Projections for climate change indicate that rising sea levels may lead to severe storm surges with high water levels. This also applies to the Greater Copenhagen area, which, due to its coastal location, is vulnerable to storm surge events.
The preliminary study of storm surge protection around Copenhagen from May 2025 highlights that the flood risk is significant and that the existing level of protection is inadequate given the rising sea levels.
As a result, it has been decided that Sund & Bælt is to conduct an environmental impact assessment for a flood protection system extending around Copenhagen Airport to the east and continuing south from the airport towards the Ullerup and West Amager dikes in the southwest. The protection system is intended to safeguard critical infrastructure, including Copenhagen Airport, the Øresund Motorway and Railway, among others.
The task involves assessing the environmental impacts associated with constructing a flood protection system along this route while simultaneously developing a technical solution. To consult on this, Sund & Bælt has selected COWI as the technical and environmental advisor for the project.
“We look forward to conducting the environmental impact assessment in close collaboration with COWI. The studies we are to conduct are crucial to achieving comprehensive and effective protection for critical infrastructure, residents, businesses, and other functions in the area,” says Christian Henriksen, Department Manager of Environmental Sustainability & Authorities at Sund & Bælt, adding:
“Furthermore, the project will contribute to the progress in the overall storm surge protection of Copenhagen.”
The environmental impact assessment involves the development of technical solutions and studies on the environmental effects of constructing effective storm surge protection for the area.
“At COWI, we are proud to be part of such an important project that will help protect critical infrastructure from storm surge events. Our role will be to ensure that the solutions are technically robust and environmentally considerate, creating long-term sustainable results,” says Henrik Søgaard Olsen, Division Director for Water and Environment at COWI.
The environmental impact assessment is expected to span the next two years.
Facts
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Read more about the preliminary study of storm surge protection around Copenhagen on Sund & Bælt’s website here.
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Find the summary report and the four sub-reports of the preliminary study here.