National Strategy / Action Plan

There is no National Strategy / Action Plan in Denmark

Lead Government Body

national ESC(s)

There is no national ESC in Denmark

SD council or equivalent

There is no SD council or equivalent in Denmark

Performance

There is no Performance in Denmark

Summary

  • Denmark has a high level of political commitment to Agenda 2030, as one of its initiators, and an action plan for implementation has been in place since March 2017.
  • Civil society organisation (CSO) engagement occurs primarily through informal networks, with the two NGO networks active in the area of the SDGs recommending that the government establish a multi-stakeholder platform.

Description of the initiative

    Actors

    Lead government body
    Supporting government bodies
    National Economic and Social Council
    Sustainable Development Council
    Lead government body text

    Centre for sustainability and structural policy

    Supporting government bodies text

    Inter-ministerial group on SDG implementation

    Institutional framework

    Lead and supporting government bodies

    The Ministry of Finance (MF) is responsible for EU follow-up in order to maintain a holistic approach and create links to national follow-up. The Ministry of Finance coordinates with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and line ministries when relevant. The Ministry of Finance coordinates and meets with stakeholders and other bodies in a manner similar to that of an SD Council.

    Strategic framework
    Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals

    An SDG action plan with 37 targets was adopted by the government in March 2017. This action plan classifies targets according to the 5 Ps, with 1-2 national indicators each.

    As part of the action plan, the government will conduct a 'sustainability test' of new legislation.

    The MF took over from the MFA as the ministry responsible once the action plan was published.

    In 2017 the Parliament established an SDG network linking standing committees.

    Role of civil society

    Involvement in implementation of Sustainable Development Goals

    During the Agenda 2030 negotiations the MFA hosted regular meetings with civil society and the private sector, which the government has undertaken to continue during implementation. Denmark engages civil society and NGOs through informal dialogue with the Danish 92 Group (D92G) and Global Focus (GF) networks.

    Denmark also cooperates on SDGs through the Nordic Council, which has its own sustainable development strategy.

    Examples of CSO engagement include:

    • A two-day conference in autumn 2015 to mobilise and engage Danish CSOs on Agenda 2030;
    • "What will Denmark look like in 2030?" civil society report to the government listing 83 concrete policy recommendations for Denmark;
    • Parliamentary hearing in March 2016 with D92G & GF;
    • Conference in February 2017 on Denmark's follow-up on the SDGs, the first step towards the establishment of an SDG multi-stakeholder platform;
    • Meeting with stakeholders in preparation for the voluntary national report (VNR) presentation at the UN High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on 3 May 2017.
    Civil society platform for 2030

    The Danish 92 Group is a coalition of 24 Danish NGOs working on sustainable development.

    Global Focus is an association of NGOs working in international development.

    Both networks have agreed on joint SDG priorities:

    • An upscaling of partnership-driven implementation efforts both in developing countries and with partners in Denmark and at a global level.
    • Strengthening accountability measures in Denmark, focusing on Denmark’s domestic and foreign commitments to the agenda as well as increasing awareness-raising activities with the clear purpose of engaging a wide variety of Danish stakeholders and the general public.

    April 2017 list of five recommendations to improve the government's SDG action plan, including the creation of a multi-stakeholder platform on SDG implementation.

    In June 2018, several NGOs published a shadow report on the implementation of SDGs in Denmark.

    Monitoring & Evaluation

    Performance

    UN SDSN SDG Index Country Profile

    Denmark ranks 1st in the SDG global index ranking of 2019

    Indicators

    The national statistical bureau is tasked with developing indicators jointly with the coordinating body and presenting a yearly progress report to the UN.

    Statistics Denmark estimates that 32% of indicators are available now, 23% are unclarified, 14% are non-statistical and 4% are not relevant to Denmark. It is currently attempting to develop indicators for the remaining measures.

    The government is to publish annual progress reports (the first will come out in summer 2018) on 37 targets for review by Parliament.

    Every fourth year, a comprehensive status report will be published to include new initiatives and adjustments.

    Voluntary National Report

    Prepared by the Ministry of Finance in collaboration with line ministries and CSO networks for the UN High-level Political Forum 2017.

    Cooperation with regional governments and municipalities is important for implementation as they spend 70% of public funds.

    Denmark's Voluntary National Review can be accessed here.

    Statistics Denmark has published reports on six SDG  (6, 7, 11, 12, 15 and 17) ahead to the 2018 UN annual meeting.