots of people have chosen to invest in. This has already provided the health service with a solar system, and big savings in power bills as well as cuts to pollution. They have also invited AusNet Services into the town to chat about a mini-grid partnership. This means access to new technologies, as well as investment in the town.

Each community is different but that's the whole point. Lots of parts make up a whole and each place must be given the space and time to explore what is right for their community. If everything is concluded and described in detail – presented as a fait accompli – people rightly feel left out. Our people ensured we ended up in a much better place than where we started. We now supply 100 per cent of our own electricity needs with wind turbines. Boilers burn straw and distribute hot water to heat the majority of our houses. The rest use heat pumps, individual biomass boilers and/or solar thermal. Our carbon dioxide emissions are negative, as islanders traded petrol guzzlers for electric cars and our remaining transport is offset by our offshore wind turbines. We also attracted tens of millions of dollars in investment that's shared among all. Australia's politicians should take note: don't tell people what to do. Ask them what they are seeking for the future, and how they are prepared to help. Make them partners and along the way harvest their ideas, and their energy. You will reap what you sow. Soren Hermansen is chief executive of Samso Energy Academy and keynote speaker at the national Community Energy Congress, which begins in Melbourne on Monday.