Draft Opening Paper for Consultation Talks with The European Investment Bank

Version 2.0 3rd of September 2024

Denmark is a low-lying country with a coastal length of app. 8,500 kilometres. This is extensive compared to the total area of the country. Nowhere in Denmark is more than 60 kilometres from the coast area. A significant part of the coastal area is dedicated as NATURE 2000 areas with severe restrictions.

Consequently, Denmark is prone to be highly impacted by storm surge, rising sea level and impact of waves for areas which has a high value. The coastal areas represents important nature and biodiversity values as well as recreational/tourism and historic values, and not least economic value

The major storm Bodil in 2013 impacted Denmark heavily and caused remediation costs around 100 million EURO. Since then, a number of uncoordinated local projects has been established in terms of especially dikes covering investment costs around 20 million EURO.

In order to address the evident needed holistic approach for at small low-lying country as Denmark the following three pillars need to be addressed:

1. The legislative and the regulatory framework which is fragmented, complex and lacking the needed coordination.
2. The organizational framework which is not very clear and needs more focus on distribution of tasks and the necessary coordination.
3. The financial framework which put a lot of pressure on the individual house owner as well as the local municipality. Further to this national funding has been and seems to continue to be scarce and from sufficient.

It is evident that a holistic technical approach is needed for Denmark in terms of coastal protection and with the point of departure in that Denmark has an overall strategi as a Green Nation. On this background is in the following outlined how to start the process aiming at a holistic plan for the coastal protection of Denmark.

Inception Phase

Naturally and due to the complexity outlined above a comprehensive Inception Phase is needed for structuring, organizing, programming and planning the holistic process leading to a comprehensive and detailed overview of “the lay of the land”. Identifying and organising the stakeholders and stakeholders’ management plans.

This with the point of departure in the fact that extensive and in-depth public participation is crucial both in terms of facts and data and in terms of choosing solutions.

First Step in the Inception Phase

Nationwide there is only fragmented data, information and overview of existing structures and technical solutions and the need for renovation, remediation and new solutions. This said it is a fact that Denmark is a heavy data and digitized nation, and tons of data and information is available on the national level, the regional level, the municipal level and the local level. However, the needed nationwise holistic compilation and presentation in a user-friendly way is lacking.

Consequently, the first step in the Inception Phase will be to provide this comprehensive and holistic database. This is outlined in the following based on the fact that a partnership has been formed which has the necessary scientific, technical, administrative, expertise and network capacity for planning and implementing this first step.

The Partnership, which has the working title Storm Safe Denmark consist of:

• The two NGOs The National Association of Danish Dikes and Fjordgruppen.
• The Technical University of Denmark.
• The Danish Technology Institute.

 It is proposed that this Partnership should function as the Executive Wing of a Consortium consisting of:

• Ministry of Environment.
• Ministry for Green Three Part.
• Ministry for Safety and Preparedness.
• Ministry of Digitalization.
• Coastal Directorate.
• Danish Metrological Institute.
• Danish Hydraulic Institute
• Association of Danish Municipalities.
• Association of Danish Regions.

It is estimated that this first step can be organized, programmed, planned and implemented for a tentative budget of 500,000 € and within a timeframe of 2 years.

Consequently the aim of this opening paper is to start discussion with EIB if they would consider providing 300,000 € as grants provided that the consortium provide the remaining 200,000 € as a combination of grants and working hours.