COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT The EU Environmental Implementation Review 2019 Country Report - DENMARK Accompanying the document Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions Environmental Implementation Review 2019: A Europe that protects its citizens and enhances their quality of life - Main contents
Contents
| Document date | 15-04-2019 |
|---|---|
| Publication date | 16-04-2019 |
| Reference | 8302/19 ADD 25 |
| From | Secretary-General of the European Commission, signed by Mr Jordi AYET PUIGARNAU, Director |
| External link | original article |
| Original document in PDF |  |
Council of the European Union
Brussels, 15 April 2019 (OR. en)
8302/19 ADD 25
ENV 397 CLIMA 111 AGRI 201 PECHE 160 ECOFIN 380 COMPET 321
COVER NOTE
From: Secretary-General of the European Commission, signed by Mr Jordi AYET PUIGARNAU, Director
date of receipt: 5 April 2019
To: Mr Jeppe TRANHOLM-MIKKELSEN, Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union
No. Cion doc.: SWD(2019) 134 final
Subject: COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT
The EU Environmental Implementation Review 2019
Country Report - DENMARK
Accompanying the document
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions
Environmental Implementation Review 2019: A Europe that protects its citizens and enhances their quality of life
Delegations will find attached document SWD(2019) 134 final.
Encl.: SWD(2019) 134 final
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Brussels, 4.4.2019 SWD(2019) 134 final
COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT
The EU Environmental Implementation Review 2019
Country Report - DENMARK
Accompanying the document
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions
Environmental Implementation Review 2019:
A Europe that protects its citizens and enhances their quality of life
{COM(2019) 149 final i} - {SWD(2019) 111 final} - {SWD(2019) 112 final} - {SWD(2019) 113 final} - {SWD(2019) 114 final} - {SWD(2019) 115 final} - {SWD(2019) 116 final} - {SWD(2019) 117 final} - {SWD(2019) 118 final} - {SWD(2019) 119 final} - {SWD(2019) 120 final} - {SWD(2019) 121 final} - {SWD(2019) 122 final} - {SWD(2019) 123 final} - {SWD(2019) 124 final} - {SWD(2019) 125 final} - {SWD(2019) 126 final} - {SWD(2019) 127 final} - {SWD(2019) 128 final} - {SWD(2019) 129 final} - {SWD(2019) 130 final} - {SWD(2019) 131 final} - {SWD(2019) 132 final} - {SWD(2019) 133 final} - {SWD(2019) 135 final} - {SWD(2019) 136 final} - {SWD(2019) 137 final} - {SWD(2019) 138 final} - {SWD(2019) 139 final}
This report has been written by the staff of the Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission. Comments are welcome, please send them to ENV-EIR@ec.europa.eu
More information on the European Union is available at http://europa.eu .
Photographs: p. 13 — ©gettyimages/Nuthawut Somsuk; p. 18 — ©gettyimages/imagean; p. 23 — ©gettyimages/jonathanfilskov-photography; p. 24 — ©gettyimages/balipadma; p. 27 — ©iStock/t-lorien
For reproduction or use of these photos, permission must be sought directly from the copyright holder.
©European Union, 2019
Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged
Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................... 3
PART I: THEMATIC AREAS .............................................................................................................................. 5
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1.TURNING THE EU INTO A CIRCULAR, RESOURCE-EFFICIENT, GREEN AND COMPETITIVE LOW-
CARBON ECONOMY ....................................................................................................................................... 5
Measures towards a circular economy ...................................................................................................... 5
Waste management ................................................................................................................................... 8
Climate change ........................................................................................................................................... 9
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2.PROTECTING, CONSERVING AND ENHANCING NATURAL CAPITAL ................................................. 12
Nature and biodiversity ............................................................................................................................ 12
Maintaining and restoring ecosystems and their services ....................................................................... 13
Estimating natural capital ......................................................................................................................... 14
Invasive alien species ............................................................................................................................... 15
Soil protection .......................................................................................................................................... 15
Marine protection .................................................................................................................................... 16
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3.ENSURING CITIZENS’ HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE ....................................................................... 18
Air quality ................................................................................................................................................. 18
Industrial emissions .................................................................................................................................. 19
Noise ......................................................................................................................................................... 20
Water quality and management .............................................................................................................. 21
Chemicals ................................................................................................................................................. 23
Making cities more sustainable ................................................................................................................ 24
PART II: ENABLING FRAMEWORK: IMPLEMENTATION TOOLS ................................................................... 26
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4.GREEN TAXATION, GREEN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL FUNDING AND INVESTMENTS .............................................................................................................................................. 26
Green taxation and environmentally harmful subsidies .......................................................................... 26
Green public procurement ....................................................................................................................... 27
Environmental funding and investments ................................................................................................. 28
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5.STRENGTHENING ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE ........................................................................ 32
Information, public participation and access to justice ........................................................................... 32
Compliance assurance .............................................................................................................................. 33
Effectiveness of environmental administrations ...................................................................................... 34
International agreements ......................................................................................................................... 35
Sustainable development and the implementation of the UN SDGs ....................................................... 36
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
Executive summary
Denmark and the Environmental Implementation the latest data is encouraging with no exceedences Review (EIR) reported in 2017, air quality in Denmark continues to
In the 2017 EIR, the main challenges identified for the give cause for concern, especially in certain urban areas, implementation of EU environmental policy and law in so much that the Commission has instituted infringement
Denmark were: procedures against Denmark among other Member States. The Danish Government launched a clean air
• the need to reduce pressures on nature from package in October 2018 to reduce air pollution in larger
intensive agriculture, including the use of pesticides cities and phase-out diesel and gasoline vehicles, and to
and nutrients; meet the reduction targets under the NEC directive.
• the need to improve air quality, especially in
densely populated areas. On waste prevention, Denmark has taken appropriate steps to improve waste management and implement the
Since the 2017 EIR, Denmark has not organised an EIR current European waste targets. However, this limited national dialogue that would have made it possible to progress shows that more effort will be required to address the above challenges. In 2017, the Commission ensure compliance with the recycling targets for the launched a new tool to promote peer-to-peer learning post-2020 period. In particular, this will require action to between environmental authorities. The tool is called reduce the incineration (with energy recovery) of TAIEX-EIR P2P (short for ‘Technical Assistance and municipal waste.
Information Exchange – Environmental Information
Report – Peer-to-Peer). In 2018, Denmark has A strong driver of eco-innovation in Danish exports has participated in several peer-to-peer events organised been green-energy technology and services. These through this tool. The events were organised to exchange exports have been promoted by Denmark’s strong knowledge and experience on waste management, export-financing support. The government also provides implementation of the EU Timber Regulation, and other forms of assistance for the internationalisation of reducing emissions from domestic heating. innovation and business.
Progress on meeting challenges since the 2017 EIR Examples of good practice
• On urban mobility, private vehicles are the most
The 2019 EIR shows that environmental policy
implementation in Denmark remains at a high standard. frequently used mode of transport in Denmark, as is the case in most Member States. However, cycling is
For pressures on nature from intensive agriculture, the also remarkably popular, accounting for more than 2019 EIR shows that Denmark is changing its legislation 20 % of all trips. Public transport is also strong, implementing the Nitrates Directive. The revised providing transport to 13 % of Danish commuters.
legislation moves implementation of this Directive • The percentage of SMEs that offer green products or
towards a more targeted system. Agricultural pressures
and existing water quality issues mean that Denmark services is significantly higher than the EU average. must ensure that these changes are accompanied by: (i) In addition, the percentage of Danish companies that clear environmental objectives and targets, and (ii) generate a majority of their income from green effective enforcement mechanisms. These objectives, products and services is greater than the EU average. targets and enforcement mechanisms must ensure the There are two other factors that could help Denmark necessary and timely reduction in nutrient pollution in to innovate and thrive in the circular economy: the Danish waters and in the Baltic Sea. Encouragingly, there large number of ‘frontrunners’ that produce have been recent reports of improvements in the status advanced green products and services; and the of species and habitats that were previously affected by country’s open cooperation culture.
nutrient pollution. • Denmark has been recognised for its efforts to
For air quality, the emission of several air pollutants has create liveable urban areas in which green decreased significantly in Denmark since the 2017 EIR. infrastructure plays an important role. The Also emissions of fine particulate matter fell between Copenhagen municipality has adopted a policy to 2000 and 2016. Despite these emission reductions, make trees a greater priority in the city. In addition, Denmark must make additional efforts to achieve the the 2016 Nordic Council of Ministers gave a Nordic emission reduction commitments for the period 2020 to Built Cities Challenge award to a park in 2029 and for any year from 2030. Although in Denmark Copenhagen. The award recognised the park’s
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
innovative use of ‘blue-green infrastructure’ to manage rainwater from cloudbursts.
• Denmark’s consistent culture of transparency is an
example of good practice in environmental compliance assurance.
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
Part I: Thematic areas
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1.Turning the EU into a circular, resource-efficient, green and
competitive low-carbon economy
Measures towards a circular economy showing better results than Denmark.
Figure 1: Resource productivity 2010-2017 5
The Circular Economy Action Plan emphasises the need to move towards a life-cycle-driven ‘circular’ economy, reusing resources as much as possible and bringing residual waste close to zero. This can be facilitated by developing and providing access to innovative financial instruments and funding for eco-innovation.
Following the adoption of the Circular Economy Action
Plan in 2015 and the setting up of a related stakeholder platform in 2017, the European Commission adopted a new package of deliverables in January 2018 1 . This included additional initiatives such as: (i) an EU strategy for plastics; (ii) a Communication on how to address the interplay between chemical, product and waste
legislation; (iii) a report on critical raw materials; and (iv) The Danish Advisory Board for Circular Economy was set a framework to monitor progress towards a circular up in 2017. The Board has proposed 27 economy 2 . recommendations to promote the circular economy in The circular (secondary) use of material in Denmark was Denmark. In September 2018, the Danish government 8.2 % in 2016 (below the EU-28 average of 11.7 %). The followed up on the recommendations with its Strategy number of people in Denmark employed in the circular for circular economy, which was followed by a supporting economy is slightly less than the EU-28 average (1.1.36 % political agreement in October 2018. The strategy and of total employment in 2016 compared to an EU-28 the political agreement include 16 initiatives funded by average of 1.73 %). DKK 116 million (approx. EUR 15.7 million) in 2019-22.
In the 2017 Special Eurobarometer 468 3 on attitudes of The Danish government has started to include the EU citizens towards the environment, 88 % of Danes said circular economy as a topic for discussion in international they were concerned about the effects of plastic trips made by government ministers. For example, the products on the environment (EU-28 average 87 %). 87 % circular economy was a topic addressed by Prime said they were worried about the impact of chemicals Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen in his visits to China and (the EU-28 average was 90 %). There appears to be Indonesia in 2017. strong support in Danish society for circular economy In 2017, the Danish government announced that initiatives and environmental protection actions. Denmark would work on a new national action plan on In 2017, Denmark’s resource productivity 4 (how plastics as a follow-up to the 2018 EU strategy for efficiently the economy uses material resources to plastics. Work on this action plan was ongoing end of produce wealth) in value produced per kg of resources 2018. used was 1.98 EUR/kg. This was just below the EU According to a recent survey of Danish companies on the average of 2.04 EUR/kg (Figure 1), with nine countries circular economy 6 , 88 % of Danish companies had
positive views of the circular economy. The survey 1 European Commission, 2018 Circular Economy Package . showed that Danish companies believed their lack of
3 European Commission, Special 468 Eurobarometer , "Attitudes of
European citizens towards the environment", 2017. 5 Eurostat, Resource productivity.
4 Resource productivity is defined as the ratio between gross domestic 6 Danish EPA, Miljøstyrelsen, Danskerne omfavner cirkulær økonomi , product (GDP) and domestic material consumption (DMC). 2017.
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
relevant knowledge was the main barrier preventing example, the percentage of companies that invested in them from getting more involved in the circular energy saving fell 16 % to 55 % of all companies. This economy. 30 % of respondents to the survey found that trend will likely continue, as 50 % of Danish companies advice and consulting services were crucial in helping do not plan to make further investments in resource them to engage in the circular economy. efficiency in the next 2 years — one of the highest rates
The number of EU Ecolabel products and EMAS licensed in the EU.
organisations 7 in a country can give a rough Figure 2: Environmental performance of SMEs 10
measurement of this transition. These two indicators show to what extent the circular economy transition is engaging the private sector and other national stakeholders. These two indicators also show the commitment of public authorities to policies that support the circular economy. As of September 2018, Denmark had 1166 products and 56 licences registered in the EU
Ecolabel scheme out of a total of 71 707 products and
2167 licences in the EU. This shows there has been a high take-up of these schemes in Denmark 8 . Moreover, 28 organisations from Denmark were registered as of May
2018 in EMAS.
SMEs and resource efficiency
Danish SMEs continue to score above the EU average in the environmental aspects of the small business act 10 , as shown in Figure 2. The share of Danish SMEs that recently took resource-efficiency measures and the share that have benefitted from public support measures for production of green products are slightly below the EU average.
The percentage of SMEs that offer green products or
services is significantly higher than the EU average. A Only 27 % of Danish companies (against an EU average of greater percentage of Danish companies than the EU 22 %, with a range between 3 % and 38 %) relied on average generate a majority of their turnover from green ‘external’ support (help from outside their companies, products and services. Denmark has been a strong whether public or private) in their efforts to be more performer in environmental policies for many years and resource efficient. 64 % of Danish companies took advice has well-established support programmes for innovators. from private consultants, the highest rate across the EU,
The latest Eurobarometer on ‘SMEs, resource efficiency while 54 % of Danish companies took advice from and green markets’ 9 asked companies about both recent business associations. Public administration assistance resource-efficiency actions they had taken and additional played less of a role in Danish SMEs (used by only 19 % of resource-efficiency actions they planned to take in the companies), and public-sector grants played a marginal next two years. The Eurobarometer then compared these role (used by only 7 % of companies).
responses with responses given to the same questions in 30 % of Danish companies said that external consultancy 2015. Only 15 % of surveyed Danish companies had not on resource efficiency was helpful. 28 % of companies undertaken an investment in resource efficiency between said that grants and subsidies were helpful. Danish 2015 and 2017. However, there was a decline in the companies generally found other forms of support to be percentage of companies that were investing. For less useful than the EU average, with the exception of
reference databases (which were rated as helpful by 17 % 7 EMAS is the European Commission’s Eco-Management and Audit of Danish companies against an EU average of 13 %) and Scheme – a programme to encourage organisations to behave in a more self-assessment tools (which were rated as helpful by
environmentally sustainable way, Eco-Management and Audit Scheme.
8 European Commission, Ecolabel Facts and Figures . 19 % of Danish companies against an EU average of
9 Flash Eurobarometer 456 ‘SME, resource efficiency and green 15 %).
markets’ January 2018. The 8 dimension were Save energy; Minimise waste; Save materials; Save Water; Recycle by reusing material internally; Design products easier to maintain, repair or reuse; Use renewable energy; Sell scrap materials to another company. 10 European Commission, 2018 SBA fact sheet - Denmark , p. 16.
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
Danish SMEs have an advanced understanding of Figure 4: Denmark’s eco-innovation performance resource efficiency, but their ambition to invest in it must be maintained. The large number of frontrunners that produce green products and services, and Denmark’s open cooperation culture could give Danish SMEs a strategic advantage in producing innovations for the circular economy.
Danish companies find their high-performing consulting sector to be very helpful, and these consulting companies should find additional markets across the EU.
Eco-innovation Technology and services for green energy has been a strong driver of eco-innovation in Danish exports.
In 2018, Denmark ranked second on the European Denmark has a strong support framework of export
Innovation Scoreboard 2018, and was the 18 th -fastest financing and assistance to help companies growing innovator (only 0.7 % increase since 2010) 11 . internationalise their innovations and other commercial However, the country ranked only fifth in the overall activities. In 2016 Danish companies exported energy 2017 EU Eco-innovation index (see Figure 3). This is a technology for DKK 75.6 billion and services for DKK 8.2 slightly lower ranking compared to the fourth position billion (i.e. respectively around EUR 10.13 and 1.09 Denmark occupied in 2016 and the third position it billion) 13 .
occupied in 2015. Overall, since the first Eco-innovation
Scoreboard in 2010, Denmark has never been ranked Overall, Denmark has a strong science base and a strong below fifth place and is considered to be among the lead foundation for business innovation. Denmark’s R&D
countries in the EU. intensity (a measure of the percentage of GDP spent on R&D) has been at around the EU 2020 target of 3 % of Figure 3: 2017 Eco-innovation index (EU=100) 12 GDP since 2009. In 2016, it reached 2.9 % of GDP, and in that year Denmark’s R&D intensity was the fourth highest
in the EU (Eurostat, 2018b). Denmark also has the second-highest public R&D intensity, following a small contraction in 2016, and the fourth highest Business enterprise R&D (BERD) intensity in Europe. SMEs have good access to investment and funding, both public and private. However, there is room to further streamline public funding programmes for Danish SMEs. The private sector accounts roughly for 2/3 of total public R&D intensity, and more initiatives have been launched to
support start-ups and SMEs.
Another area that has improved is cooperation between universities and businesses. This cooperation has sought to ensure that Denmark’s high public investment in university-based R&D leads to ground-breaking innovation, productivity, employment and economic growth. Denmark already sought to address this issue with its innovation strategy, entitled ‘Denmark — a nation of solutions (2012-2020)’. The Danish government
continues to work on this issue 14 .
However, since 2010, Denmark has seen its eco Ecoinnovation.dk is the Danish eco-innovation innovation performance decline, from 149 points to a low programme
15 . It began in 2007. Its objective is to help
of 120 in 2017 (see Figure 4). Danish companies develop, test and demonstrate new
environmental technology. It seeks to promote
13 Danish Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate, 2017.
11 European Commission, European innovation Scoreboard 2018 . 14 Denmark - Ready to seize future opportunities .
12 European Commission, Eco-innovation Observatory : Eco-Innovation 15 In Danish: MUDP — Miljøteknologisk Udviklings- og scoreboard 2018. Demonstrationsprojekt.
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
technology that: (i) delivers better and more costin more than 6 600 Danish companies with a total effective environmental solutions, and (ii) has the commitment of more than DKK 20 billion (EUR 2.7 potential to contribute to increased exports and more billion) (www.vf.dk)
green jobs in Denmark. • The FORSK2025 (RESEARCH2025) catalogue identifies
Denmark has a number of established financing promising Danish research areas that could be instruments to promote eco-innovation. Some of these sources of growth, employment and welfare in the
instruments are described in more detail below. future. Its search criteria are based on a number of significant challenges facing society in general and
• The Danish Green Investment Fund (Danmarks Denmark in particular.
Grønne Investeringsfond) is an independent state
loan fund. Its purpose is to co-finance economically Waste management
viable projects that support sustainable development
in Denmark. The fund seeks to bridge the gap Turning waste into a resource is supported by: between traditional bank financing and equity capital. (i) fully implementing EU waste legislation, which
• The Innovation Network for Environmental includes the waste hierarchy, the need to ensure Technology (Inno-MT) is a partnership that supports separate collection of waste, the landfill diversion projects dealing with waste, air, water and soil. A targets, etc.; project may involve any form of technological (ii) reducing waste generation and waste generation per development, service innovation or similar capita in absolute terms; and environmental technology. Funding of between DKK (iii) limiting energy recovery to non-recyclable materials 100 000 (EUR 13 400) and DKK 400 000 (EUR 53 600) and phasing out landfilling of recyclable or recoverable is available for each project. This money can cover waste.
costs for advice and technical assistance from the
network’s knowledge partners. This section focuses on management of municipal
• Technology Demands is a new fund set up by Innowaste 17 for which EU law sets mandatory recycling MT. It provides funding for innovation projects targets
18 .
involving universities and SMEs. Technology Demand In 2017, the amount of municipal waste generated in is aimed at companies that either: (i) possess Denmark was the highest in the EU (781 kg per year per technological knowledge that is in high demand, or (ii) inhabitant compared to the EU average of 487 kg per face environmental challenges. Technology Demand year per inhabitant). However, this high figure is partly gives funding of up to DKK 150 000 (EUR 20 100) per linked to a methodological issue about how to define
project. This funding pays for advice and municipal waste. technological assistance 16 .
• The Energy Technology Development and Figure 5 depicts municipal waste by treatment in Demonstration Programme (Energiteknologisk Denmark in kg per capita. It shows that levels of recycling udvikling og demonstration) is a public grant scheme. is increasing and incineration is decreasing, although The scheme supports new energy technologies that levels remained stable in 2017, with landfill continuously can help meet Denmark’s energy and climate goals. at a low level.
• Innovation Fund Denmark (Innovationsfonden) was Denmark has a high percentage of incinerated waste in
set up in 2014. The fund invests in new knowledge the EU (52.8 %) (EU average is around 28 %), but in and early-stage technology, when other funding Denmark incineration has to include energy recovery, institutions might not be convinced of its potential. which is not the case in a number of other EU countries. Innovation Fund Denmark does not take any stake in 46 % of municipal waste was recycled in 2017, which is the project nor does it request repayment of its the same figure than the EU average (46 %). Denmark has grants. one of the lowest proportions of landfilled municipal
• The Danish Growth Fund (Vækstfonden) is a state waste in the EU (1 %) (EU average is around 24 %).
investment fund that contributes to the creation of
new companies by providing capital and expertise. Figure 6 shows that Denmark almost achieved its
The Danish Growth Fund invests equity, and also
provides loans and guarantees for SMEs in 17 Municipal waste consists of mixed waste and separately collected
collaboration with private partners and Danish waste from households and from other sources, where such waste is
financial institutions. Since 1992, the Danish Growth similar in nature and composition to waste from households. This is without prejudice to the allocation of responsibilities for waste
Fund and private investors have co-financed growth management between public and private sectors.
18 See Article 11.2 of Directive 2008/98/EC . This Directive was amended in 2018 by Directive (EU) 2018/851, and more ambitious recycling
16 Innovation Network for Environmental Technologies . targets were introduced for the period up to 2035.
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
recycling rate to achieve the EU 2020 target of 50 % 19 . targets for the post-2020 period 22 . This will require action
Figure 5: Municipal waste by treatment in Denmark to reduce incineration with energy recovery of municipal 2010-201720 waste in particular.
Investments will be needed higher in the waste hierarchy as well as for recycling in order to meet the more ambitious post 2020 targets and to promote the circular economy. Moreover, projects improving waste data reporting and extended producer responsibility would be crucial, as well as capacity building projects for municipalities to realise the necessary waste management reforms in the country. The investments should also prioritise projects in waste prevention, including re-use projects and awareness raising. Investments should not be directed to the treatment of
residual waste in incinerators with energy recovery.
2019 priority actions
• Introduce new policy instruments, including economic
instruments. These instruments should: (i) promote waste prevention, (ii) make waste reuse and recycling
Figure 6: Recycling rate of municipal waste 2010-2017 21 more economically attractive.
• Shift reusable and recyclable waste away from
incineration with energy recovery.
Climate change
The EU has committed to undertaking ambitious climate action internationally as well as in the EU, having ratified the Paris Climate Agreement on 5 October 2016. The EU targets are to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 20 % by 2020 and by at least 40 % by 2030, compared to 1990. As a long-term target, the EU aims to reduce its emissions by 80-95 % by 2050, as part of the efforts required by developed countries as a group. Adapting to the adverse effects of climate change is vital to alleviate its already visible effects and improve preparedness for
and resilience to future impacts.
For emissions not covered by the EU ETS, Member States
Denmark has taken appropriate steps to improve waste have binding national targets under the effort sharing management and implement the current European waste legislation. Denmark has had lower emissions than its targets. It remains one of the countries in the EU that annual targets in each of the years from 2013 to 2017. produces more municipal waste per capita, and much of For 2020, Denmark’s national target under this Decision this waste is incinerated with energy recovery. is to reduce emissions by 20 % compared to 2005, and for Denmark’s waste management plan aims to shift away 2030 it is to reduce emissions by 39 % compared to 2005.
from incineration with energy recovery towards more
recycling. However, it is clear that Denmark must make The current energy plan ends in 2020 and in June 2018 more effort to ensure compliance with the recycling the government and the Parliament signed an energy
agreement for the period after 2020. Funding has been agreed that sets a course towards a share of renewable
19 Member States may choose a different method than the one used by
ESTAT (and referred to in this report) to calculate their recycling rates 22 Directive (EU) 2018/851 , Directive (EU) 2018/852 , Directive (EU) and track compliance with the 2020 target of 50 % recycling of 2018/850 and Directive (EU) 2018/849 amend the previous waste municipal waste. legislation and set more ambitious recycling targets for the period up to 20 Eurostat, Municipal waste by waste operations. 2035. These targets will be taken into consideration to assess progress 21 Eurostat, Recycling rate of municipal waste . in future Environmental Implementation Reports.
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
energy of approximately 55% by 2030. The plan will also 2012 to 2015. phase out coal-based power and give Denmark a share of
renewable energy in electricity above 100% of The F-gas Regulation requires Member States to run consumption, while ensuring that at least 90% of district training and certification programmes, introduce rules for heating consumption is based on energy sources other penalties and notify these measures to the Commission than coal, oil or gas by 2030. In accordance with the Paris by 2017. Denmark has notified both measures.
Agreement, Denmark will work towards net zero The accounting of GHG emissions and removals from emissions in the EU and Denmark by 2050 at the latest. forests and agriculture is governed by the Kyoto Protocol.
In October 2018, the Government presented a climate A preliminary accounting exercise for the period 2013- and air proposal “Together for a greener future” to 2016 shows that Denmark had net credits of, on average, ensure that Denmark continues to enjoy access to clean -2.8 Mt CO 2 -eq, which corresponds to 2.4% of the EU-28 air and a stable climate. accounted sink of -115.7 Mt CO 2 -eq.
Figure 7: Change in total GHG emissions 1990-2017 The EU Strategy on adaptation to climate change,
(1990=100 %) 23 . adopted in 2013, aims to make Europe more climateresilient, by promoting action by Member States, betterinformed
decision making, and promoting adaptation in key vulnerable sectors. By adopting a coherent approach and providing for improved coordination, it seeks to enhance the preparedness and capacity of all governance
levels to respond to the impacts of climate change.
Figure 8: Targets and emissions for Denmark under the Effort Sharing Decision and Effort Sharing Regulation 24 .
The proposal includes 38 concrete initiatives to spur the green transition in Denmark towards 2030. These include a stop on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in 2030 and plug-in-hybrid cars in 2035 – and other initiatives for cleaner transport in cities and the countryside, a more efficient and modern agriculture, more environmentallyfriendly shipping, and a green transition in housing and
industry. The Danish national adaptation strategy was adopted in 2008. It identifies 14 priority sectors: construction and
The draft national energy and climate plan, which is housing, coasts and ports, transport, water, agriculture, developed in the context of the Energy Union initiative, forestry, fisheries, energy, tourism, nature, health, builds on the energy agreement and the climate and air emergency preparedness, insurance and spatial planning. proposal. An action plan for a climate-proof Denmark was launched
Transport emissions in Denmark increased by 2 % from in 2012, based on the belief that a responsible climate policy must involve both short-term and long-term
23 Annual European Union greenhouse gas inventory 1990–2016 ( EEA actions. So far, Denmark does not appear to have set up
greenhouse gas data viewer ). Proxy GHG emission estimates for
2017Approximated EU greenhouse gas inventory 2017 (European 24 Proxy GHG emission estimates for 2017Approximated EU greenhouse Environment Agency). Member States national projections, reviewed by gas inventory 2017 (European Environment Agency). Member States the European Environment Agency. national projections, reviewed by the European Environment Agency.
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
an overall monitoring and evaluation mechanism for climate-change adaptation. Nor does Denmark appear to have produced clear reports detailing its progress on adaptation in different sectors.
Figure 9: GHG emissions by sector (Mt. CO2-eq.)
(historical data 1990-2016; projections 2017-2030) 25 .
The total revenue from the auctioning of emission allowances under the EU ETS in the years 2013-2017 was
EUR 301 million. Denmark does not earmark auctioning revenues for specific uses. On average, 100 % of the auctioning revenues is reported to have been spent on climate and energy policies.
2019 priority action
In this report, no priority actions have been included on climate action, as the Commission will first need to assess the draft national energy and climate plans which the
Member States needed to send by end of 2018. These plans should increase the consistency between energy and climate policies and could therefore become a good example of how to link sector-specific policies on other interlinked themes such as agriculture-nature-water and transport-air-health.
25 Annual European Union greenhouse gas inventory 1990–2016 ( EEA greenhouse gas data viewer ). Proxy GHG emission estimates for 2017.
Approximated EU greenhouse gas inventory 2017 (European
Environment Agency). Member States national projections, reviewed by the European Environment Agency.
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
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2.Protecting, conserving and enhancing natural capital
Nature and biodiversity occurring in Denmark, the Natura 2000 network in Denmark is almost complete and close to complete in the
The EU biodiversity strategy aims to halt the loss of Atlantic and Continental terrestrial region, the Marine biodiversity in the EU by 2020. It requires full Atlantic region and the Baltic region.
implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives to All these sites have been designated as special areas of achieve favourable conservation status of protected conservation (SAC). Conservation objectives and species and habitats. It also requires that the agricultural measures have been drawn up for each of these sites.
and forest sectors help to maintain and improve
biodiversity. Denmark is an agricultural country, with approximately
two thirds of the land area under cultivation, though this
Biodiversity strategy has been declining steadily for many years. The area of
open natural habitat has also declined considerably over
Denmark’s national biodiversity strategy is entitled ‘The the past century, but is now relatively stable at around Danish Nature Policy — Our Shared Nature’. Adopted in 10 % of Denmark’s territory. The Danish marine 2014, it contains a long-term vision to 2050 and serves as environment is of great importance: its relatively shallow Denmark’s revised national biodiversity strategy and waters contain marine habitat types that sustain action plan. Since 2016, it has been under revision by the internationally significant numbers of waterfowl.
Danish government.
27 % of Denmark’s plant and animal species that have
Setting up a coherent network of Natura 2000 sites been studied or assessed are ‘red-listed’ 27 . 54 % of redlisted
species are associated with forest habitats. Threats
On the basis of the latest update on the assessment of facing these protected species and habitats include The Birds and Habitats directives, Denmark’s terrestrial fragmentation of populations, deteriorating habitats and Natura 2000 network under the Birds and Habitats climate change. Intensive agriculture, including the use of Directives is now considered to be complete. pesticides and nutrients, continues to impact
The Danish government has initiated a procedure to biodiversity, the aquatic environment, and drinking adjust the boundaries of the sites within its Natura 2000 water. The nitrogen load has decreased in recent years. network. This procedure will be finished by the end of Although the use of pesticides has been increasing since 2018. The Commission will then carry out a detailed 2014, pesticides with a higher impact on health and the analysis of the proposed changes. environment have been substituted for pesticides with a
In early 2016, 8.3 % of the Danish national territory was lower impact.
covered by Natura 2000 sites (the EU average was The 2017 EIR referred to the latest report on the 18.1 %). Birds Directive special protection areas (SPAs) conservation status of habitats and species. New data covered 6.0 % (EU average 12.3 %) and Habitats Directive will be available for the next EIR.
sites of community importance (SCIs) covered 7.4 % (EU One especially alarming fact is that all forest habitat average 13.8 %). Furthermore, Denmark has designated assessments are unfavourable. Most of Denmark’s substantial marine areas, covering around 17 % of Danish grassland, bog, mire and coastal habitat types also have waters. Altogether, there are 364 Natura 2000 sites in unfavourable status. Denmark is one of the countries in Denmark (113 SPAs and 261 Special Areas of the EU that reports the most habitat assessments with Conservation), although many of these overlap with each unfavourable status. Agriculture and pollution are the other. most frequently reported pressures of high importance in
Designating Natura 2000 sites and setting conservation objectives and measures expressed as a percentage of species and habitats for which further
Based on an assessment of the sufficiency of the SCI areas need to be designated in order to complete the network in that country. A scientific reserve is given when further research is needed to
network 26 for Annex II species and Annex I habitats identify the most appropriate sites to be added for a species or habitat.
The current data , which were assessed in 2014-2015, reflect the situation up until December 2013.
26 For each Member State, the Commission assesses whether the 27 The IUCN Red List is the world’s most comprehensive inventory of the species and habitat types on Annexes I and II of the Habitats Directive, global conservation status of biological species. It is set upon precise are sufficiently represented by the sites designated to date. This is criteria to evaluate the extinction risk of thousands of species.
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
Denmark. The structures and functions of all forest types Overall, it is acknowledged that improvements in the are reported to be in highly unfavourable status. The high status of species and habitats have recently been levels of airborne deposition of nitrogen are indicated as reported in Denmark.
a threat. 2019 priority actions
Marine habitats in Denmark are still being affected by
nutrients supplied from surface water and from • Make further efforts to ensure that the Natura 2000
atmospheric deposition. However, in recent years there network is managed in a way that achieves the have been good efforts to limit emissions. favourable conservation status of protected habitats
and species, especially by reducing the pressures
Species assessments are generally more favourable than from agriculture. habitat assessments in Denmark. 34 % of species (other • Put in place clearly defined conservation objectives, than birds) have favourable status (against an EU-27 and the necessary conservation measures for the average of 23 %). 13 % of species other than birds are sites. Provide adequate resources so that they may assessed as having unfavourable-inadequate status meet their objective of maintaining or restoring (against an EU-27 average of 42 %). However 28 % of species and habitats of community interest to a species other than birds have unfavourable-bad status favourable conservation status across their natural (against an EU-27 average of 18 %). range.
Maintaining and restoring ecosystems and their services
The EU biodiversity strategy aims to maintain and restore ecosystems and their services by including green infrastructure in spatial planning and restoring at least 15 % of degraded ecosystems by 2020. The EU green infrastructure strategy promotes the incorporation of
green infrastructure into related plans and programmes.
The EU has provided guidance on the further deployment of green and blue infrastructure in Denmark 28 and a
The Danish government has informed the Commission country page on the Biodiversity Information System for Europe (BISE) 29 . This information will also contribute to
that national initiatives planned in the country’s Nature the final evaluation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to
Package (Naturpakken) include an additional 13 300 ha of
high-nature-value forest in the national forests (owned 2020.
by the government) and at least 900 additional ha of In Denmark, green infrastructure is addressed in several high-nature-value privately owned forests. National national and regional documents that deal with spatial funding for 2016-2021 is DKK 87.9 million and DKK 20 planning. Green infrastructure is also referred to in million annually from 2021 (not including EU-funding). legislation dealing with nature protection, forestry, The overall financial framework for the Natura 2000 sites national parks and land distribution.
for the management planning period 2016-2021 was
decided with the political agreement on the Food and Denmark has been recognised and awarded for its efforts to create liveable urban areas in which green
Agricultural Package with c. 1.8 billion DKK allocated for infrastructure plays an important role. The Copenhagen Natura 2000, mainly via the Rural Development municipality has adopted a policy to make trees a greater Programme. The Government has also pledged to priority in the city between 2016 and 2025. In addition, contribute DKK 48 million (c. EUR 6.5 million) to two new the 2016 Nordic Council of Ministers gave a Nordic Built LIFE projects in Denmark, co-financed by the EU. Cities Challenge award to a park in Copenhagen. The
Progress in maintaining or restoring favourable award recognised the park’s innovative use of ‘blueconservation
status of species and habitats green infrastructure’ to manage rainwater from cloudbursts in the Hans Tavsens Park in Copenhagen.
Considering that Member States report every 6 years on the progress made under both directives, no new information is available on the state of natural habitats 28 The recommendations of the green infrastructure strategy review and species, or on progress made in improving the report and the EU Guidance on a strategic framework for further
conservation status of species and habitats in Denmark, supporting the deployment of EU-level green and blue infrastructure . 29 as compared to the 2017 EIR. Biodiversity Information System for Europe.
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
To help municipalities develop a ‘green map’ of Estimating natural capital
Denmark 30 and improve land-use planning, the Danish
Environmental Protection Agency developed a new The EU biodiversity strategy calls on Member States to digital mapping service of biodiversity in Denmark map and assess the state of ecosystems and their (‘biodiversitetskort’). This map provides information services
33 in their national territories by 2014, assess the
about the distribution of threatened and vulnerable economic value of such services and integrate these species. It also provides an overview of high-value natural values into accounting and reporting systems at EU and areas. It is part of a suite of mapping services known as national level by 2020.
the Nature Map (‘naturkort’).
Denmark has its own MAES website on the Biodiversity
The Danish government agreed on a package of nature Information System for Europe platform (BISE). Since policies in May 2016 and a package of food and 2015, Denmark has not provided any new information on
agriculture policies 31 in December 2016. These policies this website about its work on the mapping and
will constitute the framework for promoting green assessment of ecosystems and their services.
infrastructure in agriculture. In 2016-2019, a national
scheme is being implemented to support hedgerows. Its Denmark has accomplished a full-scale mapping of its main purpose is to increase biodiversity in open ecosystems, and provided an overview of the status of agricultural land. In addition, 4 500 ha of carbon-rich the ongoing ecosystem-service mapping for 16 organic soils will be set aside by 2020 to restore or ecosystem services. An overview of existing data sources improve natural habitats to support biodiversity and and methods used is synthesised in tables. The report climate-change mitigation. shows that there is an unexploited potential for
combining modelling and mapping of ecosystems
The government’s reforestation scheme has been funded services and economic valuation of biodiversity and via the Danish Nature Protection Act, and co-funded by ecosystem services in Denmark. Mapping of the water utilities and municipal funds. The Nature Fund distribution of species shows a clear correlation between (‘Den Danske Naturfond’ 32 ) is a public-private partnership land use categories and biodiversity.
that supports projects that expand and/or improve
natural areas. Other green infrastructure initiatives can A follow-up MAES project started 2015 and a report was be financed by EAFRD measures and national budgets. published in 2017
34
. It illustrates in which cases and
The government has pledged to contribute DKK 48 under which circumstances synergies and trade-offs are million (around EUR 6.5 million) to two new LIFE projects found for six different scenarios between six ecosystem in Denmark that are co-financed by the EU. services and biodiversity.
As a densely populated and highly urban and suburban Overall, the project has shown that it is possible to country, Denmark faces high competition for space and combine existing spatial data layers and models and potentially limited opportunities for the development of thereby facilitating analyses of the effects of land use green infrastructure. ‘Greening’ agricultural land and changes across many ecosystem services and biodiversity management practices remains a challenge for indicators. Moreover, it has been shown that it is developing green infrastructure. possible to combine bio-physical modelling of ecosystem
services with spatially specific data and economic
Denmark is required to provide information about valuation.
progress on a prioritisation framework for the restoration
of biodiversity, as provided for under Action 6(a) of the Figure 10: Implementation of MAES (September 2018)
EU biodiversity strategy. It is also required to provide information on other strategic approaches to biodiversity restoration.
Business and biodiversity platforms, networks and 30 The idea of a Green Map of Denmark (‘Grønt Danmarkskort’) was communities of practice are key tools for promoting and
introduced in the Danish Spatial Planning Act in 2015 with the aim to, for instance, ensure that the most valuable Danish nature is sufficiently interconnected to allow species to spread and thrive. 33 Ecosystem services are benefits provided by nature such as food,
31 Fødevare- og landbrugspakke. clean water and pollination on which human society depends.
32 The Danish Nature Fund. 34 BISE, Green Infrastructure in Denmark.
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
facilitating natural capital assessments among business Invasive Alien Species Regulation whenever an invasive and financial service providers, for instance via the alien species of Union concern not previously present in a Natural Capital Coalition’s protocol 35 . The assessments country is detected in a country for the first time. contribute to the EU biodiversity strategy by helping Notifications are also required when an invasive alien private businesses better understand and value both species of Union concern that was previously believed to their impact and dependence on nature. Biodiversity be eradicated from a country reappears. The Danish
platforms have been established at EU level 36 and in a notification was for ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis).
number of Member States. Eradication measures are ongoing.
Denmark has not yet established such a platform. Figure 11: Number of IAS of EU concern, based on
2019 priority action available georeferenced information for Denmark
37
• Denmark is encouraged to start working on a
nationwide MAES-type initiative to develop a natural capital accounting system.
Invasive alien species
Under the EU biodiversity strategy, the following are to be achieved by 2020:
(i) invasive alien species identified;
(ii) priority species controlled or eradicated; and
(iii) pathways managed to prevent new invasive species from disrupting European biodiversity.
This is supported by the Invasive Alien Species (IAS)
Regulation, which entered into force on 1 January 2015.
In 2017, the EU released a report on the baseline distribution of invasive alien species of Union concern
(Figure 11). Denmark reviewed its country and grid-level
data to contribute to this report. The report shows that Denmark has notified the Commission of its competent of the 37 species on the first Union list, 13 have been authorities responsible for implementing the IAS observed in the environment in Denmark. 10 of these 13 Regulation as required by Article 24(2) of the IAS invasive alien species are considered as ‘established’ in Regulation. It has communicated to the Commission the Denmark (a species being established in a new habitat national provisions on penalties applicable to means it can successfully produce viable offspring with infringements, as required by Article 30(4) of the IAS the likelihood of continued survival). None of these Regulation and has therefore fulfilled its notification established invasive alien species seem to be very widely obligations in this regard.
spread across the country. According to the data,
Denmark appears to be less subject to invasive alien 2019 priority action
species than its neighbouring countries. However, this • Investigate the apparent lack of data and seek ways
may simply indicate that less data are available in
Denmark due to listed species not being subject to of improving the surveillance system
surveillance before the adoption of the Union list. The
country is facing a high invasion pressure of raccoon Soil protection
(Procyon lotor) from Germany. The EU soil thematic strategy underlines the need to
Between the entry into force of the Union list and ensure a sustainable use of soils. This entails preventing 18 May 2018 Denmark submitted one early detection further soil degradation and preserving its functions, as notification to the European Commission. These well as restoring degraded soils. The 2011 Roadmap to a
notifications are required under Article 16(2) of the Resource Efficient Europe states that by 2020, EU policies must take into account their direct and indirect impact
on land use.
35 Natural Capital Coalition, Natural Capital Protocol.
36 Business and Biodiversity, The European Business and Biodiversity 37 Tsiamis K; Gervasini E; Deriu I; D`amico F; Nunes A; Addamo A; De
Campaign aims to promote the business case for biodiversity in the EU Jesus Cardoso A. Baseline Distribution of Invasive Alien Species of Union Member States through workshops, seminars and a cross media concern. Ispra (Italy): Publications Office of the European Union ; 2017, communication strategy. EUR 28596 EN, doi:10.2760/772692.
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
Soil is a finite and extremely fragile resource and it is Soil organic matter plays an important role as a carbon increasingly degrading in the EU. sink in the carbon cycle and in climate change. Denmark
The percentage of artificial land 38 in Denmark (Figure 12) has an average concentration of soil organic carbon of can show the relative pressure on nature and 29.6 g/kg (across all land cover types) compared to a biodiversity, and the environmental pressure on people European mean of 47 g/kg.
living in urbanised areas. Figure 12: Proportion of artificial land cover, 2015 42
Denmark ranks around the EU average for artificial land coverage, with 6.7 % of artificial land (EU-28 average:
4.1 %). Denmark’s population density is 136.4/km 2 , which is also above the EU average of 118/km 239 .
Contamination can severely reduce soil quality and threaten human health or the environment. A recent
report of the European Commission 40 estimated that
potentially polluting activities have taken or are still taking place on approximately 2.8 million sites in the EU.
At EU level, 650 000 of these sites have been registered in national or regional inventories. 65 500 contaminated sites already have been remediated. Denmark has registered 16 865 sites where potentially polluting activities have taken or are taking place, and already has remediated or applied aftercare measures on 2 483 sites.
Soil erosion by water is a natural process, but this natural process can be aggravated by climate change and human activities such as inappropriate agricultural practices, deforestation, forest fires or construction works. High levels of soil erosion can reduce productivity in agriculture and can have negative and transboundary impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services. High levels of soil erosion can also have negative and transboundary effects on rivers and lakes (due to increased sediment volumes and transport of contaminants). According to the RUSLE2015 model 41 ,
Denmark has an average soil loss rate by water of 0.50
tonnes per hectare per year (t ha −a yr −y ), compared to the Marine protection
EU mean of 2.46 t ha −a yr −y . This indicates that soil
erosion in Denmark is under control. Note that these EU coastal and marine policy and legislation require that figures are the output of an EU-level model and can by 2020 the impact of pressures on marine waters be therefore not be considered as values measured in-field. reduced to achieve or maintain good environmental The actual rate of soil loss can vary strongly within a status (GES) and ensure that coastal zones are managed Member State depending on local conditions. sustainably.
The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) 43 aims 38 Artifical land cover is defined as the total of roofed built-up areas to achieve good environmental status of the EU’s marine
(including buildings and greenhouses), artificial non built-up areas
(including sealed area features, such as yards, farmyards, cemeteries, waters by 2020. To that end, Member States must
car parking areas etc. and linear features, such as streets, roads, develop a marine strategy for their marine waters, and
railways, runways, bridges) and other artificial areas (including bridges cooperate with the EU countries that share the same and viaducts, mobile homes, solar panels, power plants, electrical marine (sub)region.
substations, pipelines, water sewage plants, and open dump sites).
39 Eurostat, Population density by NUTS 3 region . These marine strategies comprise different steps that
40 Ana Paya Perez, Natalia Rodriguez Eugenio (2018), Status of local soil must be developed and implemented over six-year
contamination in Europe: Revision of the indicator “Progress in the
management Contaminated Sites in Europe”. cycles. The latest step required Member States to set up
41 Panagos, P., Borrelli, P., Poesen, J., Ballabio, C., Lugato, E.,
Meusburger, K., Montanarella, L., Alewell, C., The new assessment of soil loss by water erosion in Europe, Environmental Science and Policy, 42 Eurostat, Land covered by artificial surfaces by NUTS 2 regions .
2015, 54, pp. 438-447. 43 Directive 2008/56/EC.
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
and report to the Commission their programme of measures by 31 March 2016.
The Commission could not assess whether Danish
measures were appropriate to reach GES 44 given that
Denmark reported its measures too late for the
Commission to include them in this assessment
exercise 45 .
For Denmark, the Convention for the Protection of the
Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR
Convention) and the Baltic Marine Environment
Protection Commission (Helsinki Commission) make a significant contribution to achieving the goals required by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
2019 priority action
• Ensure timely reporting of the different elements
under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive so that Denmark can be part of future Commission assessments.
44 COM(2018) 562 and SWD(2018) 393 .
45 Denmark reported its programme of measures to the Commission on
30 May 2017 whereas the due date was 31 March 2016.
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
-
3.Ensuring citizens’ health and quality of life
Air quality emission reduction commitments for NH 3 and PM 2,5 (compared 2005 emission levels) laid down in the new
EU clean air policy and legislation require the significant National Emissions Ceilings Directive 50 for the period
improvement of air quality in the EU, moving the EU 2020 to 2029 and for any year from 2030.
closer to the quality recommended by the World Health Figure 13: PM 2.5 and NO x emissions by sector in Organisation. Air pollution and its impacts on human Denmark 51
health, ecosystems and biodiversity should be further reduced with the long-term aim of not exceeding critical loads and levels. This requires strengthening efforts to reach full compliance with EU air quality legislation and defining strategic targets and actions beyond 2020.
The EU has developed a comprehensive body of air quality legislation 46 , which establishes health-based standards and objectives for a number of air pollutants.
The emissions of several air pollutants have decreased significantly in Denmark 47 . The emission reductions between 1990 and 2014, mentioned in the previous EIR, continued between 2014 and 2016. Emissions of sulfur oxides (SO x ) fell by 2.85 %, emissions of nitrogen oxides
(NO x ) fell by 0.71 and emissions of volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) fell by 0.36 %. Meanwhile, emissions ammonia (NH 3 ) increased by 1.76 % between
2014 and 2016 and emissions of fine particulate matter According to the ECA 52 , EU action to protect human PM 2.5 have increased over the period. This is however health from air pollution has not delivered its expected mainly due to an alteration in the method for taking impact. There is notably a risk that air pollution is being stock of wood burning stoves in private households. underestimated in some instances because it may not Residential heating constitutes approximately two thirds always be monitored in the right places. Indeed, Member of PM 2.5 emissions (see also Figure 13 on the total PM 2.5 States are required to report both real-time and and NO x emissions per sector). validated air quality data to the Commission.
According to a special report from the European Court of
Auditors (ECA) 48 , EU action to protect human health from
air pollution has not had its expected impact. There is a risk that air pollution is being underestimated in some instances because it may not always be monitored in the right places. Member States are now required to report both real-time and validated air quality data to the
Commission 49 .
Hence, additional efforts are needed to attain the
46 European Commission, Air Quality Standards , 2016.
47 See EIONET Central Data Repository and Air pollutant emissions data viewer (NEC Directive).
48 European Court of Auditors, Special report no 23/2018: Air pollution: Air quality in Denmark is reported to be generally good
Our health still insufficiently protected. with exceptions.. For 2015, the European Environment
49 Article 5 of Commission Implementing Decision 2011/850 i/EU of 12
December2011 laying down rules for Directives 2004/107/EC i and
2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards 50 Directive 2016/2284/EU. the reciprocal exchange of information and reporting on ambient air 51 2016 NECD data submitted by Member State to the EEA. quality (OJ L 335, 17.12.2011, p. 86) requires Member States to provide 52 European Court of Auditors, Special report no 23/2018, Air pollution: Up-To-Date data. Our health still insufficiently protected , p.41.
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
Agency estimated that about 2 800 premature deaths in 2019 priority actions
Denmark were attributable to fine particulate matter 53
concentrations, 90 premature deaths were attributable • Take action, in the context of the forthcoming
to ozone 54 concentrations, and 80 premature deaths National Air Pollution Control Programme (NAPCP), to were attributable to nitrogen 55 dioxide concentrations 56 . reduce the main emission sources, while giving For 2017, no exceedances above the EU air quality special attention to measures reducing PM 2.5 and
standards have been reported. ammonia. • Reduce ammonia (NH
3 ) emissions to comply with
The past persistent breach of air quality requirements currently applicable national emission ceilings, for (for NO 2, ) which have severe negative effects on health example by introducing or expanding the use of lowand the environment, are being followed up by the emission agricultural techniques.
European Commission through infringement procedures covering in all the Member States concerned, including
Denmark. The aim of these infringement procedures is Industrial emissions
that to encourage countries to put adequate measures in The main objectives of EU policy on industrial emissions place to bring all zones into compliance. Demark are to: reported no exceedances in 2017, which is encouraging (i) protect air, water and soil; for the future. (ii) prevent and manage waste;
(iii) improve energy and resource efficiency; and
Figure 14: Air quality zones exceeding EU air quality (iv) clean up contaminated sites. standards in 2017 57 To achieve this, the EU takes an integrated approach to
the prevention and control of routine and accidental industrial emissions. The cornerstone of the policy is the
Industrial Emissions Directive 59 (IED).
The below overview of industrial activities regulated by the IED is based on the ‘industrial emissions policy
country profiles’ project 60 .
In Denmark, around 1 800 industrial installations are required to have a permit based on the IED 61 . The industrial sectors in Denmark with the most IED installations in 2015 were the intensive rearing of poultry or pigs (70 % of total), followed by non-hazardous waste
The Danish Government launched a clean air package in management (13 %).
October 2018 58 , especially dedicated to reduce air
pollution in larger cities and phase-out diesel and The industrial sectors contributing the most emissions to gasoline vehicles. Further, it has committed meet the air in Denmark are: (i) energy-power for most pollutants, reduction targets under the NEC directive. Concrete and (ii) ‘other activities’ (mostly the intensive rearing of objectives include no new diesel or gasoline cars sold by poultry or pigs and surface treatment) mainly for non 2030; no hybrid cars by 2035; cleaner transportation in methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) and urban and rural areas; more environment friendly ammonia (NH3) emissions. Iron and steel production for shipping at sea and in harbours; an effective and modern most heavy metals also made a significant contribution,
agricultural sector; greener residential heating. as did energy refining for several pollutants. The breakdown is shown in Figure 16.
53 PM is a mixture of aerosol particles (solid and liquid) covering a wide range of sizes and chemical compositions. PM 10 (PM 2.5 ) refers to particles with a diameter of 10 (2.5) micrometres or less. PM is emitted from many anthropogenic sources, including combustion.
54 Low level ozone is produced by photochemical action on pollution.
55 NO x is emitted during fuel combustion e.g. from industrial facilities 59 Directive 2010/75 i/EU covers industrial activities carried out above and the road transport sector. NO x is a group of gases comprising certain thresholds. It covers energy industry, metal production, mineral nitrogen monoxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ). and chemical industry and waste management, as well as a wide range 56 European Environment Agency, Air Quality in Europe – 2018 Report , of industrial and agricultural sectors (e.g. intensive rearing of pig and p.64. Please see details in this report as regards the underpinning poultry, pulp and paper production, painting and cleaning). methodology. 60 European Commission , Industrial emissions policy country profile –
57 EEA, EIONET Central Data Repository. Data reflects the reporting Denmark. situation as of 26 November 2018. 61 European Commission, Industrial emissions policy country profile –
58 Together for a greener future . Denmark.
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
Figure 15: Number of IED industrial installations by Figure 16: Emissions to air from IED sectors and all other sector, Denmark (2015) 62 national total air emissions, Denmark (2015)
The chemical industry has quite a significant role in emissions to water according to reported E-PRTR data
(although there are major data gaps). However, most 2019 priority actions
Danish industrial wastewater is treated in municipal
water treatment plants. The waste management sector is • Review permits to ensure that they comply with the
the main contributor to hazardous and non-hazardous newly adopted BAT conclusions.
waste generation. • Strengthen control and enforcement to ensure compliance with the BAT conclusions.
The enforcement approach under the IED creates strong
rights for citizens to have access to relevant information Noise
and to participate in the permitting process for IED
installations. This empowers NGOs and the general public The Environmental Noise Directive 63 provides for a
to ensure that permits are appropriately granted and common approach to avoiding, preventing and reducing their conditions respected. the harmful effects of exposure to environmental noise.
Best available techniques (BAT) reference documents and Excessive noise from aircraft, railways and roads is one of BAT conclusions are developed through the exchange of the main causes of environmental health-related issues information between Member States, industrial in the EU 64 .
associations, NGOs and the Commission. This ensures a
good collaboration with stakeholders and a better Based on a limited set of data 65 , environmental noise application of the IED rules. causes around 100 premature deaths per year in
Denmark, and is responsible for around 700 hospital
Thanks to the national competent authorities’ efforts to admissions. Noise also disturbs the sleep of roughly apply the legally binding BAT conclusions and associated 180 000 in Denmark. The noise mapping for the previous BAT emission levels in environmental permits, pollution reporting round (reference year 2011) is complete as are has decreased considerably and continuously in the EU. the action plans (reference year 2013).
For example, by applying the recently adopted BAT These instruments, adopted after a public consultation emission levels for large combustion plants, emissions of had been carried out, should include the measures to sulphur dioxide will be cut on average by between 25 % keep noise low or reduce it.
and 81 %, nitrogen oxide between 8 % and 56 %, dust between 31 % and 78 % and mercury between 19 % and
71 % at EU level. The extent of the reduction depends on the situation in individual plants.
64 WHO/JRC, Burden of disease from environmental noise, Fritschi, L., Brown, A.L., Kim, R., Schwela, D., Kephalopoulos, S. (eds), World Health
62 European Commission , Industrial emissions policy country profile – Organisation, Regional Office for Europe, 2011, Copenhagen, Denmark. Denmark. 65 European Environment Agency, Noise Fact Sheets 2017 .
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
Water quality and management water bodies and for lakes water bodies it was 62%. The most significant impact on ground water was chemical
EU legislation and policy requires that the impact of pollution (25%).
pressures on transitional, coastal and fresh waters Overall it appears that there are gaps in the quality (including surface and ground waters) be significantly elements reported to be monitored in Denmark in reduced. Achieving, maintaining or enhancing a good relation to the ecological status and the chemical status of water bodies as defined by the Water status.The ecological status/potential of surface water Framework Directive will ensure that EU citizens benefit bodies is illustrated in Figure 17. It is difficult to compare from good quality and safe drinking and bathing water. It the status between the first and second River Basin will further ensure that the nutrient cycle (nitrogen and Management Plans due to the re-delineation of water phosphorus) is managed in a more sustainable and bodies and change in assessment methods, nevertheless resource-efficient way. the overall picture indicates a deterioration in
status/potential since the revised first River Basin
The existing EU water legislation 66 puts in place a Management Plans with 5-20% more water bodies in less protective framework to ensure high standards for all than good status/potential in the second River Basin water bodies in the EU and addresses specific pollution Management Plans, except coastal waters around sources (for example, from agriculture, urban areas and Zealand, which has a slight improvement.
industrial activities). It also requires that the projected
impacts of climate change are integrated into the Figure 17: Ecological status or potential of surface water corresponding planning instruments e.g. flood risk bodies in Denmark 67
management plans and river basin management plans, including programme of measures which include the actions that Member States plan to take in order to achieve the environmental objectives.
Water Framework Directive
Denmark has adopted and reported the second generation of River Basin Management Plans under the
Water Framework Directive and the European
Commission has assessed the status and the development since the adoption of the first River Basin
Management Plans, including suggested actions in the
EIR report 2017.
The most significant pressures on surface water bodies overall were discharges not connected to sewerage network (49%), followed by dams, barriers and locks
(26%), which was mainly applicable to river water bodies.
Diffuse pollution from agriculture is not reported as a significant pressure overall for surface water bodies (4%).
However, when it comes to coastal water bodies 98% For chemical status changes have been minimal with a have diffuse pollution from agriculture and 30% of lake large majority of sites in unknown status (98.5% reduced water bodies. For groundwater bodies the most from 99.3% in the first cycle), which is due to the fact significant pressure is unknown anthropogenic pressure that less than 1% of surface water bodies are monitored (25%) and pressures due to abstractions. for chemical status. The proportion of surface water
Organic pollution was the most significant impact on all bodies with good chemical status is 0.8% and the surface water (49%), followed by altered habitats due to proportion failing to achieve good chemical status is morphological changes (33%). For coastal water bodies 0.7%.
the main impact was nutrient pollution affection 98% of
The assessment of the chemical status of groundwater bodies shows that 44% of groundwater bodies are in
66 This includes the Bathing Waters Directive (2006/7/EC), the Urban good chemical status, 25% are failing good status and
Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) (on discharges of
municipal and some industrial wastewaters), the Drinking Water 31% are of unknown status.
Directive (98/83/EC) (on potable water quality), the Water Framework
Directive (2000/60/EC) (on water resources management), the Nitrates
Directive (91/676/EEC) and the Floods Directive (2007/60/EC). 67 . EEA, WISE dashboard.
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
The number of groundwater bodies monitored for information on the Danish bathing waters is available quantitative status increased slightly and the total from a national portal 70 and via an interactive map groundwater body area failing good quantitative status viewer on the European Environment Agency’s website 71 . decreased significantly from 42% to 2%. The water
balance is calculated differently compared to the first Figure 18: Bathing water quality 2014–2017
72
River basin management Plans where the water balance was assessed by screening criterion of the maximum abstraction/exploitation of groundwater, which should not exceed 35% of the natural recharge of groundwater.
This criterion was now changed to 30%.
There is a shortage of meaningful information reported regarding measures so it is not possible to judge whether progress has been made other than the indication that some measures have been completed. There is a clear financial commitment for the implementation of
Programmes of Measures.
Nitrates Directive
To fulfil its obligations under the Nitrates Directive,
Denmark applies mandatory measures on its whole territory. On water quality and nitrate concentrations, Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive data show that progress has slowed in recent years.
Denmark still has problems with nitrate concentrations, Denmark demonstrates excellent levels of compliance in particular in groundwater. It also still has problems with the requirements of the Urban Waste Water with the eutrophication of surface waters. In addition, Treatment Directive. Overall in Denmark, 100 % of waste agricultural activities remain the main cause for Danish water is collected, and 99.8 % of the load collected is land-based nitrogen load to coastal waters. This is a subjected to secondary treatment. 95.4 % of the waste particularly serious issue considering that approximately water load collected undergoes even more stringent half of the country’s rivers drain into the Baltic Sea is treatment. Investment in water treatment in 2017 is already largely eutrophic and strongly affected by greater than in previous years, but this increase in nutrient pollution. investment is expected to slow in the coming years
73 .
Denmark is changing its legislation towards a more Floods Directive
targeted implementation system. Agricultural pressures Significant investment needs still exist in Denmark to and the existing water quality issues mean that Denmark accelerate the implementation of the Water Framework must ensure that these changes are accompanied by Directive and the Floods Directive, such as the removal of clear environmental objectives and targets and effective obstacles to fish migration, renaturalisation of the flow of enforcement mechanisms. This will ensure the necessary rivers, and various measures for flood prevention and and timely reduction of nutrient pollution in Danish mitigation.
waters and in the Baltic Sea. The Floods Directive established a framework for the
Drinking Water Directive assessment and management of flood risks, aiming at the
On drinking water, no new data are available since the reduction of the adverse consequences associated with 2017 EIR report 68 . significant floods.
Bathing Water Directive Denmark has adopted and reported its first Flood Risk Management Plans under the Directive and the European
Figure 18 shows that in 2017, out of the 1 029 Danish Commission conducted an assessment. bathing waters, 86.7 % were of excellent quality, 8.5 % of good quality and 2.7 % of sufficient quality (85.9 %, 8 % and 2.9 % respectively in 2016). In 2017, there were 10 70 Badevandskvaliteten ved de danske strande i 2017. bathing waters of poor quality in Denmark 69 . Detailed 71 European Environment Agency, State of bathing waters.
72 European Environment Agency, European bathing water quality in 2017 , 2018, p. 21.
68 Compliance with the Drinking Water Directive microbiological and 73 European Commission, Ninth Report on the Implementation Status chemical parameters as last reported was very high. and the Programmes for Implementation of the Urban Waste Water
69 European Environment Agency, European bathing water quality in Treatment Directive ( COM(2017)749 ) and Commission Staff Working 2016 , 2017, p. 17. Document accompanying the report (SWD(2017)445).
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
The Commission’s assessment found that good efforts
were made with positive results in setting objectives and Chemicals
devising measures focusing on prevention, protection
and preparedness. The assessment also showed that, as The EU seeks to ensure that by 2020 chemicals are was the case for other Member States, Denmark’s Flood produced and used in ways that minimise any significant Risk Management Plans do not yet include clearly adverse effects on human health and the environment. prioritised measures and an as complete as possible An EU strategy for a non-toxic environment that is estimation of the cost of measures with identification of conducive to innovation and to developing sustainable specific sources of funding. In addition, there is scope for substitutes, including non-chemical options, is being improving the integration of the flood risk management prepared.
cycle including amongst the various levels of
administration. The EU’s chemicals legislation
74 provides baseline protection for human health and the environment. It also ensures stability and predictability for businesses operating within the internal market.
In 2016, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
published a report on REACH and the CLP Regulation 75
that showed that enforcement activities are still evolving.
Member States cooperate closely within the Forum for
Exchange of Information on Enforcement 76 . This dialogue
has shown that there is scope to increase the effectiveness of enforcement activities, particularly for registration obligations and safety data sheets where the
level of non-compliance is still relatively high.
While progress has been made, there is room to further improve and harmonise enforcement activities across the EU, including controls on imported goods. Enforcement
2019 priority actions remains weak in some Member States, particularly for
• Take steps in order to improve monitoring of surface controls on imports and supply chain obligations. The waters by covering all relevant biological, physicoenforcement architecture is complex in most EU chemical and hydromorphological quality elements in countries and enforcement projects reveal differences in all water categories and increase the proportion of compliance between Member States.
water bodies covered by monitoring for River Basin A 2015 Commission study already emphasised the Specific Pollutants. importance of harmonised market surveillance and
• Complete the development of assessment methods enforcement when implementing REACH at Member
for all biological quality elements in all water State level, deeming it a critical success factor in the
categories, including methods that are sensitive to operation of a harmonised single market 77 .
nutrients in rivers and include hydromorphological
quality elements in the classification of ecological In March 2018, the Commission published an evaluation
status. of REACH
78
. The evaluation concludes that REACH
• Ensure that legislation addressing nutrients pollution delivers on its objectives, but that progress made is
from agriculture includes measures proportionate to slower than anticipated. In addition, the registration dossiers often are incomplete. The evaluation underlines
the Danish agricultural pressures and water quality
issues. The measures chosen to implement the the need to enhance enforcement by all actors, including Directives should improve water quality both in the registrants, downstream users and in particular for
short and long term.
• Consider to improve the integration of the flood risk 74 Principally for chemicals: REACH (OJ L 396, 30.12.2006, p.1.); for
management cycle including amongst the various Classification, Labelling and Packaging, the CLP Regulation (: OJ L 252,
levels of administration. 31.12.2006, p.1.), together with legislation on biocidal products and
plant protection products.
75 European Chemicals Agency, Report on the Operation of REACH and CLP 2016. 76 ECHA, On the basis of the projects REF-1, REF-2 and REF-3. 77 European Commission, Monitoring the Impacts of REACH on Innovation, Competitiveness and SMEs, Final Report , 2015. 78 COM(2018) 116 .
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
importers, to ensure a level playing field, meet the more than 500 cities across the EU that are responsible objectives of REACH and ensure consistency with the for implementing integrated actions based on sustainable actions envisaged to improve environmental compliance urban development strategies financed by the European and governance. Consistent reporting of Member State Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in the 2014-2020 enforcement activities was considered important in that period.
respect. One of the UDN initiatives supported by the ERDF is
In Denmark, the Chemical Inspection Service at the Urban Innovative Actions (UIA). UIAs are a way to test Danish Environmental Protection Agency is the prime new and unproven solutions to address urban challenges. enforcement authority for legislation regulating The total ERDF budget for UIAs is EUR 372 million for
chemicals. The main legislation regulating chemicals is 2014-2020 85 .
the Danish Act on Chemical Substances and Products. In
addition, chemicals are regulated by statutory orders and One of the UIA projects is called TUPPAC (Transforming EU chemical regulations. Some parts of the regulations Urban Planning Providing Autonomous Collective
are enforced by other authorities. mobility). TUPPAC will receive EUR 3.4 million in funding, and is taking place in Albertslund in the suburbs of
The Chemical Inspection Service conducts enforcement Copenhagen. The TUPPAC project will address the ‘firstcampaigns every year for different chemical substances, and-last-mile’ challenge, the name given to the problem products and articles. In addition, the Chemical of public transport rarely stopping directly in front of the Inspection Service receives and responds to complaints passenger’s destination (whether that destination is about chemical products from companies, NGOs, the work, home or a shop). The TUPPAC project will address general public, and other authorities 79 . this challenge via LOOP City — a collaboration between
10 municipalities on the outskirts of Copenhagen. In the
Making cities more sustainable years 2018-2024 a new light-rail system with 29 new
stations will be built in LOOP City. Its goal is to encourage
EU policy on the urban environment encourages cities to passengers to make use of public transport focusing on put policies in place for sustainable urban planning and the physical environment and station proximity.
design. These should include innovative approaches to urban public transport and mobility, sustainable buildings, energy efficiency and urban biodiversity conservation.
The population living in urban areas in Europe is
projected to rise to just over 80% by 2050 80 . Urban areas
pose particular challenges for the environment and human health, but they also provide opportunities for using resources more efficiently. The EU encourages municipalities to become greener through initiatives such
as the Green Capital Award 81 , the Green Leaf Award 82 and the Green City Tool 83 . The project will address future challenges of urban
transport related to the introduction of driverless
The Green City Tool, launched during the European technology. Driverless technology is developing fast and Commission’s Green Week 2018, allows cities to assess will disrupt urban mobility in the coming decades. But it and benchmark their environmental performance. It also also raises questions such as: how can autonomous offers advice and recommendations with examples of vehicles be an integrated part of public transportation good practice on how to green cities. and how will they affect urban planning? The TUPPAC
Financing greener cities project will make it easier for completely new types of
innovative mobility services to appear. It will achieve this
Denmark participates in the European Urban by addressing the ‘first-and-last-mile’ challenge in
Development Network (UDN) 84 . This network includes proximity to the new light-rail stations being built.
Participation in EU urban initiatives and networks
79 ECHA, National Inspectorates - Denmark .
80 European Commission, Pollution, by degree of urbanisation . Danish municipalities are generally involved in EU
81 European Commission, European Green Capital. initiatives on environmental protection and climate
82 European Commission, European Green Leaf Award.
83 European Commission, Green City Tool.
84 European Commission, The Urban Development Network . 85 European Commission, Urban Innovative Actions .
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
change. Nature and cities
Four Danish cities, communities and regions are involved More than 46 % of the Natura 2000 network in Denmark in the URBACT initiative to support sustainable urban is within functional urban areas 91 , well above the EU development. They are involved in 10 of URBACT’s average of 15 % (see Figure 19).
thematic networks 86 . Urban sprawl
Several Horizon 2020 network projects have also
contributed to the sustainability of Danish cities. The Denmark had a weighted urban proliferation rate, at 3.04 CIVITAS project includes three municipalities UPU/m
2 92
in 2009 compared to a European average (EU-
representing Denmark in a common effort to achieve 28+4) of 1.64 UPU/m
2 , having increased by 2 % from
cleaner and better transport in cities 87 . 2006 to 2009
93 .
Danish cities are also actively involved in initiatives such Traffic congestion and urban mobility
as Eurocities and the EU Covenant of Mayors. 37 Danish Traffic congestion is not one of the main environmental cities are involved with the EU Covenant of Mayors under issues affecting Denmark. However, many subjects the coordination of the central Denmark region, the KKR addressed in this report are to some extent related to Zealand and Region Zealand. As of May 2018, traffic congestion, especially air quality and noise.
Frederikshavn, Helsingør, Norddjurs, Ringkøbing-Skjern,
Ringsted, Slagelse, Solrød, Sønderborg and Vordingborg The total number of road vehicles in Denmark reached have already submitted their 2020 action plans. The 2.8 million in 2015, increasing the rate of vehicles per results of these action plans are now being monitored. 1 000 habitants from 494 in 2014 to 501 in 2015. This Another 6 cities have at least presented their climate increase has resulted in more hours spent annually in
action plan and commitments for 2020 or 2030 88 . road congestion by the average driver, from 21.5 hours in 2014 to 22.1 hours in 2016. Denmark is far below the UK,
Figure 19: Proportion of Natura 2000 network in which is the EU’s worst performer on this measure at
Functional Urban Areas (FUA) 89 45.1 hours 94 .
Road traffic intensity per unit of GDP in Denmark in 2014 was 248 vehicle kilometres per 1 000 USD, which is close to the OECD Europe average of 254 vehicle kilometres
per 1 000 USD 95 .
On urban mobility, in 2016 around 65 % of Danish employees commuted more than 5 km to work 96 . Private vehicles are the most frequently used mode of transport in Denmark, accounting for 60 % of all commuter trips in 2009. However, bicycles made up a remarkable share, accounting for more than 20 % of all trips. Public
These urban initiatives and networks should be transport is also a major contributor, providing transport welcomed and encouraged, as they contribute to a better to 13 % of the commuters 97 .
urban environment. In 2017, 12.7 % of the Danish
population living in cities considered that their residential The modal split of passenger transport in 2015 shows area was affected by pollution, grime or other that passenger cars accounted for 80.8 % of inland environmental problems. This is an increase from 2015 passenger transport in Denmark (EU-28 83.4 %). Buses and 2016 when 10.0 % of the Danish population living in and trolley buses accounted for around 9.9 % (EU-28 cities were of this view. However, these figures are 9.1 %) and trains for 9.3 % (EU-28 7.6 %) 98 .
significantly lower than the EU-28 levels (20% in 2017,
18.9 % in 2016 and 19.2 % in 2015), and similar to the 91
results seen in Sweden and Finland 90 . European Commission, Definition of Functional Urban Areas . 92 Urban Permeation Units measure the size of the built-up area as well
as its degree of dispersion throughout the region.
93 EEA, Urban Sprawl in Europe, Annex I , 2014, pp.4-5.
94 European Commission, Hours spent in road congestion annually .
95 OECD, Road traffic intensity per unit of GDP, 2014 or latest available 86 URBACT, Associated Networks by country . year », in Sectoral and Economic Trends of Environmental Significance, 87 European Commission, Horizon 2020 Civitas Project. OECD publications, Paris, 2015.
88 Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, Country signatories . 96 Statistics Denmark, Employed persons (end November 2016) by area 89 European Commission, the 7 th Report on Economic, Social and of workplace, time, commuting distance and sex.
Territorial Cohesion , 2017, p. 121. 97 Danish Ministry of Transport, The Danish Transport System, Facts and 90 . European Commission, Eurostat, Pollution, grime or other Figures, 2011. environmental problems by degree of urbanisation. 98 Eurostat, Passenger transport Statistics by modal split .
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
Part II: Enabling framework: implementation tools
-
4.Green taxation, green public procurement, environmental
funding and investments
Green taxation and environmentally harmful and economically more effective if it applied to all sources, including mineral fertilisers 103 .
subsidies Figure 20: Environmental tax revenues as % of GDP,
Financial incentives, taxation and other economic 2017 104
instruments are effective and efficient ways to meet environmental policy objectives. The circular economy action plan encourages their use. Environmentally harmful subsidies are monitored in the context of the
European Semester and the energy union governance process.
Denmark’s revenues from environmentally relevant taxes remain among the highest in the EU. Environmental taxes accounted for 3.72 % of GDP in 2017 (EU-28 average:
2.4 %) as shown in Figure 20. In the same year, energy taxes accounted for 2 % of GDP against an EU average of
1.84 % 99 . Environmental tax revenues in 2017 were
7.98 % of total revenues from taxes and social-security contributions (higher than the EU-28 average of 5.97 %).
The structure of taxation in Denmark shows the share of revenues from labour taxation in total tax revenues is high, at 50.7 % in 2016. The implicit tax burden on labour in 2016 was 34.6 % 100 . Consumption taxes remained relatively low (31.1 %, 19 th in the EU-28). This suggests there is considerable potential to shift taxes from labour to consumption and in particular to environmentally harmful consumption in cases where charges and fees are the right instrument.
The Commission has repeatedly stressed in the European
Semester that taxation on pollution and taxation to Meanwhile, fossil fuel subsidies fell in the past decade, combat climate change in Denmark is higher than thanks to the phasing out of indirect tax subsidy for elsewhere in Europe. However, the Commission has also diesel, which has a reduced energy duty compared to pointed out that previous increases in the duty on petrol 105 . In 2016, fossil fuel subsidies, essentially the the emissions of nitrogen oxides are being rolled back 101 . One reduced energy duty on diesel, amounted to EUR 1.2 of the most effective environmental taxes in the country billion.
is the pesticide tax, which has helped reduce the load of
pesticides on the environment and human health by 40 % However, little progress has been made on reducing the ‘diesel differential’ (the difference in the price of diesel
between 2011 and 2016 102 . Another environmentally
beneficial tax is the animal feed mineral-phosphorus tax, versus petrol) since 2005. In 2016, there was still a 46 %
which has helped reduce the consumption of mineral gap between petrol and diesel tax rates, one of the highest diesel differentials in the EU 106 . However, it
phosphate in animal feeds by 15 % since 2005. However, the tax on phosphorus might have been environmentally
103 IEEP, Animal feed mineral phosphorus tax in Denmark.
99 Eurostat, Environmental tax revenues, 2018. 104 Eurostat, Environmental tax revenues, 2018.
100 European Commission, Taxation Trends Report , 2017. 105 OECD, Inventory of Support Measures for Fossil Fuels, 2018.
101 SWD(2018) 203. , p.39. 106 European Environment Agency, Environmental taxation and EU
102 Evaluering af den differentierede pesticidafgift. environmental policies , 2016, p. 27.
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
should be noted that a compensatory fee or Denmark has adjusted an agreement on future tax countervailing charge for certain diesel vehicles is applied conditions for electric cars, plug-in hybrid cars and fuelin Denmark that on average offsets the ‘diesel cell cars by more slowly phasing in taxes on electric, plugdifferential’. Excise tax rates levied on petrol and diesel in in hybrid and hydrogen cars. One of the main elements of 2016 were similar to those levied in 2015 (EUR 0.61 per this adjustment is in the registration fee for electric cars, litre for petrol and EUR 0.44 for diesel) 107 . which will now remain at 20 % of the level of ordinary
The tax treatment of company cars is not cause for fees (plus a basic deduction of 10 000 DKK) until 5 000 of concern in Denmark. New tax rules for company cars these cars are newly registered or no later than 1 January were introduced in 2018. The most significant of these 2019. After that, the fee will be gradually increased
increased annual road tax, cut taxes on electric cars 108 . annually until 2022 when it is fully phased in. In 2017- 2021 there will be a temporary reduction in the
Denmark imposes CO 2 -based motor vehicle taxes. The registration fee of DKK 1 700 per kWh battery capacity annual circulation tax (also known as the green owners’ (for batteries with a capacity not exceeding 45 kWh). The tax) is based on the car’s average fuel consumption per phase-in schemes for plug-in hybrid cars and hydrogen kilometre. Biogas- and natural gas-powered vehicles have cars are similar to the phase-in scheme for electric cars. the same tax treatment as diesel cars, while petrol cars
pay more on average 109 . Incentives to purchase cars with The use of alternative fuels in new passenger cars sold in lower CO Denmark has been increasing in recent years. In 2015, 2 emissions were common in 2016. Some of these incentives were linked to annual circulation taxes, the number of new passenger cars using alternative fuels road tolls, congestion zones or low-emission zone was 10 times greater than in 2011. However, 2016 was charges. Other incentives were related to the acquisition the first year since 2013 when the market share of
of cars or use of public infrastructure 110 . alternative-fuel passenger cars fell (from 2.42 % in 2015 to 0.66 %). The decrease is mainly because the subsidy on
electric cars was removed in 2015. The Danish government wants to stop the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in 2030 and plug-in-hybrid cars in 2035. The Government is also working for a climate neutral (net zero emissions) society by 2050 at the latest, meaning that Denmark will absorb at least as much greenhouse
gas as emitted 111 .
Green public procurement
The EU green public procurement policies encourage Member States to take further steps to apply green
procurement criteria to at least 50 % of public tenders.
The European Commission is helping to increase the use of public procurement as a strategic tool to support
environmental protection.
The purchasing power of public procurement amounts to around EUR 1.8 trillion in the EU (approximately 14% of GDP). A substantial proportion of this money goes to sectors with a high environmental impact such as
This EIR 2019 report also suggests that the tax system can construction or transport. Therefore, green public be used for environmental policy while simultaneously procurement (GPP) can help to significantly lower the raising revenue. In particular (see Chapter 3 on Air negative impact of public spending on the environment Quality) more equal tax treatment of transport fuels (for and can help support sustainable innovative businesses. example, diesel) would improve the environment and The Commission has proposed EU GPP criteria 112 .
create incentives to reduce nitrogen dioxide pollution.
107 European Commission, Search tax. 111 European Commission, Transport in the European Union Current
108 Fleet Europe, Major changes to company car taxation in Europe , Trends and Issues , 2018, pp.27-28.
2018. 112 In the Communication ‘Public procurement for a better environment’ 109 ACEA, Co2 Based Motor Vehicle Taxes in the EU. (COM (2008) 400) the Commission recommended the creation of a
110 European Environmental Agency, Appropriate taxes and incentives process for setting common GPP criteria. The basic concept of GPP do affect purchases of new cars , 2018. relies on having clear, verifiable, justifiable and ambitious
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
A national strategy on GPP is being implemented as part Structural and Investment Funds (ESIFs) 115 is essential if of the government strategy on ‘intelligent public countries are to achieve their environmental goals and procurement’. Denmark has adopted an indicative integrate these into other policy areas. Other political target that 50 % of all public procurement should instruments such as Horizon 2020, the LIFE programme 116 be green. and the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) 117
Mandatory rules on GPP have been drawn up for may also support the implementation and spread of good purchases of wood and wood-based products; energypractices.
using products; and road transport vehicles. The Danish Making good use of ESIF 118 is essential to achieve the government recommends that EU GPP criteria be used environmental goals and integrate these into other policy for the product groups where there is no national areas. Other instruments such as the Horizon 2020, the guidance. LIFE programme and the EFSI 119 may also support
A national task force was launched in 2016 with the aim implementation and spread of good practice.
of helping public institutions (municipalities) to In the 2017 Special Eurobarometer 120 on attitudes of EU
implement GPP. The national task force is supplementing citizens towards the environment, 87 % of Danes the Partnership for Green Public Procurement and a supported greater EU investment in environmental Forum on Sustainable Purchasing. protection in general (the EU-28 average was 85 %).
To help procurers assess the total cost of ownership, European Structural and Investment Funds 2014-2020 specific tools have been developed in Denmark for 13
different product groups. These product groups are Figure 21: ESIF 2014-2020 – EU allocation by theme, computers, computer displays, multi-function devices, Denmark (EUR billion)
121
servers, storage devices, projectors, large network equipment, small network equipment, UPS, add-on bidets, lighting, self-service machines and fridges and freezers. More tools are developed as a part of the government’s Strategy for circular economy.
The Danish government conducted a national-level investigation of GPP in 2013. The report covered nine of the product areas that are subject to the 50 % target. It published a report on this investigation in 2016. The report finds that in 24 % of the tenders covered all relevant green criteria were applied, and in 71 % of the tenders one or more criteria were applied.
A separate study on GPP by the European Parliament shows that Denmark is amongst the frontrunners in the
EU on the implementation of its GPP national action Through four national programmes, Denmark has been
plan 113 . allocated EUR 1.25 billion from ESIF funds for 2014-2020. This means that, with its national contribution of EUR 722
Environmental funding and investments 115
i.e. the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Cohesion
European Structural and Investment Fund (ESIF) rules Fund (CF), the European Social Fund (ESF), the European Agricultural
oblige Member States to promote environment and Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the European Maritime and
climate in their funding strategies and programmes for Fisheries Fund (EMFF). The ERDF, the CF and the ESF are referred to as the ‘cohesion policy funds’.
economic, social and territorial cohesion, rural 116 European Commission, LIFE programme. development and maritime policy. 117 European Investment Bank, European Fund for Strategic Investments,
2016.
118
Achieving sustainability involves mobilising public and ESIF comprises five funds — the European Regional Development Funds (ERDF), the Cohesion Fund (CF), the European Social Fund (ESF),
private financing sources 114 . Use of the European the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), and the
European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). The ERDF, the CF and the ESF together form the Cohesion Policy funds.
environmental criteria for products and services, based on a life-cycle 119 European Investment Bank, European Fund for Strategic approach and scientific evidence base. Investments, 2016.
113 European Parliament, Green Public Procurement and the Action Plan 120 European Commission, Special 468 Eurobarometer , ‘Attitudes of for the Circular Economy, 2017, pp. 79-80. European citizens towards the environment’, 2017.
114 See, for example, Action plan on financing sustainable growth 121 European Commission, European Structural and Investment Funds (COM(2018) 97 ). Data by Country.
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
million, Denmark has a total budget of EUR 1.97 billion to more precise (and therefore reduced) application of invest in various areas, such as SME support to social fertiliser and pesticides. Machinery with lower fuel inclusion, the low-carbon economy and aquaculture. consumption (and therefore lower emissions) is also
Cohesion policy eligible for support. In total, there are plans to support 2 400 projects during the programming
For 2014-2020, Denmark manages two operational period.
programmes under EU cohesion policy. Of these, one will • Another important area that will receive support is
receive funding from the European Regional the creation of wetlands. The aim is for these Development Fund (ERDF) and one from the European wetlands to extract nitrogen and phosphorous from Social Fund (ESF). drain water before it runs into lakes, rivers and the
For 2014-2020, Denmark has been allocated around sea. Two types of wetlands are planned: large EUR 553 million in total cohesion policy funding. This wetlands established mainly by municipalities and
money is being distributed as follows: involving several landowners, and constructed wetlands at the level of individual farms. The aim is
• EUR 84 million for transition regions (Zealand); to establish 1 000 constructed wetlands.
• EUR 329 million for more developed regions • Support is also being given to projects for
(northern Jutland, mid-Jutland, southern Denmark, extensification of farming in low-lying areas and
the capital region (greater Copenhagen) and peaty or organogenic soils.
Bornholm); • Other types of projects eligible for funding are: (i) • EUR 140 million for European Territorial the preparation of Natura 2000 areas for grazing,
Cooperation. and (ii) the establishment of areas to improve the
Of this 553 million, the ESF in Denmark will represent a conditions for species listed in Annex IV of the minimum of EUR 206.6 million. The precise amount of Habitats Directive.
ESF funding will be set in light of the specific challenges • Afforestation is another initiative to enhance the
the country needs to address in the areas covered by the environment and promote the attractiveness of the
ESF. landscape. In total, the RDP contains plans to plant 7 500 ha of new forest.
The EU investments will boost competitiveness. They will
also promote employment and growth by supporting The RDP also contains plans for area-based support innovation, the low-carbon economy, training and schemes, two of which are discussed below.
education. In addition, the EU investments will promote • The biggest measure under the area-based support
entrepreneurship, fight social exclusion, and help build schemes is support to organic farming with about an environmentally-friendly and resource-efficient 250.000 ha covered by organic farming methods in economy. 2017, an increase of 100.000 ha in 10 years. The
Rural development support is provided for conversion to organic farming and for maintaining organic farming practices.
Denmark faces several environmental pressures in rural • The other primary area-related scheme is support for areas. These pressures are mainly caused by emissions the management by grazing or mowing of grassland due to intensive crop and livestock production. and nature areas. The targeted areas for this scheme
The Danish Rural Development Programme (RDP) are Natura 2000 areas, high-nature-value (HNV) outlines the country’s priorities for using EUR 1.191 areas, and low lying organogenic lowland and billion available for 2014-2020. This funding includes wetland areas. The grassland management scheme EUR 919 million from the EAFRD, EUR 268 million in helps fulfil the Natura 2000 plans and the EU national co-funding, and EUR 4 million of additional objective of maintaining biodiversity. Denmark’s national funding top-ups. target is to have at least 90 000 ha contracted under
this scheme primarily located within the Nature 2000
The RDP plans to provide funding support for areas by 2020.
investments in the following areas.
To ensure that these different environmental schemes
• At farm level, support is available for the installation are well understood and correctly implemented,
of new, more resource-efficient equipment in stables Denmark has provided training for advisors and local for animal production. For example, this equipment authorities since 2015. The current training is planned for might lead to: more precise feeding of animals; a three year period from 2017-2019 as a measure in the lower electricity and water consumption; reduced government agreement on Nature Package from 2016. In emissions; and better animal welfare. Support is also total more than 1 600 people have received training in provided for new farm machinery that allows for management of nature and nature friendly farming
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
methods in the period from 2015-2018.. LIFE programme
European Maritime and Fisheries Fund The LIFE programme is the EU’s funding instrument for
For 2014-2020, Denmark’s investment package for its the environment and climate. Since its launch in 1992, maritime, fisheries and aquaculture sectors totalled the LIFE programme has co-financed a total of 95 EUR 267.6 million, including EUR 208.4 million of EU projects in Denmark
126 . Altogether, these projects
funds. account for a total investment of EUR 242 million, of which EUR 108 million has been provided by the EU. Of
One of the main objectives of the Danish programme is these projects, 57 have focused on environmental to promote implementation of the discard ban. Support innovation; 35 have focused on nature conservation and from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund will biodiversity; two have focused on information and therefore target investments that aim to decrease and communication; and one has focused on technical handle unwanted catches. Other areas that will receive assistance. significant support are: (i) the protection of marine
biodiversity, and (ii) the restoration of rivers to protect For 2014-2017, the EU has allocated EUR 13 million to biodiversity and facilitate the migration of fish. Danish projects
127
. RigKilde-LIFE is one of these projects. It involves actions to restore and conserve petrifying The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) springs, calcareous fens and alkaline fens in Denmark.
The CEF is a key EU funding instrument developed The contribution requested from the EU for Rigkilde-LIFE specifically to direct investment towards European is more than EUR 3.5 million
128 .
transport, energy and digital infrastructure to address European Investment Bank identified missing links and bottlenecks and promote
sustainability. European Investment Bank (EIB) loans in Denmark amounted to nearly EUR 3.5 billion (DKK 26 billion) in
By the end of 2017, Denmark had signed agreements for 2013-2017 129 . In 2018 alone, the EIB Group (the EUR 668 million for projects under the CEF 122 . European Investment Bank and the European Investment
Horizon 2020 Fund)
130 loaned Danish businesses and public institutions about EUR 560.8 million, as shown in Figure 22. Of this Denmark has benefited from Horizon 2020 funding since amount, EUR 92.4 million (16 %) was directly invested in the programme started in 2014. As of January 2019, 681 environment-related projects. participants have been granted a maximum amount of
EUR 282.3 million for projects from the Societal Figure 22: EIB loans to Denmark in 2018
131
Challenges work programmes dealing with
environmental issues 123 124 .
In addition to the abovementioned work programmes, climate and biodiversity expenditure is present across the entire Horizon 2020. In Denmark, projects accepted for funding in all Horizon 2020 working programmes until
December 2018 included EUR 284 million destined to climate action (28.5 % of the total Horizon 2020 contribution to the country) and EUR 64 million for biodiversity-related actions (6.5 % of the Horizon 2020 contribution to the country) 125 .
In 2018, the EIB signed a EUR 100 million loan agreement for the development of two residential complexes with
122 European Commission, European Semester Country Report for nearly-zero-energy-building (NZEB) standards. The
123 European Commission own calculations based on CORDA (COmmon project comprises six buildings, which together will
Research DAta Warehouse) . A maximum grant amount is the maximum provide 660 new apartments in the Copenhagen
grant amount decided by the Commission. It normally corresponds to metropolitan area. The new buildings will already comply
the requested grant, but it may be lower.
124 i.e. (ii) Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine and maritime and inland water research and the bioeconomy; (iii) 126 European Commission, LIFE in Denmark, 2017.
Secure, clean and efficient energy; (iv) Smart, green and integrated 127 Commission services based on data provided by EASME. transport; and (v) Climate action, environment, resource efficiency and 128 European Commission, RigKilde-LIFE . raw materials. 129 European Investment Bank, 2017 — a record year in Denmark, 2018 . 125 European Commission own calculations based on CORDA (COmmon 130 The EIB Group includes EIB and EFSI investments and loans.
Research DAta Warehouse) . 131 EIB, Denmark and the EIB , 2018.
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
with the future NZEB requirements for Denmark, as they will have significantly lower net primary energy consumption than current Danish NZEB standards. The average value for energy consumption in these new apartments is expected to be around 18 kWh per m 2 per year. It is expected that the project will yield overall primary energy savings of 764 MWh/year (for all six buildings) when compared with the existing building standards regulation.
European Fund for Strategic Investments
The European Fund for Strategic Investments is an initiative to help overcome the current investment gap in the EU. As of January 2019, it has mobilised EUR 748 million in Denmark, and the secondary investment triggered by this is expected to be EUR 4.6 billion 132 .
One of the investment funds supported by the EFSI is an
EFSI infrastructure fund that invests in large energyrelated projects, with a focus on offshore wind, biomass and electricity transmission, mainly in northern and western Europe. This will benefit Denmark, which has a variety of such offshore projects.
National environmental financing
Danish government spending on environmental protection in 2016 was EUR 1.7 billion, a 1 % increase from 2015 133 . 6 % of these payments were allocated to waste management activities (the average in the EU was
49.7 %). EUR 25.7 million was allocated to wastewater management (2.2 % of the EUR 1.7 billion total) and
EUR 144.8 million to pollution abatement (12.4 % of the
EUR 1.7 billion total). EUR 561.2 million of environmental expenditure was allocated to the protection of biodiversity and landscape (48 % of the EUR 1.7 billion total). Between 2012 and 2016, general government funding for environmental protection was EUR 5.8
billion 134 .
Total spending (both private and public) on environmental protection in Denmark came to EUR 5.83 billion in 2015, a fall of 2.5 % from 2013 135 . 20.3 % of these payments came from the public sector (the average in the EU is 26.3 %), and 45.9 % came from business.
Green infrastructure initiatives (such as afforestation, carbon-wetlands and wetlands) are financed through
EARDF (see above) measures at 75-100 %. Other initiatives, such as hedgerows, are financed entirely nationally.
132 European Investment Bank, EFSI project map.
133 Eurostat, General Government Expenditure by function , 2018.
134 Eurostat, General Government Expenditure by function , 2018.
135 Eurostat, National expenditure on environmental protection by institutional sector.
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
-
5.Strengthening environmental governance
Information, public participation and access to needs to search for certain data on the website of the Danish Environmental Protection Agency.
justice Denmark’s performance on the implementation of the
Citizens can more effectively protect the environment if INSPIRE Directive leaves room for improvement. Its they can rely on the three ‘pillars’ of the Aarhus performance was reviewed based on its 2016 Convention: implementation report 139 and its most recent monitoring (i) access to information; data from 2017 140 . Denmark has made good progress in (ii) public participation in decision making; and coordination, data policies, dataset identification and (iii) access to justice in environmental matters. documentation of data. Additional efforts are needed to
make data accessible through services. More effort is
It is of crucial importance to public authorities, the public also needed (and is indeed underway) to prioritise and business that environmental information is shared environmental datasets, in particular those identified as
efficiently and effectively 136 . Public participation allows high-value spatial datasets for the implementation of
authorities to make decisions that take public concerns environmental legislation 141 .
into account. Access to justice is a set of guarantees that
allows citizens and NGOs to use national courts to Figure 23: Access to spatial data through view and protect the environment 137 . It includes the right to bring download services in Denmark (2017)
legal challenges (‘legal standing’) 138 .
Environmental information
In Denmark, environmental information is provided by a number of different organisations. This has created a number of online portals that are not strongly interconnected – each online portal has its own identity and approach. The official Danish Natural Environment
Portal (Danmarks Miljøportal, www.miljoeportal.dk ) explicitly caters for different types of users. The Danish
Environmental Protection Agency covers a broad number of environmental subjects in its portal (mst.dk).
Denmark’s Agency for Data Supply and Efficiency maintains an INSPIRE-compliant metadata portal
(geodata-info.dk).
Public participation
Environmental information is easier to access for certain
environmental topics. For example, there is a lot of Denmark has mainly regulated public participation in information available on air quality, whereas less decision making through the Danish Environmental information is available for other areas. Although the Assessment Act and some sectoral legislation. The Danish government has created a central official National Planning Law also contains provisions governing environmental data portal, it does not contain all of the involvement of the public in local planning. These Denmark’s officially available information: the user still provisions require stakeholder consultation; publication
of plans with time to consult in advance; minimum
136 The Aarhus Convention, the Access to Environmental Information consultation periods; consideration of input; and
Directive, 2003/4/EC and the INSPIRE Directive, 2007/2 together create publication of comments and revisions. The 2017
a legal foundation for the sharing of environmental information Eurobarometer 142 shows there is a strong agreement in between public authorities and with the public. This EIR focuses on Denmark (88 % of respondents) that an individual can
INSPIRE.
137 The guarantees are explained in Commission Notice on access to justice in environmental matters, OJL 275 , 18.8.2017 and a related 139 INSPIRE DK country sheet 2017.
Citizen's Guide. 140 INSPIRE, Monitoring dashboard.
138 This EIR looks at how well Member States explain access to justice 141 List of high value spatial data sets. rights to the public, and at legal standing and other major barriers to 142 European Commission, Special 468 Eurobarometer , "Attitudes of bringing cases on nature and air pollution. European citizens towards the environment", 2017.
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
play a role in protecting the environment. This implementation gaps. Detailed information is available to percentage is largely unchanged compared to 2014. Danish farmers on their obligations when using fertiliser
and storing manure in nitrate vulnerable zones 148 . Online
Access to justice information is also available to Danish farmers about
Denmark provides clear, user-friendly information to the their nature obligations
149 .
public about access-to-justice rights. It provides this Major industrial installations can present serious information through the MEF website, a joint website pollution risks. Public authorities are required to have created by two state bodies, the Environment and Food plans to inspect these installations and to make Appeals Board and the Energy Appeals Board. Denmark individual inspection reports available to the public 150 . has relatively liberal legal standing rights, which make it Denmark publishes both plans 151 and reports 152 online.
possible for individuals and/or NGOs to bring both nature and air pollution cases to court. Citizen science and complaint handling
2019 priority action Engaging the general public through citizen science can
• Improve access to spatial data and services by making promote knowledge about the environment and help the authorities in their work. The ‘Biodiversity Now’ 153
stronger linkages between the country INSPIRE project uses citizen volunteers to track biodiversity in
portals , identify and document all spatial datasets
required to implement environmental law, and make Denmark via a mobile app. The availability of clear online information about how to make a complaint is an
the data and documentation at least accessible 'as is' indicator of how responsive authorities are to complaints to other public authorities and the public through the from the public. Denmark clearly explains to the general digital services envisaged in the INSPIRE Directive. public how to submit complaints about environmental
problems, for example on the citizen portals for
Compliance assurance pollution 154 , agricultural pollution 155 , noise 156 , and
Environmental compliance assurance covers all the work waste
157 .
undertaken by public authorities to ensure that
industries, farmers and others fulfil their obligations to Enforcement
protect water, air and nature, and manage waste 143 . It When monitoring identifies problems, a range of includes support measures provided by the authorities, responses may be appropriate. The Danish government such as: makes available reports that provide an overview of (i) compliance promotion 144 ; administrative warnings and the application of (ii) inspections and other checks that they carry out, i.e. sanctions 158 . It also publishes statistics on environmental compliance monitoring 145 ; and crimes 159 . However, there is no published information on (iii) the steps that they take to stop breaches, impose responses to cross-compliance breaches on nitrates and sanctions and require damage to be remedied, i.e. nature.
enforcement 146 .
Citizen science and complaints enable authorities to Tackling waste, wildlife crimes and other environmental focus their efforts better. Environmental liability 147 offences is especially challenging. It requires close ensures that the polluter pays to remedy any damage. cooperation between inspectors, customs authorities,
police and prosecutors. Following a 2011 report by the
Compliance promotion and monitoring Environmental Protection Agency giving guidance to
Online information is given to farmers on how to comply 148 Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark, Gødningsplan. with obligations on nitrates and nature. The quality of 149 Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark, Beskyttelse af Natura
this information is an indicator of how actively 2000-områderne. 150
authorities promote compliance in areas with serious Article 23, Directive, 2010/75/EU. 151 Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark, Den fælles
kontrolstrategi – kontrol baseret på tillid , 2017.
152 Miljøministeren og KL's aftale om minimumsfrekvenser for samlede 143 The concept is explained in detail in the Communication on ‘EU tilsyn med virksomheder og landbrug . actions to improve environmental compliance and governance’ 153 Projekt Biodiversitet Nu .
COM(2018)10 i and the related Commission Staff Working Document, 154 Borger, Industri og forurening.
SWD(2018)10. 155 Borger, Landbrug og forurening.
144 This EIR focuses on the help given to farmers to comply with nature 156 Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark, Hvem kan jeg klage and nitrates legislation. til?
145 This EIR focuses on inspections of major industrial installations. 157 Borger, Affald .
146 This EIR focuses on the availability of enforcement data and co 158 Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark, Digital ordination between authorities to tackle environmental crime. MiljøAdministration.
147 Directive 2004/35/CE , creates the framework. 159 Danmarks Statistik, Domme.
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
strengthen inter-agency cooperation 160 , the Danish skills. With the EIR 2017, the Commission has introduced Attorney General drew up guidelines on the prosecution TAIEX-EIR P2P as a new instrument facilitating peerof environmental crimes. These guidelines aim to learning between experts from the environmental coordinate the roles of the police, the relevant authorities of Member States. administrative authorities and the prosecuting
authority 161 . Denmark has participated in a number of TAIEX-EIR P2P events, some of which are described below.
Denmark’s consistent culture of transparency in •
environmental-compliance assurance can be considered A TAIEX-EIR P2P study visit to Belgium by experts
as a good practice. working in Danish municipal waste took place on 24– 25 September 2018. The purpose of the visit was to Environmental liability learn about networks for waste prevention, waste reuse, waste repair, and waste recycling in Belgian
The Environmental Liability Directive (ELD) establishes a regions and municipalities. framework based on the ‘polluter pays’ principle to
prevent and remedy environmental damage. The 2017 • Experts from the competent authorities of the
EIR focused on better information on environmental Netherlands and Denmark shared their experiences damage, financial security and guidance. The Commission from the Nordic-Baltic network of EU Timber is still collecting evidence on the progress made in other Regulation competent authorities (EUTRCAs) in a
areas. TAIEX-EIR peer-to-peer workshop in 2018. The workshop aimed to strengthen cooperation among
2019 priority actions the competent authorities from eight Mediterranean
• Better inform the public about compliance EU Member States to improve and harmonise promotion, monitoring and enforcement. implementation of the EU Timber Regulation in the • Take further steps to encourage the insurance Mediterranean region.
industry to further develop and popularize insurance • A TAIEX-EIR P2P workshop was held in Bratislava on
instruments covering environmental damage under 2–3 July 2018. The workshop was attended by the ELD. experts from Slovakia, Hungary, Czech Republic,
• Improve financial security for liabilities and ELD- Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, Belgium, Poland,
guidance and publish information on environmental Ireland, United Kingdom, Denmark and Bulgaria. At damage. the workshop, experts exchanged knowledge and
• Publish information on the outcome of enforcement experience on effective measures and good practices action and on the follow-up to detected crossin reducing emissions from domestic heating.
compliance breaches on nitrates and nature. Coordination and integration
Effectiveness of environmental As mentioned in the 2017 EIR, the transposition of the
administrations revised Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Those involved in implementing environmental Directive
162 2014/52/EU provides an opportunity for
legislation at EU, national, regional and local levels need countries to streamline their regulatory framework on to have the knowledge, tools and capacity to ensure that environmental assessments.
the legislation and the governance of the enforcement Denmark did not meet the May 2017 deadline for full process bring about the intended benefits. transposition of the EIA Directive and the SEA-Directive in
a new Environmental Impact Assessment Act (EIA Act). Administrative capacity and quality However, Denmark has now fully transposed the revised
Central, regional and local administrations must have the Directive.
ability to carry out their own tasks and work effectively The Commission encourages the streamlining of with each other within a system of multi-level environmental assessments to reduce duplication and governance. avoid overlaps in environmental assessments for
In order to ensure effective environmental governance, projects. Streamlining helps to reduce unnecessary environmental authorities need staff with the administrative burden. It also accelerates decision appropriate administrative and technical knowledge and making, without compromising the quality of the
160 Ministry of Environment, Kommunernes, miljøcentrenes og politiets håndhævelse af miljølovgivningen , 2011.
161 Miljø-Behandling af sager om overtrædelse af miljølovgivningen. 162 Directive 2014/52/EU.
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
environmental assessment procedure 163 . Denmark has Assembly in May 2018 167 . The EIR is one of the tools to introduced a streamlined procedure for assessments ensure that the Member States set a good example by under the EIA and Habitats Directives. respecting European Union environmental policies and
laws and international agreements. Denmark’s Adaptability, reform dynamics and innovation performance in signing and ratifying multilateral (eGovernment) environmental agreements is one of the best in the EU.
On digital public services, Denmark performs very well. Forests: EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) 168 / Forest Law The country is a frontrunner in the delivery of digital Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) public services among EU countries with a score of Regulation 169
73.2/100 based on Europe's Digital Progress Report 2017,
higher than the EU28 average (57.5/100) 164 . In the DESI Denmark has a relatively large number of people Report 2018, Denmark had a score of 73 out of 100 on employed in the implementation and enforcement of the digital public services, higher than the EU average of EUTR.
58 165 . From March 2015 to February 2017, Denmark planned
In terms of open data, Denmark continued to make and performed one check on businesses placing domestic considerable progress over the last year (after launching timber on the EU market. In the same period, Denmark a new platform). Thanks to a high score in their conducted 98 checks on operators importing timber. This completeness of online services (94 out of 100) 166 , is 145 % more checks than Denmark had originally Denmark provides a good and user-friendly framework planned to carry out at the start of this period. These
for eGovernment service for its citizens. numbers are low compared to the number of businesses placing timber on the EU market for the first time in
Enabling financing and effective use of funds Denmark over the same period
170 . Denmark performed one check on timber traders the whole two-year period. The Danish authorities, at national and regional level,
have good experience in the management of EU funding Denmark issued the highest number of penalties for
and no major problems arise in this respect. imported timber, with penalties issued in nearly 60 cases. These penalties included remedial actions that led to
2019 priority action penalties and court cases. In addition, Denmark has
• Denmark can further improve its overall worked to improve the quality of inspections and of due environmental governance (such as transparency, diligence systems. This has involved participation in citizen engagement, compliance and enforcement, as informal meetings in third countries and study trips.
well as administrative capacity and coordination). Denmark has also developed EUTR guidelines for forest owners 171 .
International agreements Article 12 of EUTR requires Member States to cooperate
with each other and with third countries to implement
The EU Treaties require the EU environmental policy to the regulation. Denmark reported that it had exchanged promote measures at international level to deal with information and received technical support from regional or worldwide environmental problems. governmental institutions outside Denmark, in addition
to cooperation with national customs and national
The EU is committed to strengthening environmental law CITES/regional and other government agencies.
and its implementation globally. It therefore continues to
support the Global Pact for the Environment process, Genetic resources: Nagoya Protocol on Access to which was launched by the United Nations General Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of
Benefits Arising (ABS ) 172
The EU ABS Regulation transposes into the EU legal order the required compliance measures under the Nagoya
163 The Commission issued a guidance document in 2016 regarding the setting up of coordinated and/or joint procedures that are 167 UN General Assembly Resolution 72/277 and Organizational session simultaneously subject to assessments under the EIA Directive, Habitats of the ad hoc open-ended working group .
Directive, Water Framework Directive, and the Industrial Emissions 168 Regulation (EU) No 995/2010 .
Directive, OJ C 273, 27.7.2016, p. 1. 169 Regulation (EC) No 2173/2005.
164 European Commission, Europe's Digital Progress Report (EDPR) 2018 170 On the basis of customs’ data, it was estimated that 28’000 Danish Country Profile Denmark , p. 10. operators placed domestic timber onto the EU market and 2 800
165 European Commission, Digital Economy and Society Index Report imported timber.
2018, Digital Public Services . 171 Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark, Guideline for Danish 166 European Commission, Europe's Digital Progress Report (EDPR) 2018 forest owners on the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), 2016.
Country Profile Denmark , p. 10. 172 Regulation (EU) No 511/2014 .
Environmental Implementation Report 2019 – Denmark
Protocol on access to genetic resources. Denmark is a equality consequences. The government supports policy party to the Nagoya Protocol since the protocol entered consistency in sustainable development, and ministries into force 10 October 2014. Denmark has designated must integrate sustainable development in their competent authorities and enacted sanctions for policymaking 176 . As part of the action plan to implement infringements of the EU ABS Regulation. Denmark has the SDGs, the government will in future assess the not yet submitted a due diligence declaration and no consequences of new legislation and major initiatives for penalties have been applied; nevertheless, Denmark has the SDGs in case the impact is significant. a plan for conducting checks on user compliance and has
started inspections on user compliance. In late 2017, The Ministry of Finance is responsible for the Denmark submitted its first report to the Commission on coordination of the national implementation of the SDGs
implementation of the EU ABS Regulation. and the government’s action plan. However, government ministries are responsible for integrating the SDGs in
International wildlife trade: the Convention on policy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild the SDGs at the United Nations and in other international Fauna and Flora (CITES ) 173 fora. It is also responsible for implementing the SDGs in
In line with the obligations laid down in the Basic Danish foreign, security policy, trade and development Regulation 174 , which transposes the major obligations of policy.
the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Implementation of the action plan and sustainable Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) into EU law, development in general is funded by the budget Denmark has established relevant national authorities allocations approved by the Danish parliament in the and is processing (requests for) import, (re-) export and annual budget negotiations for the coming fiscal year. intra-EU trade documents on a regular basis. Reports on The government will continue to provide 0.7 per cent of seizures of illegal wildlife shipments (in particular those Gross National Income in ODA to promote reported every 6 months to TRAFFIC under its contract implementation of the SDGs. The government is also with the Commission, and those exchanged through the committed to mobilising significant resources in EU-TWIX platform) show the activity of customs developing countries, and in 2017 launched an SDG authorities. fund 177 . This fund will combine public and private funds
to mobilise private capital to help achieve the SDGs.
Sustainable development and the In 2017, a Nordic Council working group prepared a
implementation of the UN SDGs report on the most relevant SDGs and their state of
Sustainable development links environmental, social and implementation in the Nordic countries
178 . The Nordic
economic policies in a coherent framework and therefore Council is encouraging the integration of the SDGs into its helps to implement environmental legislation and own work, and across the countries of the region.
policies. Following the publication of the action plan in 2017, the
In 2009, the Danish government published its most government will publish annual progress reports on the recent national strategy for sustainable development. 37 targets, which will be sent to the Danish parliament. The sub-national levels of government were consulted in Every four years, the progress report will be replaced by the preparation of the document. Municipalities have a more comprehensive status report, which will also their own sustainable development strategies, which are contain initiatives for achieving the SDGs and possible required by the Planning Act. However, there is no direct changes to the action plan
179 . Denmark submitted a
link between these strategies and the national strategy. voluntary national review on the SDGs to the UN in 2017 180 .
In 2017 the government published an action plan to
implement the SDGs 175 . The action plan contains 37
concrete (mostly) national targets that are largely measurable and quantifiable. This will allow systematic stocktaking and evaluation of progress, but it does not
detail specific funding for implementing the SDGs. 176
Denmark already assesses new legislative proposals in The Danish Government, Report for the Voluntary National Review, 2017.
terms of their economic, environmental and gender 177 UN City Copenhagen, New DKK 4bn fund contributes to UN
Sustainable Development Goals in developing countries .
173 European Commission, The European Union and Trade in Wild Fauna 179 The Danish Government, Report for the Voluntary National Review, and Flora. 2017.
174 Regulation (EC) No 338/97 . 180 The Danish Government, Report for the Voluntary National Review, 175 Handlingsplan for FN’s verdensmål. 2017.
| 15 Apr '19 |
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS Environmental Implementation Review 2019: A Europe that protects its citizens and enhances their quality of life COVER NOTE |
Secretary-General of the European Commission 8302/19 |
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