Objectives and principles

Key indicators

1. The welfare society must be developed and economic growth decoupled from environ-
mental impacts

N1. GDP per capita
N2: Decoupling illustrated by environmental impacts for 4 factors (greenhouse gases, runoffs of nutrients into the sea, emissions of acidifying compounds and emissions to air) in relation to GDP
N3. Genuine Savings
N4. Employment analysed by age group

2.There must be a safe and healthy en-
vironment for everyone, and we must maintain a high level of protection.

N5. Average life expectancy (analysed between men and women)
N6. Gross emissions in mill. tonnes CO₂ equivalents analysed between industry, transport, households, agriculture, and waste
N7. Number of chemicals which have been classified

3. We must secure a high degree of bio-
diversity and protect ecosystems.

N8. Area of natural habitats (deciduous forest, original forest, meadow, dry grassland, moor, and marshland)

4. Resources must be used more efficiently

N9. Resource flows for 3 factors (energy consumption, drinking water consumption, and total waste volume) in relation to GDP

5.We must take action at international level

N10. Assistance funds as a percentage of GNI, in total and analysed between development and environmental assistance, and assistance to neighbouring countries

6. Environmental considerations
must be taken into account in all sectors.

N11. and N12. Each year, a number of sectors are singled out and their environmental profiles are illustrated by an index for three selected environmental impacts in relation to developments in the sector in question

7. The market must support sustainable development

N13. Number of eco-labelled products, analysed as the number of trade names

8. Susveltainable deopment is a shared responsibility, and we must measure progress.

N14. Number of EMAS and ISO registered enterprises

Objectives and activities   

Indicators

The atmospheric content of greenhouse gases must be stabilised at a level sufficiently low to prevent hazardous anthropogenic impacts on the climate.

4.1 The atmospheric concentration of CO₂

Unavoidable climate change must take
place at a pace that allows ecosystems
to adapt.

4.2. Average temperature worldwide and in Denmark

4.3. Effects of climate change in Denmark indicated by the   beginning of the pollen season

In an international context, Denmark has a high emission of CO₂ per capita, which gives us a special obligation

4.4. Global CO₂ emissions per capita, and in a number of regions and countries, including Denmark

Denmark must make a significant contribution to the Kyoto Protocol. Greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced (21 per cent from 1990 to 2008-12)

4.5. Total gross greenhouse gas emissions in mill. tonnes CO₂ equivalents - and analysed between CO₂, N2O, CH4, HFC, PFC and SF6

4.6. CO₂ sequestration (absorption) in mill. tonnes.

4.7. Total gross greenhouse gas emissions in mill. tonnes CO₂ equivalents in relation to GNP at constant prices

4.8. Total net (gross less sinks) greenhouse gas emissions in mill. tonnes CO₂ equivalents

All possibilities for reduction of greenhouse gases are to be in the most cost-effective way

4.9. Gross emissions in mill. tonnes CO₂ equivalents analysed between industry, transport, households, and waste

Objectives and activities

Indicators

Strengthen and target activities to safeguard biodiversity and nature protection.

5.1. Area of natural habitats (deciduous forest, original forest, meadow, dry grassland, moor, and marshland)

The Government will be intensifying its efforts to protect and restore habitats  for indigenous animals and plants in order to have large viable populations on land and in freshwater and marine environments in accordance with the objective of the EU Sixth Environment Action Programme to stop the loss of biodiversity by the year 2010.

5.2. Conservation status for species and natural habitats in Natura 2000 sites

5.3. Species in Denmark which are on the Red List

5.4. Areas acquired by the State for nature management

5.5. Danish watercourse fauna index (water quality in watercourses) and transparency (water quality in lakes)

5.6. Transgression of critical loads for ammonia and nitrogen oxides (for moors, upland moors, dry grassland, etc.)

5.7. Nitrogen and phosphorus discharges into the sea in tonnes per year

Objectives and activities

Indicators

Denmark must reduce harmful impacts on human health and on the environment to the greatest possible extent, no matter what the source.
  

6.1. Incidences of asthmatic bronchitis and asthma, allergic coryza (hay fever and non-seasonal colds), and allergic eczema in 1987, 1994 and 2000

6.1 Chemicals   

Objectives and activities

Indicators

The use of chemicals must be limited, and whenever relevant, any chemicals with
harmful effects on human and animal health
and on nature must be prohibited so that emissions of chemicals which pose a threat to health and  the environment are stopped within the time span of one generation.

6.1.1. Number of chemicals classified

To retain a high level of protection in assessments of the effects of plant protection products and biocides on health and the environment.
  

6.1.2. The volume of sales of pesticide active substances classified as being particularly hazardous  

6.2. Environmental quality and other environmental factors

Objectives and activities

Indicators

Denmark must reduce acidification, eutrophication and ground-level ozone

6.2.1. Emissions of SO2, NOx, VOC and NH3

Ozone depletion high in the atmosphere, must be stopped.

6.2.2. Ozone layer thickness

It is important to continue our measures against soil contamination.

6.2.3. Number of sites where remediation of soil contamination has been carried out in order to enable housing and/or drinking water supply (number of remediations per year and analysed between types of financing)

Maintain activities to ensure clean drinking water

6.2.4. Number of occurrences of pesticides in groundwater used for drinking water

Pathogenic micro-organisms must not be dispersed in the environment to a damaging extent.
   

6.2.5. Bathing areas where water quality is so poor that bathing is not recommended

6.3. Food

Objectives and activities

Indicators

Safety assessments, risk analyses and control
of chemical pollutants and chemicals in pro-
duction must be continued and strengthened.

6.3.1. Level of selected incidences of chemical pollution in food

6.3.2.a. PCBs in cod liver from Danish waters 1998-2000

6.3.2.b Consumption of 4 heavy metals in Danish diets (number of foods) in three 5-year monitoring periods
   

6.4. Health and safety

Objectives and activities

Indicators

Work-related injuries caused by ex-
posure to carcinogenic avoided

6.4.1. Selected reported work-related disorders

Objectives and activities

Indicators

Resource consumption must be reduced.

7.1. Denmark's total consumption of selected resources (raw and ancillary materials)

7.2. Every third year: Total consumption of material resources (TMR) per inhabitant

Environmental impacts from waste must be prevented

7.3. Developments in waste generation and GDP,

7.4. Waste volume recycled in absolute figures and in relation to total waste volume in Denmark

7.5. Waste volume in Denmark from the following 4 sectors; households, services, industry, and building and construction analysed in absolute figures and in relation to financial activity in the sectors

Sustainable use of raw materials in Denmark must be achieved

7.6. Recycling in the building and construction sector as a percentage of recovered raw materials.

7.7. Known reserves in the North Sea in relation to the current annual production of oil and gas respectively

Various considerations must be combined to minimise conflicts between different uses of the same piece of land. Outside urban areas, diversified use must be promoted.

7.8. Development in area utilisation (km2) analysed by the following area types: nature, forest, farmland, houses, and roads in the countryside and in towns and cities

Objectives and activities

Indicators

In close and binding cooperation with recipient countries, Denmark contributes significant support in areas relevant to sustainable development.

8.1. Assistance funds as a percentage of GNI, in total and analysed between development and environmental assistance, and assistance to neighbouring countries

8.2. Number of developing countries and Central and Eastern European countries which receive assistance from Denmark, and which have national strategies for sustainable development.
  

Background indicators

UN Objectives

Indicator

Halve the proportion of people who live in extreme poverty from 1990 to 2015

Number of people who live on less than one USD a day

9.1. Food safety

Objectives and activities

Indicator

A crucial objective is to achieve a high level of food safety.
  

9.1. Number of incidences of illness caused by food

9.2. Agriculture

Objectives and activities

Indicators

Agricultural loss of nitrate, phosphorus and ammonia must be brought down to a level that represents no nuisance to humans, that safeguards the aquatic environment and vulnerable natural habitats, and that promotes a rich animal and plant life.

9.2.1. Balance sheet of inputs and outputs of N and P

9.2.2. Total imports and exports of N and P by the agricultural sector

Agriculture and the individual farmer have an important role to play in nature management. Nature must be protected and biodiversity ensured.

9.2.3. Number of farms and areas which have green accounting/environmental management

9.2.4 Area/ha designated as particularly sensitive land areas (SFL), including proportion of area with agro environmental schemes

The Danish Government is hopeful that pesticide use can be minimised within the next few years.

9.2.5. Application frequency for pesticides on conventionally cultivated areas

The Government wants to see further development of the organic sector on the basis of consumer demand and common EU rules.

9.2.6. Number and area of organic farms

In the view of the Government, it is imperative for continued economic growth to occur without a corresponding growth in environmental impacts in harmony with nature and the environment.

9.2.7. Index: Environmental impacts from agriculture: 3 environmental impacts, eg. energy use, frequency of pesticide application, number of livestock, methane emissions, ammonia losses, and nitrogen surpluses in relation to changes in value of production.

9.2.8. Number of farms, size and specialisation (harmonic and unharmonic farms)
  

9.3. Fisheries

Objectives and activities

Indicators

Fish stocks and ecosystems in the sea must be conserved

9.3.1. The number of fish stocks where the spawning biomass is within safe biological limits and the number of fisheries operated within safe biological limits

Amounts of discards must be reduced

9.3.2. The percentage of discards compared to the total catch (landings and discards) for selected species, analysed by fishing equipment used.

Fisheries must be made more selective so that unintentional by-catches of porpoise are avoided as far as possible and undesirable impacts on the seabed can be eliminated.

9.3.3. The extent of by-catches of porpoise (estimated) by Danish net fishing in the North Sea

Size of fleet and composition that is better adapted to catch possibilities

9.3.4. Capacity of the fishing fleet (tonnage, engine power, etc.) and composition

Objectives and activities

Indicators

Near-nature and environmentally friendly forestry must be promoted

10.1. Forest regeneration and establishment methods. These include the proportion of regeneration material consisting of native tree species. (From 2002 also stand structure (diversity in age and species) and the volume of deadwood in production forests)

10.2. Forests with special nature considerations

The public should be more involved in decisions concerning forests, and outdoor recreational activities should be enhanced

10.3. Number of visitors to forests

The forest area will be doubled, so that forest landscapes cover 20-25 per cent of Denmark in the course of a tree generation (80-100 years).

10.4. Total forest area

Objectives and activities

Indicators

An efficient green market must be created and it must be easier for enterprises and investors to document their environmental efforts

11.1. Number of licenses for eco-labelled products

In this process, more eco-labelled products on the market and adequate information will motivate consumers to change their habits.

11.2. Number of eco-labelled products, analysed as the number of trade names

Enterprises must be provided more opportunity to compete on environmental efforts

11.3. Number of EMAS and ISO registered enterprises

Growth and the environment should increasingly go hand in hand.

11.4. Index for manufacturing industry's resource efficiency - selected parameters (eg. energy and water, etc.) in relation to GDP

11.5. Changes in industrial sector emissions of CO₂, NOx, SO₂, and changes in GVA

The environmental standard of existing and   new tourism areas and tourist facilities should be improved.

11.6. Number/percentage of tourism enterprises that participate in eco-labelling schemes

Blue flags are to draw public attention to clean and safe facilities at beaches and  in marinas.

11.7. Number of "Blue Flag" beaches and marinas

Objectives and activities

Indicators

Efficient mobility must be ensured through public and private transport solutions.

12.1. Average length of trip analysed between activities

Decouple growth in the impact of transport on the environment and health from economic growth.

12.2. Traffic performed/GDP

12.3. Passenger performed work and freight performed work analysed by means of transport

Air pollution from traffic constitutes no health hazard to the population.

12.4. Transport emissions (CO₂, CO, PM10, NO_x, NMVOC and SO₂ )

Transport must be safe for everyone

12.5. Number of fatalities analysed by means of transport

The supply of and demand for environmentally friendly transport options will be increased.

12.6. Average energy efficiency for passenger transport and freight transport

12.7. Average capacity utilisation and average load for lorries over 6 tonnes

12.8. Energy efficiency of new cars

Objectives and activities

Indicators

The aim is to bring down CO₂ emissions by 20 per cent of 1988 levels by 2005

13.1. CO₂ emissions in mill. tonnes actual and adjusted, and in relation to gross energy consumption

SO₂ emissions must be reduced by approximately 30 per cent of 1998 levels by the end of 2010

13.2. SO₂ emissions in mill. tonnes in actual figures and in relation to gross energy consumption in PJ

NO_x emissions must be reduced by approximately 45 per cent of 1998 levels by the end of 2010.

13.3. NO_x emissions in mill. tonnes in relation to gross energy consumption in PJ

Enhanced planning, coordination and prioritisation of overall energy-saving initia-
tives.

13.4.a Gross energy consumption in PJ

13.4.b Final energy consumption in PJ

13.5. Energy intensity for all production trades, and for agriculture and horticulture

13.6. Combined heat and power as a proportion of thermal electricity production

Objectives and activities

Indicators

Urban areas must be put to better use

14.1. Area for urbanisation

New urban structures must ensure efficient utilisation of the overall transport system

14.2. Proportion of recently built office facilities in the Greater Copenhagen Area, which has been built within a distance of 500 metres from an S-train station

The utility value, flexibility and quality of buildings must be enhanced

14.3. Proportion of all dwellings which have district heating, washing facilities, and toilets

We should improve the quality of urban recreation.

14.4. Proportion of the population in Copenhagen and Aalborg who have access to a green area (km²) within a distance of 15 minutes of walking

Further requirements for energy and resource consumption

14.5. Energy consumption for heating in the city as a whole

14.6. Index for changes in electricity consumption, water consumption and waste volumes in dwellings/households

The supply of housing must grow

14.7. Number of newly erected rented dwellings analysed by different types of housing

Objectives and activities

Indicators

Decisions at all levels should be assessed in relation to the environment.

15.1. Environmental impact assessments of bills

The public sector wants to take the lead by, amongst other things, including environmental considerations in procurement policy.

15.2. Proportion of government   institutions which have reported a green procurement policy

Training and education will contribute to disseminating knowledge about sustainable development

15.3. Number of schools with Green Flags

15.4. Number of nature guides

We need a solid knowledge base for making the right decisions and prioritising activities. Expenditure on research and development should be increased to a level of about 3 per cent of GDP by 2010.

15.5. Total funds for research and development

Objectives and activities

Indicators

Local Agenda 21 activities should be further promoted.

16.1. Number of counties and municipalities which have started working with Local Agenda 21