BASIC INFORMATION
DenmarkFriday, 19 December 2025
In July 2025 Denmark published an updated Action Plan with the title: “Mod et mere bæredygtigt Danmark” (in Danish only).
The Danish Government’s 2025 Action Plan builds upon the ambitions in previous action plans from the former governments in 2021 and 2017. With the updated Action Plan the government will maintain its approach where things are going well in Denmark while particularly focusing on areas, where progress is still needed. As the government's Progress Report on the SDGs 2022-2023 showed, more progress is needed in terms of the SDGs relating to responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), life below water (SDG 14), and life on land (SDG 15). The Action Plan focuses on implementing the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda across both national and international policy-making.
Action Plan 2025 (only in Danish)
The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Department for Africa, Development Policy and Financing
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for coordinating the national implementation of the SDGs. The government is committed to implement the SDGs in Denmark and abroad. Horizontally efforts are mainly coordinated bilaterally between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the line ministries. The responsibility for implementing the SDGs is divided between the relevant ministries in Denmark. Line ministries are responsible for the implementation of SDGs within their scope.
In 2017 the Danish Parliament (Folketinget) established a cross-party network for the SDGs, the “2030-Network” (2030-netværket). Their purpose is to promote the SDGs by, among other things, sharing knowledge, discussing relevant topics concerning the achievement of the goals in Denmark, and exercising parliamentary control. The 2030 Network has established an advisory body called the “2030-Panel” (2030-panelet) with representatives from civil society, business, research, NGOs and other sectors. The panel is a cross-sectoral platform that engages a range of stakeholders from Danish society and supports the political work of the 2030-Network through sharing of knowledge, analysis and sparring. In addition, the 2030-Panel seek to create public engagement and ownership of the SDGs.
Action Plan 2025 (only in Danish)
Besides the VNRs (see below) Denmark also published a progress report in December 2023, covering the period 2022-2023 (only in Danish). The progress report builds on the 2021 Action Plan, by evaluating the latest progress in implementing the SDGs. The assessment of Denmark's implementation of the SDGs is visualised using a “traffic light” system to assess the level and arrows to assess the trend. The assessment of the individual sub-goals is based on either quantitative data or qualitative assessments of policy in the area – or a combination of both. This is implemented in order to clearly depict the evaluation of progress regarding each sub-target under the 17 SDGs.
In 2025 Action Plan the Government pledged to continue conducting a progress report every two years to follow up on implementation of the SDGs and the progress regarding the five overarching goals: Prosperity, People, Planet, Peace and Partnership (this categorization within the five Ps is based on the interdependence of the SDGs).
Regeringens Fremdriftsrapport for FNs Verdensmål 2022-2023 (only in Danish)
In order to monitor the progress towards sustainable development Denmark is actively engaged in Voluntary National Review process. The latest Danish VNR was submitted in 2021. This process was coordinated by the Ministry of Finance. However, the coordinating role has since been placed in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Denmark has improved its monitoring significantly, due to the work of Statistics Denmark. In 2018 Statistics Denmark, who carry out the statistical reporting and monitoring of the SDGs, launched a statistical database to function as a tool for follow-up on implementation which they continuously keep updated.
A wide range of actors participate in the monitoring. The latest VNR includes assessments from government officials, civil society actors, organizations, academic institutions, actors of the parliament, the private sector, municipalities and regions. Expert panels such as the 2030-Panel also played a central role. Furthermore, peer reviews were conducted in cooperation with Kenya and Norway.
Denmark expects to conduct the next VNR before 2030.