A shared future - balanced development
2. Results and challanges
The Agenda 21 document from the Rio Conference invites governments to formulate national strategies for sustainable development.This national strategy has been drawn up in response to that invitation and will be an integral part of Denmark’s contribution to the UN World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg.
This Denmark’s Strategy for Sustainable Development should be seen in the context of the international strategies for sustainable development in which Denmark participates.The EU is discussing its Sixth Environment Action Programme, which sets the framework for EU environment policy and for the integration of environmental considerations into all policy areas.The Sixth Environment Action Programme points to five main areas of activity for the next decade: climate; nature and biodiversity; environment, health and quality of life; sustainable exploitation and management of natural resources and waste; and international activities. At the European Council in Gothenburg in June 2001, the European Council adopted a longterm strategy for sustainable development, setting up specific objectives for health and the environment. The strategy advocates that environmental sustainable development be discussed at the EU spring summits under the Lisbon process on a par with socially and economically sustainable development.
Under the auspices of the OECD, Denmark has worked actively for sustainable development and the integration of environmental considerations. In May 2001, Denmark chaired the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting on sustainable development, where ministers for the environment, economy and finance all participated. At the meeting, the OECD countries adopted a strategy for sustainable development, which sets up a framework for integrating economic, social and environmental objectives and for decoupling economic development from environmental pressure. On Denmark’s initiative, the outcome of the meeting was that the OECD will develop sustainable development indicators to measure progress.These indicators will be incorporated into the OECD’s evaluation of individual member countries. Denmark will strive to ensure that member countries follow up the OECD’s work on sustainable development.
During the Danish presidency, the Nordic Council of Ministers completed a cross-sectoral strategy for sustainable development, targeted at integrating environmental considerations into sectors.This came into effect on 1 January 2001, and in the coming years objectives and initiatives will be continuously followed up.The countries and the individual sectors within the Nordic Council of Ministers are responsible for the integration of environmental considerations within their areas. At the Polfoto: Prteben Kirkholt Nordic Council session in autumn 2002 the Nordic Council of Ministers will give a status report on the implementation of the strategy in each Nordic country.
Results
In the last two decades Denmark has successfully achieved a clear stabilisation in economic development. Denmark has managed to achieve higher levels of employment and income, mainly through reforms of the labour market, the tax system and educational programmes.There are surpluses on the government budgets and the balance of payments, whilst inflation is low and stable.The big problems Denmark had with the balance of payments in the early 1980s have all been solved. This has been achieved without the widening of social inequality. Although much still remains to be done, we have a strong basis for preserving and improving a welfare society of a high standard and with a higher degree of individual freedom, which is to the benefit of all.
Denmark has followed up on the recommendations from the 1992 Rio Conference. Denmark must continue its international initiatives for sustainable development.Total assistance for sustainable development, including the development assistance framework and Danish environmental assistance, accounts for well above the UN target of 0.7 per cent of gross national income. Denmark has been, and will remain, an active co-player in global negotiations on ensuring development and trade, global conventions and EU rules in the environmental area that have a high level of protection. Denmark is the first country in the western world to ratify and implement the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision- Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters.
For many years, Denmark has emphasised the importance of integrating environmental considerations into other policy areas and of combating and preventing pollution and its impact on nature. Varioustargeted action plans have strengthened the concrete initiatives to decouple economic growth from adverse effects on nature and the environment.
While the economy has showed a strong upswing, Denmark also managed to reduce emissions of various pollutants - especially SO2, NOX, but also CO2 - and total energy consumption has stabilised. The objective of limiting the discharge of nutrients to the aquatic environment from municipal wastewater treatment plants and industry has been met, and significant progress has also been recorded in the agricultural sector. More than 200 of the most harmful pesticide products have been removed from the market. Over the past ten years, more than 8,000 ha of lakes, streams, meadows and moors have been restored, and about 18,000 ha have been planted with trees.
Challenges
Growing international trade and the increased pressure on the Earth’s natural resources have increased the interdependence among countries. Globalisation of economies means that many problems, including environmental ones, can only be solved through international cooperation. Projections on the state of the global environment indicate that growth in the world economy, global population growth and significantly higher consumption levels will intensify the pressure on natural resources. According to international forecasts, the world population is expected to grow to some 7.5 billion over the next twenty years, and per capita consumption is expected to increase by one third over the same period.
The new global market involves fiercer competition. Moreover, the enlarged European market opens up new business opportunities. Environmental aspects are becoming a competitive parameter, and Danish companies already enjoy a very strong position. New technology, information and communication technology, and the Internet will increasingly change the day-to-day lives of companies and people. This facilitates the exchange of knowledge, but also entails steadily higher expectations for openness and transparency in companies and the public sector and for transparency in the decision-making process.
The global knowledge economy is riding a new industrial wave where scientific and industrial breakthroughs in fields such as biotechnology, microelectronics, energy technology, telecommunica- tions and new materials will change the world. Several of these technologies can potentially contribute to decoupling economic development from environmental impacts and resource consumption. At the same time, technological advances may involve risks and uncertainty, for example in conjunction with the release of genetically modified organisms into the environment.
Denmark must take active steps to meet the challenges and ensure that growth in the economy and in living standards does not step up pollution and cause more damage to the natural environment. Within the past two decades, Denmark has managed to implement targeted initiatives that limit and reduce the environmental impact per unit produced. Denmark is responsible for ensuring that its reduction in environmental impacts does not result from transferring polluting production to other countries. Nevertheless, at the same time we must ensure that environmental improvements are achieved where they are most efficient.
One of the greatest challenges at global level is to meet the threat from climate change. Climate change will alter the basis of the natural environment and, in particular, threaten the already poor countries and small archipelagic states.The world’s biodiversity is under pressure from various human activities. Poverty, hunger and scarcity of basic natural resources such as drinking water are the causes of conflicts, which give rise to severe refugee problems in some regions.
In Denmark one environmental challenge in the years ahead will be the large number of chemicals from products, emissions, discharges and waste, which disperse to the environment through many routes and can affect health, the environment and nature. Other challenges will be to decouple economic growth from the impact on the environment and human health in the areas where this has not yet been accomplished.The growing demand for transport contributes to global climate change and to local air pollution in cities despite vehicles’ increased energy efficiency. Improved resource utilisation and reduced waste volumes are other challenges for the coming years. Danish nature is exploited intensively, both in rural areas and at sea. In spite of the measures taken, species and landscape types are still decreasing in number. The challenge lies in developing and introducing more environmentally friendly production methods that prevent any deterioration in biodiversity.