The Danish government has unveiled a new important step towards funding the country’s green transition.

On 15 April, a deal with agreement parties from the Danish parliament was made to channel EUR 670m into advancing green initiatives by 2030. The money comes from the so-called “Grøn Fond” (Green Fund) and will go to green projects and efforts to enhance water quality, expand forests, enact a national climate adaption plan, and ensure Danish households’ access to district heating.

Bolstering biodiversity, protecting water environments and preparing climate adaption plans

The allocated millions will fund a variety of initiatives, with environmental initiatives among them. EUR 270m will be directed towards improving water quality, restoring life to Danish fjords, enhancing biodiversity, expanding forested areas, and cleaning up old pollution sites.

“The EUR 270m earmarked for environmental initiatives will be used for important projects that all Danes will notice. We will plant more forests to enhance and expand our natural habitats, thus bolstering biodiversity. Protecting our drinking water, which is among the world’s best and must remain so, is a priority. A marine nature fund will improve our water environment by, for example, establishing stone reefs and planting eelgrass. We have also allocated funds to clean up after major historical pollutions and to contain, remediate, and prevent PFAS contamination,” Magnus Heunicke, Danish Minister of Environment.

In October 2023, the government presented Denmark’s first climate adaptation plan, which aims to better protect coasts, cities, homes, and infrastructure from the impacts of climate change. The Green Fund will allocate approximately EUR 161 million towards implementing the first phase of the Climate Adaptation Plan.

Of the EUR 270m, the following allocations have been made:

• EUR 84m to establishing new forests. These funds can also be used to convert agricultural land into forests, thus mitigating nitrogen seeping into the water environment.
• EUR 67m for a marine nature fund, stemming from the supplementary agreement on procurement frameworks for 6 GW of offshore wind and the Energy Island Bornholm.
• EUR 27m for drinking water protection, along with an additional allocation of EUR 74m for the regions’ efforts to clean up after significant historical pollution.
• EUR 28m for a PFAS action plan aimed at protecting humans and the environment from PFAS contamination. These funds supplement the EUR 26.5 m allocated from the research reserve and the 2024 budget.

Also read: The Danish Government presents plan to ramp up climate adaption

Making the green choice easier

The agreement also replenishes the funds for expanding district heating, which ensures support for Danish citizens who have applied for funds to receive green district heating to their homes.

“With the agreement, we take yet another step towards a greener Denmark with more nature, cleaner drinking water, and less climate impact. We all remember the stories of Danes who had to turn off the heat and count every penny when oil and gas prices rose the autumn before last. With green Danish district heating in the radiators, we benefit both the climate and the household budgets.” Nicolai Wammen, Danish Minister of Finance

Additionally,  a diesel tax was announced as part of the agreement.

“To achieve our goals with the green transition, we must make the green choice easier. We are doing that with this agreement. We are raising the diesel tax as part of reaching our climate goals for 2025 and 2030 and are allocating more funds to the district heating pool. This is effective green action.” Lars Aagaard, Danish Minister of Climate, Energy and Utilities