Helle Ørsted Nielsen

The Use of Economic Instruments in Nordic and Baltic Environmental Policy 2001-2005

This new report commissioned by the Environment and Finance Group of the Nordic Council of Ministers continues the tradition of reviewing the use of economic instruments in environmental policy in the Nordic countries by providing a comprehensive overview. At the same time, this report extends the country coverage and content of the report. The application of economic instruments is not only discussed for the five Nordic countries, but also for the three Baltic countries. In addition, a discussion on the opportunities and shortcomings associated with the use of economic instruments in the field of environmental policy has been undertaken. The report is a follow-up of the previous five reviews – the last was published in 2002 (TemaNord 2002:581) – and discusses the latest development of the application of economic instruments covering the time period 2001-2005.

The Danish Pesticide Tax

This chapter analyses the Danish pesticide tax (1996–2013) on agriculture which was introduced as an ad valorem tax in 1996, doubled in 1998, and redesigned in 2013 as a tax based on the toxicity of the pesticides. The Danish pesticide taxes probably represent the world’s highest pesticide taxes on agriculture, which makes it interesting to analyse how effective they have been. The analysis demonstrates the challenges of choosing an optimal tax design in a complex political setting where, additionally, individuals in the target group have different rationales when making decisions on pesticide use. It also demonstrates that a small first, green tax step over time might develop into a better tax design.

Framing climate change: new directions in Dutch and Danish planning strategies

Planning in contemporary societies takes place under conditions of complexity and uncertainty, which stresses the politicised character of planning. Through studies of change in particular framings of planning, induced by the integration of climate change policy issues in the strategic planning of Copenhagen (Denmark) and the Zuidplaspolder (the Netherlands), this paper analyses how climate policies push reframing the basic perceptions and spatial imaginaries of strategic planning, and how this affects planning as a politicised activity. The study shows that reframing socio-spatial imaginaries influences the spatiality of the city/the polder, including a spatial identity, advocates certain solutions, and further enables institutional actors to reframe climate issues strategically to benefit other planning objectives as well as weaving together environmental agendas with economic agendas. However, new framings are challenged by some citizens/actors. At an institutional level, framing of planning may hence serve to relocate tensions and engage citizens and stakeholders in hard transitions, thus revealing implications beyond the discursive.

Managing geese with recreational hunters

As many goose populations across the northern Hemisphere continue to rise, the role of hunters to manage these populations is increasingly being considered. We studied recreational goose hunters in Denmark to assess their behavioural and motivational characteristics, willingness to alter their hunting effort, as well as their ability to act as stewards of a rapidly increasing goose population. We identified several behavioural characteristics that typify effective goose hunting practices. We suggest a degree of specialization is necessary to increase goose harvests, as well as mitigating animal welfare issues (e.g. wounding). However, the majority of Danish goose hunters can be considered to be casual participants in this form of hunting. This poses a challenge for wildlife managers wishing to engage recreational hunters to manage highly dynamic wildlife populations, such as geese. If recreational hunters are to be used as a management tool, wildlife managers and hunting organizations will need to consider how best to facilitate skill development, hunting practices and socially legitimate hunting ethics to foster the stewardship role of hunting. We conclude that it is incumbent on wildlife managers to recognize and deal with both internal factors (e.g. skill development) and external influences (e.g. animal welfare concerns). In doing so, potential tensions in the multi-functionality of hunting can be alleviated, maintain hunting as a legitimate and accepted recreational past-time and management tool.