Danish municipalities have not utilized their legal option to require the construction of shelters in new buildings over the past year. A survey by the Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR) revealed that none of the responding 59 municipalities out of the country’s 98 have implemented such requirements.

The lack of shelter construction comes amid a recognized shortage of shelter spaces in Denmark. A report from the Danish Emergency Management Agency last year indicated that existing shelters only provide 3.6 million places, covering 61 percent of the population.

Johannes Lundsfryd Jensen, chairman of the Climate and Environment Committee at the Danish Association of Municipalities (KL), explained that municipalities are currently preoccupied with other pressing issues, such as cyber attacks. He noted that priorities in new construction have included ensuring elevators, addressing climate concerns, and avoiding low-lying construction. Jensen suggested that shelters may need to be re-evaluated as a priority in future construction projects.

Minister for Emergency Management Torsten Schack Pedersen acknowledged that shelters have not been a primary focus for an extended period, understanding the municipalities’ lack of action. Pedersen is awaiting a review of the country’s shelters, agreed upon in May by the government and municipalities. The review aims to assess the capacity and condition of existing shelters in Denmark. However, the financial agreement did not specify the amount allocated for the review or potential refurbishment of shelters found to be in poor condition.