Your EU – Your Projects in Denmark: Restoring coastal habitats and seas – European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency

Report on European Union-Funded Environmental Initiatives in Denmark and Their Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

The European Union (EU), through programmes managed by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), is funding critical environmental projects in Denmark. These initiatives focus on habitat restoration and risk mitigation, directly contributing to the achievement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Project Analysis and SDG Alignment

COASTal LIFE: Restoration of Coastal Habitat Zones

The COASTal LIFE project, supported by the LIFE Programme, is dedicated to the restoration of four Natura 2000 sites, including former salt meadows and lagoons. The initiative addresses environmental degradation caused by agricultural run-off and rising sea levels. Over a six-year period, the project aims to restore over 900 hectares of coastal habitats.

Key Objectives and Activities:

1. Restoration of stone reefs and mudflats.
2. Creation of new eelgrass and mussel beds.
3. Reduction of agricultural land use to enhance wetland nutrient absorption.

Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 13: Climate Action: The project is projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 3,180 tonnes annually through the carbon capture capabilities of restored wetlands.
• SDG 14: Life Below Water: By revitalising crucial marine habitats, the project directly supports marine biodiversity and ecosystem health, mitigating threats to marine life.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The restoration of over 900 hectares of wetlands provides critical habitats for eleven habitat types and nine threatened bird species, including the pied avocet and little tern, thereby enhancing terrestrial and coastal biodiversity.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: Restored wetlands will function as natural filters, absorbing excess nutrients from agricultural run-off and improving coastal water quality.

MUNI-RISK: Mitigating Risks from Submerged Munitions

The MUNI-RISK project, funded by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), addresses the environmental and safety risks posed by submerged munitions in the Baltic Sea, particularly in the waters surrounding Bornholm. These remnants of past conflicts present a significant threat to marine ecosystems and human activities.

Key Objectives and Activities:

1. Conducting fieldwork to assess the environmental impact of submerged munitions.
2. Developing clear risk assessment tools and guidelines for maritime authorities.
3. Determining appropriate management strategies, including removal or in-situ containment.

Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 14: Life Below Water: The project directly contributes to the protection of marine ecosystems by identifying and mitigating the chemical and physical threats posed by underwater munitions, leading to more sustainable maritime management.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: By developing practical tools and guidelines for risk assessment, MUNI-RISK strengthens the capacity of national authorities to manage historical conflict remnants, promoting safety and effective governance of maritime territories.

Conclusion

The COASTal LIFE and MUNI-RISK projects exemplify the EU’s commitment to translating environmental ambitions into concrete actions that support a sustainable and resilient Europe. Through targeted funding and cross-border cooperation, these initiatives deliver measurable progress towards key Sustainable Development Goals, addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and marine pollution while enhancing institutional capacity for environmental management.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article highlights issues and initiatives that connect to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily focusing on environmental protection, climate action, and the restoration of ecosystems.

   • SDG 13: Climate Action

     The COASTal LIFE project directly addresses climate change by aiming to “cut greenhouse gas emissions by 3,180 tonnes annually” and “capture carbon.” It also works to mitigate the impacts of climate change, such as “rising sea levels.”

   • SDG 14: Life Below Water

     Both projects are deeply connected to this goal. COASTal LIFE focuses on revitalizing coastal habitats, including “salt meadows and lagoons,” “stone reefs, mudflats,” and creating new “eelgrasses and mussel beds.” The MUNI-RISK project addresses marine pollution by mitigating the risks from “discarded submerged munitions in the Baltic Sea,” which pose “significant threats to marine life.”

   • SDG 15: Life on Land

     This goal is relevant through the COASTal LIFE project’s work on coastal wetlands, which are crucial ecosystems at the interface of land and sea. The project aims to reverse the “loss of biodiversity” by restoring habitats for “nine threatened bird species,” such as the “pied avocet and little tern,” thereby halting biodiversity loss in these specific areas.

   • SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

     The COASTal LIFE project addresses water pollution from “agricultural run-off.” By restoring wetlands, the project will help these areas “absorb excess nutrients,” tackling the problem of eutrophication mentioned in the article.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   The article’s content points to several specific SDG targets:

   • Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.

     This is addressed by COASTal LIFE, which aims to absorb “excess nutrients” from “agricultural run-off,” and by MUNI-RISK, which tackles the threat of “discarded submerged munitions.”

   • Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans.

     The COASTal LIFE project is a direct action towards this target, as its core mission is the “restoration of coastal habitat zones,” specifically “four former salt meadows and lagoons” covering “over 900 hectares.”

   • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.

     The restoration of coastal wetlands (“salt meadows and lagoons”) by the COASTal LIFE project directly contributes to this target.

   • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.

     COASTal LIFE aims to reverse biodiversity loss by restoring crucial habitats for “nine threatened bird species” and inviting their return.

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

     The COASTal LIFE project addresses the challenge of “rising sea levels,” which is a direct climate-related hazard for coastal zones, thereby contributing to building resilience.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   Yes, the article mentions several specific, quantifiable indicators that can be used to measure progress.

   • Indicator for SDG 13 (Climate Action): The article provides a precise metric for climate change mitigation: the project will “cut greenhouse gas emissions by 3,180 tonnes annually.” This is a direct indicator of progress.
   • Indicator for SDG 14 & 15 (Ecosystem Restoration): The scale of the restoration effort is clearly stated: the COASTal LIFE initiative will “rejuvenate over 900 hectares.” This area measurement serves as a key performance indicator for habitat restoration.
   • Indicator for SDG 15 (Biodiversity): Progress in halting biodiversity loss can be measured by the “return of protected bird species like the pied avocet and little tern.” The protection of “eleven habitats and nine threatened bird species” within the project sites also serves as a baseline indicator.
   • Indicator for SDG 14 (Marine Pollution & Management): For the MUNI-RISK project, a key outcome indicator is the development of “practical tools and guidelines for assessing the risks posed by underwater munitions.” The availability and adoption of these tools by Denmark and other Baltic Sea countries would measure the project’s success in improving maritime management.

SDGs, Targets and Indicators Table

Source: cinea.ec.europa.eu