Denmark

Denmark Country Profile (World Bank)

Status under International Climate Change Law

• UNFCCC: Signature (9 Jun 1992) and ratification (21 Dec 1993)
• KP: Signature (28 Apr 1998) and ratification (31 May 2002)
  • Quantified emission limitation or reduction commitment: -8%
• Vienna Convention: Signature (22 Mar 1985) and ratification (29 Sep 1988)
• Montreal Protocol: Signature (16 Sep 1987) and ratification (16 Dec 1988)
• LRTAP: Signature (14 Nov 1979) and ratification (18 June 1982)
• Energy Charter: Signature (17 Dec 1994) and ratification (22 Aug 1997)
• Energy Efficiency Protocol: Signature (17 Dec 1994) and ratification (22 Aug 1997)
• Espoo Convention: Signature (26 Feb 1992) and ratification (14 Mar 1997)
• 2030 Commitment: 40% domestic reduction in emissions below 1990 levels by 2030, to be fulfilled jointly by European Union member states (20% reduction in domestic emissions below 2005 levels by 2020, in accordance with Decision No. 406/2009/EC of the European Parliament and Council)
  • INDC summary – includes LULUCF and gases covered (Center for Climate and Energy Solutions 2015)
  • INDC summary – includes adaptation and conditions for implementation (Climate Policy Observer 2016)

Federal Laws on Climate Change

Climate

• Danish Climate Change Act (2014) (summary in English)
• Carbon Dioxide Allowances Act (2012) (amended 2014) [Danish]

Air protection

• Statutory Order no. 1453 Limiting Certain Air Pollutants from Large Combustion Plants (2012) [Danish]
• Statutory Order no. 1451 on Waste Incineration Plants (2012) [Danish]
• Statutory Order no. 1637 on Biomass Waste (2006) [Danish]
• Statutory Order no. 1450 on Limiting Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides, Unburned
• Hydrocarbon and Carbon Monoxide from Motors and Turbines (2012) [Danish]
• Statutory Order no. 366 Relating to the Quality of Petrol and Diesel Fuels (2011) [Danish]
• Environmental Guidelines no. 1 on Air Emission Regulation (2002) [Danish]

Energy

• Electricity Supply Act (2013) [Danish]
• Act on Promotion of Energy Savings (2009) [Danish]
• Act on Energy Savings in Buildings (2002) (as amended in 2011) [Danish]
• Act on Energy Labeling of Energy-Related Products (2011) [Danish]
• Act on Eco-Design of Energy Related Products (2010) [Danish]
• Act on State Subsidies for the Conversation of Electrically Heated Buildings (1995) [Danish]
• Natural Gas Supply Act (2004) (as amended in 2013) [Danish]
• Act on Promotion of Renewable Energy (2008) [Danish]
• Act on Energy Technology Development and Demonstration (2007)
• Subsoil Act (2011) [Danish]
• Continental Shelf Act (2005) [Danish]

Forests and Land Use

• Forest Act (1989) [English]

Environmental Impact Assessment

• Planning Act (1999) (amended by Statutory Order No. 1510/2010)
• Building Act (2010)

Others

• Environmental Protection Act (EPA) (2010) [Danish]
• Environmental Regulation of Certain Activities (2006) [Danish]

National Plans, Programs and Initiatives

• Danish Climate Policy Plan (2013) [English]
• Danish Energy Agreement for 2012-2030 (2012) [English]
• Denmark National Allocation Plan 2008-12 (2007) [English]
• Low Carbon Transition Unit [English]
• Danish Strategy for Sustainable Development (2007) [Danish]

Local, State, and Regional Legislation and Initiatives

• European Union Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) (2015)
• EU Adaptation Strategy Package (European Commission)
• European Climate Adaptation Platform (Climate ADAPT)
• 2020 Climate & Energy Package (European Commission) (2007)
• Decision No. 406/2009/EC of the European Parliament and Council of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the effort of Member States to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to meet the Community’s greenhouse gas emission reduction commitments up to 2020 (European Parliament and Council) (2009)
• Directive 2010/31/EU of The European Parlaiment and of The Council of 19 May 2010 on the energy performance of buildings (European Parliament and Council) (2010)
• Directive 2012/27/EU of The European Parlaiment and of The Council of 25 October 2012 on energy efficiency(European Parliament and Council) (2012)
•  European Union Trading Scheme (EU ETS) (European Commission)

Government Documents

• Energy Policy Report (2013) [English]
• Energy Policy Report (2012) [English]
• Catalogue of Danish Climate Change Mitigation Measures (2013) [English]
• Our Future Energy (2011) [English]
• 2014 Annex I Party GHG Inventory Submissions
  • National Inventory Report Part I (2014) [English]
  • National Inventory Report Part II (2014) [English]
• Sixth National Communication to the UNFCCC (2013) [English]
• Second Biennial Report to the UNFCCC (2015) [English]

Additional Resources

• EIA Country Overview: Denmark (2014)
• IEA In-depth Country Review: Denmark (2006 and 2011)
• Environmental Law and Practice in Denmark: Overview [English]
• Green Energy – The Road to a Danish Energy System without Fossil Fuels (Danish Commission on Climate Change Policy 2010)
• Danish Climate and Energy Legislation (2009)
• Denmark (Europe’s Energy Portal)
• EU Country Profile (Climate Action Tracker) (2015)

Updated as of: February 1, 2015