OECD Environmental Performance Reviews: Denmark 2019

Foreword
Reader’s guide
Abbreviations and acronyms
Basic statistics of Denmark
Executive summary
Assessment and recommendations
	1.1. Environmental performance: Trends and recent developments
		1.1.1. The country has made progress in decarbonising its economy, with the energy sector playing a key role
		1.1.2. Denmark has stepped up its efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and is preparing for carbon neutrality by 2050
		1.1.3. Particle pollution in cities and agricultural ammonia emissions remain problems
		1.1.4. More coherent and proactive policies are needed to foster nature conservation
	1.2. Environmental governance and management
		1.2.1. Municipalities are responsible for most aspects of environmental management
		1.2.2. Expertise in socio-economic assessment is extensive, but could be used more systematically
		1.2.3. Land-use planning should target better distribution between agriculture and nature protection
		1.2.4. The environmental inspection system is effective, but enforcement is uneven
		1.2.5. Environmental democracy is strong
	1.3. Towards green growth
		1.3.1. Ambitious targets for green growth and commitment to sustainable development
		1.3.2. In a long history of green taxation, adjustments are still necessary
		1.3.3. Denmark invests in renewables and is a leader in innovation
		1.3.4. Dependence on foreign trade is high, as is foreign aid
	1.4. Waste, materials management and the circular economy
		1.4.1. Recycling and recovery rates are high, but so is municipal waste generation
		1.4.2. The policy and legal framework in waste management is well established but future organisation is uncertain
		1.4.3. A diverse policy mix encourages recycling despite incineration dependency, but more incentives are needed for waste prevention
		1.4.4. Denmark has reached a new political agreement to move towards a circular economy
	1.5. Chemicals management
		1.5.1. Pressures on health and the environment from chemicals are monitored, yet remain significant
		1.5.2. Exemplary policy and institutional frameworks are coupled with stakeholder co-operation
		1.5.3. The country has long been active in international forums and the regional setting
	Notes
	References
		Annex 1.A.  Actions taken to implement recommendations from the 2007 OECD Environmental Performance Review of Denmark
		Part I. Progress towards sustainable development
Part I. Progress towards sustainable development
	Chapter 1.  Environmental performance: Trends and recent developments
		1.1. Introduction
			1.1.1. Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals
		1.2. Main economic and social developments
			1.2.1. Economic performance
			1.2.2. Structure of the economy and employment
			1.2.3. Population, well-being and quality of life
		1.3. Transition to an energy-efficient and low-carbon economy
			1.3.1. Energy structure, intensity and use
				Main policies and measures: Denmark is shifting from 2020 to 2030 goals
				Energy intensity is low
				Denmark is a leader in integrating variable renewables
			1.3.2. Transport
			1.3.3. Climate change mitigation and adaptation
				Main policies and measures
				GHG emissions have declined significantly
				Climate change poses challenges
			1.3.4. Atmospheric emissions and air quality
				Main policies and measures
				Air emissions have decreased but the outlook on 2030 targets is unclear
				Air quality is a recurring issue
			1.3.5. Chemicals management
			1.3.6. Waste, materials management and circular economy
			1.3.7. Agricultural inputs and nitrogen balance
				Main policies and measures
		1.4. Managing the natural asset base
			1.4.1. Physical context
			1.4.2. Biodiversity and ecosystems
				Main policies and measures
			1.4.3. Management of coastal waters and freshwater
				Water quality
				Main policies and measures
		Notes
		References
	Chapter 2.  Environmental governance and management
		2.1. Introduction
		2.2. Institutional framework
			2.2.1. National institutions
			2.2.2. Subnational institutions
		2.3. Legal framework
			2.3.1. Direct environmental regulation
			2.3.2. Land-use planning
		2.4. Policy evaluation framework
			2.4.1. Environmental impact assessment and permitting
		2.5. Compliance assurance
			2.5.1.  Environmental inspections
			2.5.2. Enforcement and environmental liability
			2.5.3. Promotion of compliance and green practices (certification)
			2.5.4. Voluntary agreements
		2.6. Promoting environmental democracy
			2.6.1. Public participation
			2.6.2. Access to environmental information
			2.6.3. Access to justice
			2.6.4. Environmental education
		References
	Chapter 3.  Towards green growth
		3.1. Introduction
		3.2. Action framework for sustainable development and green growth
		3.3. Greening the system of taxes, charges and prices
			3.3.1. Overview
			3.3.2. Taxes on energy products and carbon pricing
				Taxes on energy products
				Pricing carbon emissions from energy use
			3.3.3. Transport taxes and charges
				Vehicle taxes
				Road and congestion pricing
				Company cars and commuting expenses
			3.3.4. Other economic instruments to limit pollution and resource use
				Air pollutants
				Waste
				Agricultural products
				Water
		3.4. Support to fossil fuel consumption and agriculture
			3.4.1. Fossil fuel subsidies
			3.4.2.  Agricultural support
				Subsiding peatland conversion
		3.5. Investing in the environment to promote green growth
			3.5.1. Expenditure for environmental protection
			3.5.2. Investment in renewables and energy efficiency
				Renewable energy resources
				Energy efficiency
			3.5.3. Investment in sustainable mobility
			3.5.4. Investment in water and sanitation
		3.6. Promoting eco-innovation and green markets
			3.6.1. Eco-innovation
			3.6.2. Environmental goods and services market
		3.7. Environment, trade and development
			3.7.1. Trade and export credits
			3.7.2. Development co-operation
		Notes
		References
			Part II. Progress towards selected environmental objectives
Part II. Progress towards selected environmental objectives
	Chapter 4.  Waste, materials management and the circular economy
		4.1. Introduction
		4.2. Trends in waste management and material consumption
			4.2.1. Trends in material consumption
			4.2.2. Trends in waste generation and management
				Total waste
				Municipal waste
				Hazardous waste
				Specific waste streams
				Waste shipment
				Waste management expenditure
		4.3. Objectives, policies and institutions for waste, materials management and circular economy
			4.3.1. Policy framework and objectives
			4.3.2. Legal framework
			4.3.3. Institutional framework and governance
			4.3.4. The information base
			4.3.5. International co-operation and outreach
		4.4. Promoting waste reduction and recycling
			4.4.1. From incineration to higher recycling of municipal waste
				Towards higher recycling levels for municipal waste…
				… and excess capacity for waste to energy
				Waste prevention and reduction efforts remain insufficient
			4.4.2. Extended producer responsibility and deposit-refund programmes
				WEEE and batteries
				End-of-life vehicles
				Packaging waste
			4.4.3. Towards higher-quality recycling of construction and demolition waste
		4.5. Fostering the transition to a circular economy
			4.5.1. Promoting sustainable consumption and the sharing economy
			4.5.2. Promoting markets for recycling and secondary raw materials
			4.5.3. Green public procurement
			4.5.4. Promoting circular business models and innovation
		Notes
		References
	Chapter 5.  Chemicals management
		5.1. Introduction
		5.2. Pressures on health and the environment from chemicals
			5.2.1. Chemical production and use
			5.2.2. A stable number of hazardous facilities and visible efforts in reducing emissions of chemicals
			5.2.3. Despite monitoring of chemicals, pressures on health and the environment are significant
				Biomonitoring
				Consumers and workers
				Pollutant release and transfer register
		5.3. Policy, regulatory and institutional frameworks
			5.3.1. A comprehensive policy, legal and institutional framework is in place
				Policies
					General chemicals management
					Pesticides
				Regulatory framework
				Institutional arrangements
				Financing chemicals management, performance measurement and cost saving
			5.3.2. Compliance and enforcement need enhancement to meet Danish priorities on chemicals
			5.3.3. Exemplary public participation and involvement in chemicals management
			5.3.3. Increasing the use of economic analysis in decision making
		5.4. International forums and regional settings
			5.4.1. Multilateral environmental agreements and international organisations
			5.4.2. Regional and bilateral co-operation
				Nordic co-operation
				Arctic region
				North-east Atlantic Ocean
				Baltic Sea
				Bilateral co-operation
		5.5. Systematic investigation of chemicals
			5.5.1. Gathering, exchanging and protecting information on chemicals
				Exchange and protection of chemical data
			5.5.2. Involvement in assessment of chemicals
				Priority setting and assessment
				Pesticides and biocides
				Testing requirements
			5.5.3. Contribution to identification of chemicals of concern
		5.6. Risk management
			5.6.1. Use of risk management approaches
			5.6.2. Promoting substitution of hazardous chemicals
		Notes
		References