A sustainable Denmark – Development in balance

The present document contains Denmark's strategy for a coordinated and sustainable development in the economic, social, and environmental areas. The strategy contains a total of 23 objectives within these areas, as well as an objective for Denmark's international work for sustainability. The overarching goals of the Strategy are a sustainable and reliable fiscal policy and a growing economy; to ensure equal opportunities for everyone regardless of background; and a clean environment, a diverse nature, and a good climate.
In the environmental area the Strategy includes seven goals: 1) Denmark's emissions of greenhouse gases shall be reduced by 40% by 2020, in relation to emissions in 1990; 2) The electricity and heating supply shall be covered by 100% by renewable energy in 2035, and all of Denmark's energy supply, including transport, shall be covered 100% with renewable energy by 2050; 3) Recycling of household waste shall be increased to 50% by 2022; 4) Pesticide load shall be reduced by 40% by 2015, in relation to 2011. This indicator is measured in relation to human health, the impact on nature, and the risk of freshwater pollution; 5) Clean air and regulation of harmful chemicals. Denmark shall live up to international agreements and goals. 6) Denmark shall preserve a diverse nature and protect the habitats of animals and plants in the open country and in the forests. In the longer term, favorable conservation status shall be ensured for the species and habitats covered by environmental plans; 7) Fjords, coastal waters, lakes and streams as well as groundwater shall live up to the requirements of the Water Framework Directive, and sea areas to the requirements of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
The Green Shift is given preferential attention, and a series of instruments are intended to contribute to its achievement, some of which are already being implemented. This include the Energy Agreement from 2012, the Government's Climate Plan from 2013, the Resource Strategy for Waste Management, the working group charged with the elaboration of a Waste Prevention Strategy, the Pesticides Strategy from 2013, the Government Agreement on Efforts in the Chemical sector 2014-2017, the "Clean Air for the Danes" package to deal with air pollution, the Agreement on the establishment of the Danish Nature Fund, upcoming water and environmental plans for 2016-2021, and the Sea Strategy from 2012.
The Strategy also seeks to keep developing and using green technologies, an area where Denmarks has a considerable comparative advantage, in order to contribute to the Green Shift in the world and to the creation of growth and jobs in Denmark.