Monitoring of the Danish climate is carried out through a wide array of atmospheric and oceanic observations. DMI carries out in situ observations of climate parameters (atmosphere and ocean) under the World Meteorological Organisation's (WMO) programmes and sub-programmes: the World Weather Watch Programme (WWW), Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW), the Global Observing System (GOS), the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) and the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS). DMI also participates in the Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change (NDACC).

DMI has an extensive international scientific record within climate modelling and is the leading national authority on regional climate change projections. DMI also employs global climate models in order to investigate interactions and feedback mechanisms between atmosphere, ocean, land surface and ice, as well as for providing future projections. The future projections contribute to intercomparison projects such as CORDEX (Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment) and CMIP (Coupled Model Intercomparison Project), where they are freely available and contributing to international assessments studies, e.g. IPCC reports.

Danish observations and model results from international frameworks are combined to inform climate adaptation in Denmark through the Danish Climate Atlas. The Danish Climate Atlas provides data on municipality, drainage basin and coastal stretch levels showing future changes in temperature, precipitation, extreme precipitation, relative sea level and storm surge heights. It thereby gives an indication of areas with a particular future risk of being impacted by extremes. The tool provides fundamental climate data so municipalities can take the necessary precautions and guard citizens, infrastructure and buildings against the expected extreme weather in the future. Results are displayed for different future emissions scenarios, and the uncertainties illustrated as the range of projections from the different climate models employed.

Monitoring changes in the climate is based on decades and centuries of observations in the atmosphere and ocean. Climate monitoring has been a key task for DMI for around 150 years and today DMI's observation network consist of in situ meteorological weather and oceanic stations, weathers radars and use of satellite data. DMI has as part of the observation network century-long instrumental measurements of surface temperature, precipitation and ocean sea level, which are central in understanding changes in the frequency and severity of extremes.

Measurement of the climate is carried out with great consideration for the reliability and comparability of the data for instance in terms of the physical relocation of stations, changes in the station surroundings and measuring equipment etc. Climate monitoring is coordinated centrally by the WMO, who administrates the guidelines of observations, in order to promote standardisation of meteorological and related observations, and to strive for a uniform publication of observations and statistics.

The modelling activities at DMI has mainly emphasis on Denmark, Europe and the Arctic, but global research is also carried out. Specifically, the models include:
• Regional dynamic ocean models for calculating changes in regional sea level, ocean and sea ice. The focus areas are the North Sea, the Baltic Sea and Greenland waters.
• Regional dynamic atmosphere-climate models for calculating regional/local climate change and variations. Important focus areas for Denmark are changes in (extreme) precipitation, drought risk and heat waves. For Greenland, special focus is on the ice sheet and changes in snow accumulation, melting and refreezing.
• Global Earth System modelling: dynamic coupled atmosphere-ocean-sea-ice models, which are used to study climate change and internal variability in the climate on decadal to centennial time scales. The work includes active coupling to ice-sheet models for studies of the changes of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets.

DMI assess the current and future state of the climate through monitoring, modelling, and related statistical analyses. Knowledge, data and assessments of the climate and climate change in Denmark is communicated to the public and to relevant users and authorities. These activities rely on DMI’s gathering, processing and analysis of data, as well as these data being made available for the relevant stakeholders. Observational data from DMI is gradually made freely available from 2020-2023. Similarly, future climate projections with high geographical detail are freely available (through the Danish Climate Atlas). The data lays the foundation for other authorities to assess the vulnerability and risks of climate impacts and the adaptive capacity of Denmark.

In 2012 the centrally convened Task Force on Climate Change Adaptation prepared an analysis called ‘Mapping climate change – barriers and opportunities for action’ conducted a sectoral and cross-sectoral analysis of climate risks/vulnerability . It analysed 14 sectors: construction and housing, coasts and ports, transport, water, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, energy, tourism, nature, health, emergency preparedness, insurance, and spatial planning. For each sector, it presented a basic analysis of important effects of climate change, relevant division of responsibilities between the authorities and private citizens, possibilities for adaptation, initiatives planned and in progress, and barriers and opportunities for future action. A review of the significance of climate change up to 2050 for the individual sectors and industries shows that Danish society may experience both positive and negative impacts. The positive impacts will relate primarily to the higher temperatures that will result in, e.g a longer growing season and increased productivity for forestry and agriculture. Milder inters will moreover reduce energy consumption and construction costs, as well as the costs of winter-weather preparedness and road salt. The negative impacts of climate change will relate primarily to more frequent extreme rainfall, elevated sea levels and more powerful storms, which can lead to flooding and damage to infrastructure and buildings as well as erosion along coasts. The report was based on the scenarios used by the IPCC 4th Assessment Report. In 2016 a detailed risk assessment regarding erosion and flooding was conducted for the entire Danish coastline by the Coastal Authority. The assessment was conducted in a cooperation between the Ministry of Environment and Food, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministyr of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, the Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate and the Ministry for Economic affairs and the Interior. The assessment was focusing on the effects of a future changing climate on the Danish coasts and has been used as a basis for the significant coastal adaptation initiatives being laid out in 2017/18. DMI estimates based on the IPCC 5th Assessment Report were used as a basis for the assessment.

Planning and implementing measures for climate change adaptation is largely a municipal responsibility, which is outlined set up in a number of laws and execeutive orders. Main elements of the national regulatory framework are the Planning Act, the Floods Act, the Act on Watercourses, the Water Supply act, and the Waste Water executive order under the Environment Act. The main role of central government is to establish an appropriate framework for local climate change adaptation by, for example, adapting laws and regulations, but also by ensuring coordination and providing information.

In 2012 the centrally convened Task Force on Climate Change Adaptation prepared an analysis called ‘Mapping climate change – barriers and opportunities for action’ conducted a sectoral and cross-sectoral analysis of climate risks/vulnerability. In 2016 a detailed risk assessment regarding erosion and flooding was conducted for the entire coastline by the Coastal Authority. The assessment was conducted in a cooperation between several ministries. The assessment has been used as a basis for the significant coastal adaptation initiatives being laid out in 2017/18. In 2020 a new nationwide risk assessment, Kystplanlægger, has been completed for the entire Danish coastline. It includes mapping of erosion and flooding and suggestions for strategies and specific initiatives that can be applied directly by municipalities in their planning.

In the NAP, the Government commits to creating the basis for continued technological and knowledge development, so that Denmark will have a strong position on the global market for climate adaptation. The NAP presents 64 new initiatives within five general areas of initiative: an improved framework for climate adaptation; more consultation and a new knowledge base; strengthened collaboration and coordination; green transition; and international climate adaptation. A few national sectors, such as transport, roads and coastal protection, have dedicated adaptation plans In 2017, the Danish government decided to carry out a number of initiatives to support municipalities and property owners in establishing cost-effective and holistically planned flood and erosion protection. A cross-ministerial committee was set up and 15 new initiatives were decided (Denmark's 7th NCC, p. 297). In 2017 a new national mobile team with a focus of flooding and erosion was established by the Ministry of Environment and Food (MEF) to help share knowledge, best practices and enhance cooperation, primarily with municipalities. In 2018 an amendment to the Planning Act was adopted so that all municipalities how to identify areas at risk of flooding and erosion and ensure remediation measures in their municipal plans. The amendment was in January 2019 followed by national guidelines and examples on how and what data to use in local-government spatial planning.

Projects that require an Environmental Impact Assessment undergo a screening, where an assessment of climate change impacts is included.

The municipalities are responsible for ensuring that the municipal emergency services (typically the fire brigade) are dimensioned according to local conditions. The vast majority of municipalities handle the tasks in joint municipal emergency services, which include two or more municipalities. The local risks must be identified and analyzed and must be used as a basis for the dimensioning of the emergency services. The plan is reviewed by the Danish Emergency Management Agency, however, does not approve the plan proposal. The final plan is adopted by the municipal council or the joint emergency services commission. The plan is revised when the development makes it necessary, however, at least once in each municipal election period.

National datasets relevant for climate change adaptation are distributed amongst authorities according to areas of responsibility. E.g. DMI's Klimaatlas for climate change projection down to a 1 km grid scale and HIP (The Hydrological Information and Prognosis system) exhibits public hydrological data, model calculations and forecasts. Other national datasets include watercources, a 40x40 cm terrain model, groundwater. On a local level the municipalities collect and distribute data on their own platforms as well as contributing to national data platforms.

All municipalities have adopted local adaptation action plans in line with the national adaptation plan (NAP). Although not a formal responsibility or obligation, four of five regions have incorporated adaptation into their regional climate strategies: South Denmark , North Jutland, Region Zealand and the Capital Region. Central Denmark Region leads the EU-funded project "Coast to Coast Climate Challenge", which has a goal of formulating and implementing a coordinated adaptation strategy for the region between 2017 and 2022 .

Since 2009, the Danish portal for Climate Change Adaptation, Klimatilpasning.dk, presents the existing knowledge on climate change and climate change adaptation within a number of areas. The portal is continuously updated in corporation with the web portal group who is jointly responsible for the development of this site. Members of the web portal group include: Danish Metrological Institute, Danish Ministry of Climate, Ministry of Defense, Danish Emergency Management Agency, The Environmental Protection Agency, The Danish Coastal Authority, The Danish Agricultural Agency, Danish Health Authority, Ministry of Transport, Building, and Housing, Danish Regions, GEUS, Local Government Denmark along other relevant actors.

In 2020, a large number of public and private organizations chose to gather their effort in a new National Network for Climate Adaptation. The networks unites the former Vand i Byer, CALL Copenhagen, KLIKOVAND and INUNDO. During a transitional period, they will consolidate their activities into the new, common network, where they will aim at develop and market innovative Danish climate solutions. The network has created a strong, common framework for a large number of professional activities within the three main areas: Research and development, projects, and competence development.

The Danish work with climate adaptation revolves around key priority sectors. The overarching goal is to gather and create knowledge in these particular areas for further use. The sectors are: Coastal management Buildings and construction Water Energy Agriculture Forest Fisheries Planning Health Preparedness Nature Insurance Transport In addition to the 13 sectors, the web portal Klimatilpasning.dk collects and presents technologies and technological development in the field of climate adaptation and combines it with prospects of financing and government subsidies.

A new mapping of challenges and gaps are being developed in spring 2021 and will be integrated in the new NAP.

A National Adaptation Strategy (NAS) was adopted in March 2008. A National Adaptation Plan (NAP) was adopted in 2012. The Action Plan for a Climate-Proof Denmark was launched in December 2012 and is the first Danish NAP. The NAP is based on the notion that a responsible climate policy must do more than just work to address climate change in the long term, it must also ensure necessary action is taken now to adapt our society to a climate that is already changing, and that all parts of society contribute to climate adaptation. A new NAP is expected to be adopted in 2022 focusing on hazards related to water.

In the first cycle of the EU Floods Directive, 10 risk areas were designated in 2011 on the basis of an overall screening of the risk for floods from selected streams and floods from the sea. The screening was made from historical data on previous floods as well as an assessment of the potential consequences flood events must be expected to have in the future.

The reassessment of the risk areas in the second cycle in 2018, which led to the significant expansion of two risk areas and designation of four additional areas, was done on the basis of an adjusted methodology for national risk assessment. In the adjusted method, the risk is calculated in 100 m grid for the whole country in a risk index. Thereby, the assessment of significant negative consequences for human health, environment, cultural heritage and economic activity better integrated into the risk assessment to meet the objectives of the Directive. It remains the historical highs flood events or a statistical 1000-year event that is the basis of the national risk assessment and designation of risk areas.

Apart from the 14 designated areas in substantial risk of flooding (EU Floods Directive), adaptation strategies have not been adopted at the subnational level but all municipalities have adopted local adaptation action plans in line with the national adaptation plan (NAP). Local municipality plans and risk management plans can be found on the web portal: https://www.klimatilpasning.dk/kort/kommunekort.

Since February 2018, the municipalities are obliged to map for future erosion and flood hazards in the municipal development plan. The plan is updated every fourth year. Although not a formal responsibility or obligation, four of five regions have incorporated adaptation into their regional climate strategies: South Denmark , North Jutland, Region Zealand and the Capital Region . Central Denmark Region leads the EU-funded project ‘Coast to Coast Climate Challenge’, which has a goal of formulating and implementing a coordinated adaptation strategy for the region between 2017 and 2022 .

The NAP (2012) required all municipalities to develop an action plan for climate change by the end of 2013. The Government formally agreed with the association of Danish municipalities in 2012 that all municipalities should develop an adaptation action plan by the end of 2013. To support municipalities and local-level decision makers in their work, the Government provided support through the establishment of a national task force with specific expertise in local adaptation issues as well as a web-based mapping of risks for flooding, rain fall and storm surges in various time perspectives, modelled according to IPCC 2007 scenarios. All 98 Danish municipalities finalised their action plans by 2014. Each plan includes a flood risk mapping and sets the priorities for local climate adaptation measures. The Copenhagen Climate Adaptation plan was adopted in 2011 in response to the extreme, water-related consequences of climate change to which the city is exposed. Heavy rainfall in July 2011 prompted the city to develop a specific Cloudburst Management Plan in 2012 . The plan was used to develop 300 specific projects and a detailed management plan approved in 2015 to be implemented over 20 years. In the plan was followed by seven catchment areas plans with surface solutions for each of the areas. In 2017 a storm surge plan for Copenhagen was launched. Two out of five Danish regions have carried out studies on the impacts and risks of climate change, as the basis for regional strategic planning for adaptation. Sectors most covered include health, water management, transport, and buildings. The Capital Region of Denmark has established a cooperation organisation with the aim of supporting municipalities, water utilities and hospitals in their effort to move from plan to action within the field of adaptation. Denmark currently has 6 signatories to the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy with a target for adaptation.

On the webportal Klimatilpasning.dk an overview of all relevant municipal plans are regularly updated (In Danish only: https://www.klimatilpasning.dk/kort/kommunekort). Additionally, the portal include guidelines and examples on how to update relevant in the municipal plans, e.g. mapping flooding hazards (In Danish only: https://www.klimatilpasning.dk/kommuner/kortlaegning/).

The use of mobile teams has also been used in order to engage with local authorities. A mobile team (2012-2013) was established as part of the Task Force on Climate Change Adaptation. This team offered guidance and facilitated collaboration between municipal authorities and other stakeholders in the field, for example, with regard to preparing the municipal climate adaptation plans.

A new mobile team (2017-2019) of subject specialists on adaptation, flooding, and erosion has been established by the Environmental Protection Agency and Coastal Authority . Its purpose is to advise, guide, support, and help coordinate municipalities in implementing adaptation solutions. The team is at the disposal of municipalities and offers training, workshops, seminars, and customised advice throughout the country at the request of municipalities. The mobile team also encourages cooperation across municipalities and bring in knowledge from other ministries.

On Klimatilpasning.dk a catalogue of technologies and methods has been established and updated in collaboration with Danish Industries. Both well-known and new, effective technologies and methods is describes, in particular solutions to manage the implications of rising sea levels and more frequent and more intense rainfall. The catalogues are not exhaustive and will be updated on a regular basis as new technologies become available. Under each topic, you can find inspiration from examples of climate change adaptation by municipalities and a list of relevant partnerships and support schemes. Website: https://en.klimatilpasning.dk/knowledge/technologies/

Every fourth year the Danish EPA has been publishing a report on the environmental status in Denmark which also contains a chapter on climate change. In 2019, the report was updated to an online format (Miljøtilstand.nu) and will be updated annually. It describes the effects on climate change on e.g. precipitation, temperature, sea level rise and drought. The analysis is available on website (https://xn--miljtilstand-yjb.nu/temaer/klimaforandringer/).

In the period February to August 2016, a working group with representatives from the Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark, the Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate and the Ministry of Business and Growth carried out an evaluation of municipal climate change adaptation efforts. Every municipality in Denmark has prepared a climate change adaptation plan, which mapped the risk of flooding, specified priorities and gave an overview of the efforts. 22 municipalities also had to prepare a risk management plan pursuant to the Danish Flood Risk Act, that relates to the EU Floods Directive. The evaluation reveals that incorporation of climate change adaptation in municipal development planning has served as a basis for coordination of climate change adaptation efforts with other spatial planning efforts, and that it has provided a picture of local flood risks throughout Denmark.

Except for the analysis on the environmental status in Denmark (Miljøtilstand.nu) , there is not currently a methodology for monitoring, reporting and evaluation of reducing climate impacts, vulnerabilities, risks, and increasing adaptive capacity in Denmark. However, an initial research project was initiated in 2020 by the Danish EPA on how to develop relevant indicators for monitoring, reporting and carried out by Aarhus University.

A national overview of the disbursement of funding to increase climate resilience is currently not available.

A national overview of spending earmarked for climate adaptation is currently not available.

A national overview of the share of spending used to support climate adaptation in each sector is currently not available.

A national overview of the share of spending used to support climate adaptation in each sector is currently not available.

A national overview of the progress towards increasing adaptive capacity is currently not available.

A national overview of the progress towards meeting adaptation priorities is currently not available.

A national overview of the progress towards addressing barriers to adaptation is currently not available.

In 2012 the centrally convened Task Force on Climate Change Adaptation prepared an analysis called ‘Mapping climate change – barriers and opportunities for action’ conducted a sectoral and cross-sectoral analysis of climate risks/vulnerability . It analysed 14 sectors: construction and housing, coasts and ports, transport, water, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, energy, tourism, nature, health, emergency preparedness, insurance, and spatial planning. For each sector, it presented a basic analysis of important effects of climate change, relevant division of responsibilities between the authorities and private citizens, possibilities for adaptation, initiatives planned and in progress, and barriers and opportunities for future action. The report was based on the scenarios used by the IPCC 4th Assessment Report. In 2016 a detailed risk assessment regarding erosion and flooding was conducted for the entire Danish coastline by the Coastal Authority. The assessment was conducted in a cooperation between the Ministry of Environment and Food, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministyr of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, the Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate and the Ministry for Economic affairs and the Interior. The assessment was focusing on the effects of a future chanling climate on the Danish coasts and has been used as a basis for the significant coastal adaptation initiatives being laid out in 2017/18. DMI estimates based on the IPCC 5th Assessment Report were used as a basis for the assessment. A new National Adaptation Plan is currently under development and will provide an additional overview of the climate change adaptation challenges. The plan is expected to be adopted in 2022.

In 2017, the Danish government decided to carry out a number of initiatives to support municipalities and property owners in establishing cost-effective and holistically planned flood and erosion protection. Several of the initiatives build on the work of a cross-ministerial committee set up at the beginning of 2017.

The initiatives include: Establishment of a new flood and erosion task force to serve for a three-year period and guide municipalities in the establishment of holistically planned solutions; Development of a central-government risk analysis tool, which will be based on previous events and guidance; Mapping of all dykes in order to give the emergency management authorities access to up-to-date knowledge about the height and strength of dykes in connection with storm surges; Amendment of the Planning Act, so that municipalities can identify areas in their municipal development plans that are at risk of flooding and erosion and ensure that remediation measures are put in place when urban development is planned in these areas; Preparation of a revised climate scenario on the basis of the UN IPCC AR5, as well as preparation of a climate atlas with data on temperature, precipitation, sea level, etc.; Simpler and faster processing of coastal protection cases; Amended object clause in the Coastal Protection Act, which gives property owners greater freedom to choose methods of coastal protection, and preparation of guidelines for various methods of coastal protection; Preparation of guidance models to allocate costs across owners in large coastal protection projects; Guidelines for development projects in coastal areas; Fast-track case processing of appeals in coastal protection cases; Co-financing rules for local-government climate change adaptation projects will be addressed in discussions in spring 2018.

In 2018 an amendment to the Planning Act was adopted so that all municipalities how to identify areas at risk of flooding and erosion and ensure remediation measures in their municipal plans. The amendment was in January 2019 followed by national guidelines and examples on how and what data to use in local-government spatial planning. In January 2021 new rules on how the wastewater utility companies can invest in climate change adaptation against cloud burst etc. came into force, hereby replacing the co-financing rules. The new rules will provide an overview of the local utility spending on adaptation measures for future projects.

A new National Adaptation Plan is currently under development and will provide additional steps facing climate change adaptation challenges. The plan is expected to be adopted in 2022.

In the period February to August 2016, a working group with representatives from the Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark, the Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate and the Ministry of Business and Growth carried out an evaluation of municipal climate change adaptation efforts. Every municipality in Denmark has prepared a climate change adaptation plan, which mapped the risk of flooding, specified priorities and gave an overview of the efforts. 22 municipalities also had to prepare a risk management plan pursuant to the Danish Flood Risk Act, that relates to the EU Floods Directive.

Outcome of the evaluation of the municipal climate change adaptation efforts:

The evaluation reveals that incorporation of climate change adaptation in municipal development planning has served as a basis for coordination of climate change adaptation efforts with other spatial planning efforts, and that it has provided a picture of local flood risks throughout Denmark.

The tool will therefore be useful for municipalities in their future planning and prevention of the consequences of cloudbursts and other sources of flooding. The evaluation reveals discrepancies in the level of detail in the municipalities' climate change adaptation plans, as well as differences in the scope of the topics included in mapping. For example, many municipalities have not included flooding from watercourses and groundwater flooding in their risk mapping.

The evaluation analysed the financial aspects of, and experience from, co-financed projects. This analysis assessed that the co-financed projects budgeted and applied for during the period examined were, on average, almost four times cheaper to implement than traditional projects delivering the same level of service. This shows that water utility companies can potentially reap substantial costs savings by choosing co-financed solutions. Through agreements or through their ownership in the company, the municipalities can decide to raise the level of service without this burdening the financial framework of the wastewater companies, as they will receive a supplement to their financial framework, which will be approved by the Water Division. Without municipal co-financing, increased investment in climate change adaptation will also not burden the municipalities finances. This presents an incentive problem, which may lead to over-investment and, thus, failure to secure a socio-economically optimal level of investment. In January 2021 new rules on how the wastewater utility companies can invest in climate change adaptation against cloud burst etc. came into force, hereby replacing the co-financing rules.

The Danish charitable association Realdania and the Ministry of the Environment have established a partnership in 2018, whose overall purpose is to support the development of innovative, integrated and holistic solutions. These solutions set a new agenda for how to plan for protection of cities against floods in the short term, while taking into account the necessary long-term planning and the impact of climate change.

The case collection on the Danish web portal Klimatilpasning.dk share knowledge from selected adaptation projects across sectors and the country. Currently, more than 70 specifically selected cases represent lessons learned from the actors involved. For each project we provide a description of the status, background, solution, gains and added value, financing, process and stakeholder involvement as well as barriers along the way. https://www.klimatilpasning.dk/cases-overview/.

The Danish Coastal Authority participates in the EU Interreg co-financed project on adaptation in the North Sea, ‘Building with Nature’ with funds from the ERDF. Furthermore, a number of Danish municipalities and stakeholders are participating Interreg adaptation projects, including in (FRAMES) dealing with flood resilience, and TOPSOIL dealing with soil and water resilience. Finally, several recent LIFE projects in Denmark have adaptation dimensions , particularly the Inter-municipal cooperation on ‘Water Management and Climate Change Adaptation for The Stream of Usserød’, and the Central Denmark Region leads the EU-funded project ‘Coast to Coast Climate Challenge’, which has a goal of formulating and implementing a coordinated adaptation strategy for the region between 2017 and 2022 .

According to the EU Floods Directive, Denmark has annual bilateral meetings with the Federal Government in Schleswig Holstein, Germany, to inform about the process of implementing the Directive in both countries and exchanging information about climate change related issues.

Since 1978, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands have been cooperating to protect the Wadden Sea as an ecological entity. Under this cooperation, the three countries continue implementing the Trilateral Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and update the priorities contained therein where needed.