Post a comment on the text below

Box 4.2 Danish action on nutrient pollution

Around 60% of the territory of Denmark is arable land and permanent crops (Figure 2.2). A significant reduction of nitrogen and phosphorus input to surface waters and groundwater is crucial to reach objectives of the WFD. Based on 2^nd RBMP, 28% of all surface waters and 78% of all groundwater bodies reach the WFD good status objectives. Status of coastal waters is worse with only 2 % of water bodies in good ecological status. High nitrogen use in agriculture is a major cause of pollution in Danish coastal waters.

Denmark has been addressing nutrient pollution with national policies starting in 1987 with the first Action Plan on the Aquatic Environment aims with a 50% reduction goal for nitrogen discharges from point sources and leaching from diffuse sources and an 80% reduction of phosphorus discharges from point sources. The Plans for Sustainable Agriculture and the National Action Plan II and III for the Aquatic Environment was adopted according to obligations of Nitrates Directive. The third update of the Action Plan for the Aquatic Environment for the period 2005 to 2015 aims at halving phosphorus surplus in soils and reduce nitrogen leaching significantly.

The Green Growth Agreement, adopted in 2009, sets annual nitrogen load reduction targets in coastal waters of 19 000 tonnes. Those targets were also adopted in the 1^st RBMP 2014 (6 600 t N), the Food and Agriculture Agreement 2016 (8,000 t N), and the 2^nd RBMP (2016). The upcoming 3^rd RBMP plan a reduction of 6,200 t N in coastal waters. Those targets have also progressively provided the Danish contribution to the Batic Sea Action Plan.

Source : Maar et al., 2016; Carter and Cherrier, 2013; Christensen, 2017; Kronvang et al., 2017; Miljø- og Fødevareministeriet, 2019