Denmark

Basic information

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Mechanisms of Vertical Integration

National — sub-national linkages

With regards to the current NSDS, there are no strategic mechanisms for the involvement of sub-national levels in the implementation.

For the preparation of the revised NSDS, the sub-national levels are involved in the consultation process and the ‘direct dialogues’: The draft of the revised NSDS was sent to all regions and municipalities in a general consultation process. They had three months to submit their comments on the revised strategy.

A ‘direct dialogue’ was organised between the Minister of Environment and several municipalities (selected by the Association of Local Authorities): It was discussed how the municipalities can contribute to SD and how the national level could provide a strategic framework for SD at the local level. The results were included in the revised draft NSDS. The dialogue also resulted in two concrete projects: (a) Development of a methodology for a municipal carbon calculator; (b) sustainable urban policy framework, establishing a close cooperation between the national level and the municipalities.

The municipalities have their own SD strategies which are required by the planning law. These ‘Agenda 21 strategies’ must be renewed every four years. There is no direct link between these strategies and the NSDS. However, an indirect link exists as the strategies have to be submitted to the Ministry of Environment.

Furthermore, there are several partnerships between the national and sub-national levels, e.g. Nature Conservation Partnership, Public Procurement Partnership. These partnerships are related to the objectives formulated in the NSDS.

EU linkages

The renewed EU Strategy for Sustainable Development (EU SDS) that was adopted in June 2006 foresees that Member States bi-annually report about how they address the priorities of the EU SDS. Denmark has published its first national report on implementing the EU SDS in summer 2007.

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Mechanisms of Horizontal Integration

The Ministry of Environment is responsible for the coordination of the NSDS process. Several other ministries are involved in close inter-ministerial cooperation, especially the ministries of transportation, health, energy, education, foreign affairs, food and consumption, science, taxation, and economics and business affairs.

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Evaluation and Review

In June 2007, the Danish Government published a discussion paper for a revised NSDS. The discussion paper was part of a broad public debate, which will ultimately result in the publication of a revised NSDS.

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Indicators and Monitoring

Monitoring and reporting are highly institutionalized and coordinated by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency, although there is a lack of exact deadlines for reports on the strategy. Along with the NSDS, a set of 102 indicators was published to measure the progress made in the implementation of the strategy. The set of indicators comprises a small number of 14 key indicators and a larger set for each of the targets of the NSDS. Every two years, key indicator reports are published which inform about progress achieved. The latest report, 'Key Indicators 2004', was published in 2005, including the set of 14 headline indicators.

The full list(s) of indicators as identified by a study commissioned by Eurostat can be downloaded here:

• NSDS indicators (2002)
• Key indicators report (2005)

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Participation

Since the Danish Nature Council was dissolved in 2002, no National Council for SD exists in Denmark.

Broad public consultation was undertaken when the NSDS and the set of indicators were developed in 2002. More than 250 Danish and international NGOs were involved in this process. The most influential civil society actors are the Danish 92 Group, a coalition of twenty Danish NGOs dealing with environmental issues, and Local Agenda 21 initiatives.

The Government has established partnerships and dialogues with important stakeholders, e.g. partnerships with the National Association of Local Authorities in Denmark, close dialogue with businesses (including CSR and green procurement), etc. For the revision of the NSDS, a participatory process was developed, including roundtable discussions and direct dialogues with youth groups, sub-national authorities, business and industry, NGOs and the financial sector.

For a detailed documentation of all advisory and participatory councils (for SD and/or the environment) in this country, please go to the EEAC website at http://www.eeac-net.org/bodies/denmark/de_frame.htm and click on one of the listed institutions.

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Sub-national activities

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This Country Profile has been last updated on: Friday, 05 December 2008

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