Copenhangen, 4th August 2009. Svend Auken, Danish environmental minister from 1993-2001 and long-time MP for the Social Democrats died in the early hours of Tuesday 4th August 2009.

He was responsible for building what some call “Auken’s environmental empire”, and turned Denmark into an environmental front runner.

He remained very active in Danish politics right up until a few weeks before his death. He will be missed on Denmark's political scene by fellow politicians and by environmental NGOs, whose cause he strongly supported.

He was also a past friend of Seas At Risk who helped make the nineties North Sea Conference process the success it was.