Prudent development - a shared responsibility
18 Implementation, monitoring of progress and followup
This is Denmark's strategy for sustainable development. The implementation of the strategy calls for active interplay and dialogue between a wide range of players among government authorities and citizens alike. To achieve the objectives in this strategy, players in the various sectors, as well as organisations and citizens, must take action at the national and local levels. A system of indicators will contribute to following the stepby step achievement of the strategy objectives. SO2
Implementation - a shared responsibility
The strategy forms the starting point for ongoing dialogue on objectives and means for achieving sustainable development, and will also be the signal for launching concrete initiatives.The strategy has a long-term as well as a cross-sectoral perspective: It is a combined framework for Denmark's national initiatives for sustainable development, and provides the framework for the considerations to be met in connection with the formulation and implementation of future strategies and action plans.
The visions and objectives of the strategy will be followed up by action plans, programmes and concrete initiatives within the sectors and areas concerned. These include an action plan for the Aquatic Environment Plan III, an action plan for biodiversity and nature protection, a strategy for the correlation between environmental factors and health as well as a green industrial development strategy.
But formulating action plans and strategies is not enough: the strategies must be implemented.The players in the individual sectors must assume responsibility, promote the strategy objectives and take action within their own areas.The objectives of decoupling growth from environmental impacts, integrating environmental considerations into sectors and promoting sustainable development are important and should be taken into account in further work in the sectors.
Continual dialogue and public participation are crucial to the implementation of the strategy objectives. Dialogue on the framework, objectives, instruments and cross-sectoral themes of the strategy is necessary to enable us to develop relevant solutions and ensure that they are firmly embedded in society.The active participation of players at all levels in society is necessary.The Government will work to continue and expand the dialogue initiated in the formulation stage of the strategy. A key task for the sectors will be to enter into dialogue and cooperation with NGOs and other interested parties on the implementation of the strategy.
Many NGOs are already making a considerable effort to promote sustainable development and may play a larger role when it comes to implementing the strategy, for instance as a sounding board for companies and authorities and as a link to the population at large. This applies to green organisations, trade associations and other interest groups. NGOs are encouraged to participate in implementing the strategy at the local, regional and national levels. It will be necessary to develop concepts for committed cooperation among authorities, the business community and NGOs.
Monitoring and followup - from objectives to results
Sustainable development is a long-term process with long-term objectives, and it is necessary to closely monitor whether the development is moving forward and results are being achieved.Therefore, the Government will continuously monitor and report on the progress made in implementing the strategy and achieving results that point in the direction of sustainable development.This will present an opportunity to take further initiatives, if required, and adjust the course to counteract any negative developments.
Indicators will be a basis for reporting on progress towards sustainable development. In connection with the strategy, the Government has developed a set of indicators that can follow developments in relation to key objectives and activities in the sustainable development strategy.
The set of indicators comprises a small number of overall key indicators and a set of indicators directed at each of the target areas of the strategy. The indicators must be selected to focus on developments and results in relation to the strategy objectives for sustainable development.
The indicators will be constantly developed in the light of the international work on indicators for sustainable development.The indicators will be presented every year on a special website for sustainable development, and the key indicators in an annual brochure.
Adjustment - up-to-date policy
Against the background of the continuous reports on the results achieved in implementing the strategy, the Government will take steps to assess and adjust the sustainable development strategy.The strategy will be adjusted at least every five years to ensure that a new edition is ready for a UN event five years after the World Summit on Sustainable Development.The adjusted strategy will contain proposals for objectives and activities during the next period and will assess whether new target areas are required.