85 MARTINDALE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF PRIVATE ENTERPRISE Mitigation of sea level rise in Denmark Marina Mendez Legarra Great efforts have been made by Danes to become world leaders in sustainability. Unfortunately, they still must address challenges brought forth by climate change. As a country almost completely surrounded by water, Denmark is vulnerable to any increase in sea level. It is essential that a proactive approach be taken to implement protective measures. This article explores the risks that communities face and possible solutions to mitigate flooding. Introduction Denmark is considered a pioneer in promoting and implementing green sustainable policies (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, 2022) and is often ranked as one of the most sustainable countries in the world (Denmark Is Once Again…, 2022). While these efforts should be celebrated, Danes make up only 0.07% of the global population; therefore, their achievements are far too small to have an impact on the overall trend of the world’s climate change. However, Danish citizens still have to manage the consequences of greenhouse gasses emitted from other countries. Among the many challenges caused by climate change and global warming, one consequence that will affect Denmark in particular is sea level rise (SLR). Denmark is almost completely surrounded by water. It borders the Baltic and North Seas, and no part of Denmark is more than 67 km (32 miles) from the sea. Water is also integrated into the major cities by complex networks of canals used by locals for recreational purposes like swimming, diving, kayaking, and boating. The canals not only are key tourist attractions, making Denmark a charming and attractive country to visit, but also dangerous, making the cities more susceptible to water damage that could arise from flooding. It is imperative that Denmark take a proactive approach to protect its cities from water level rise, just as it has done with greenhouse gas emissions. The sea level will rise in upcoming decades, and it is vital that Denmark start making adjustments to its infrastructure to minimize losses in the long term. Climate change challenges The two biggest consequences of climate change for Denmark are rising sea levels in general and an increase in extreme weather events that can lead to higher water levels and flooding in the short term. Although there is considerable uncertainty about the actual level of the SLR in the next few decades, it is generally accepted that the sea level will increase (Hallegatte et al., 2010). Demark is creating strategies to adapt to an SLR of 0.1 to 0.5 m (5–20 in) by 2050 and 0.2 to 1.4 m (8–55 in) by 2100 (Coastal Flood Risk Denmark, 2022). Danish cities can adapt to a slow water level rise through urban planning, which they have done successfully in the past. Some examples of this urban planning include climate-resilient buildings, flood mitigation strategies camouflaged as skateboard parks or gardens, and new coastal protection. The greatest challenge is the increase in frequency and magnitude of storm surges. According to the National Hurricane Center, a storm surge is an abnormal rise of water generated by a storm over and above the predicted astronomical tide (National Hurricane…, 2022). Hurricane Katrina’s impact on the US in 2005 is an example of how catastrophic a storm surge can be when it coincides with normal high tide. Denmark suffered a similar disaster in 2013, making clear the need to plan and prepare for these extreme weather situations that will cause the most damage and devastation. Storm Bodil In December 2013, northwestern Europe, including the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Poland, suffered a severe winter storm. Each country gave the storm a different name, with Denmark choosing Storm Bodil, after a vote in the Danish Meteorological Institute. The precipitation from Bodil and the high winds caused storm surges across the country. Specifically in Copenhagen, water levels rose as much as 2 m in some areas and 1.68 m in the harbor. The
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