Freshwater - National Responses (Denmark)

The EU Water Framework Directive from 2000 is implemented in Danish legislation in the national Environmental Objective Act from 2003. Efforts to improve the ecological quality of freshwaters are defined by reduction goals for the leaching of phosphorus to lakes and nitrogen to marine waters, by improving the physical condition of rivers and reducing the use of pesticides. The initiatives are defined in the Government action plan ‘Green growth’ from 2009.

An example is the national implementation of initiatives, defined in the EU Framework for community action, concerned about the sustainable use of pesticides from 2009. These initiatives are concerned with issues such as training of professional users of pesticides, general pesticide storage procedures, application and disposal procedures of residues and packing as well as introduction of compulsory inspection of sprayers, the inclusion of integrated pest management (IPM) and notification obligations for spraying.

The ’Green Growth‘ plan also set standards for improvement of sewage treatment facilities in the countryside and better treatment of rainwater overflow. Regional environmental centres were mandated to provide regional action plans by the end of 2009 for implementation of the environmental goals defined in the ‘Green Growth’ action plan.

At the national level, several measures have been identified including, for example, an increased pesticide tax and the introduction of a market‑based nitrogen quota system.

References:

• Normander, B., Henriksen, C.I., Jensen, T.S., Sanderson, H., Henrichs, T., Larsen, L.E. & Pedersen, A.B. (red.) 2009: Nature and Environment 2009 – Part B: Factsheets. National Environmental Research Institute (NERI), Aarhus University, 170 p. –  NERI scientific report series, no. 751. (In Danish) http://www.naturogmiljoe.dmu.dk/

• Wiberg-Larsen, P. (red.) 2010: Rivers 2008. NOVANA. National Environmental Research Institute, Aarhus University. 66 p. –  NERI scientific report series, no. 764. (in Danish) http://www2.dmu.dk/Pub/FR764.pdf

• Jørgensen, T.B., Bjerring, R., Landkildehus, F., Søndergaard, M., Sortkjær, L. & Clausen, J. 2009: Søer 2008. NOVANA. Danmarks Miljøundersøgelser, Aarhus Universitet. 46 s. - Faglig rapport fra DMU nr. 763. http://www.dmu.dk/Pub/FR763.pdf

• Government 2009: Action plan “Green Growth”. http://www.mim.dk/NR/rdonlyres/D5E4FC9A-B3AC-4C9A-B819-C42300F23CCA/0/GROENVAEKST_2904rapporten.pdf (in Danish)