Helle Tegner Anker

Helle Tegner Anker serves as a Professor in the Department of Food and Resource Economics (IFRO) at the University of Copenhagen's Faculty of Science, specializing in the Section for Consumption, Bioethics and Governance. Her academic career spans over two decades at the university, following previous positions at Aarhus University.

Professor Anker's research focuses on environmental and planning law, with particular expertise in access to justice, public participation mechanisms, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), urban development regulations, nature protection frameworks, water resources management, agricultural legislation, GMO regulations, and renewable energy law. Her work bridges legal theory with practical environmental governance challenges, often addressing how legal frameworks can better incorporate diverse knowledge systems in environmental decision-making.

Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on water resources protection, marine conservation tools, and forest regulations, with several 2024-2025 publications examining the legal frameworks surrounding marine ecosystems and agricultural pressures on water resources. Professor Anker's research shows consistent engagement with EU environmental law frameworks, particularly the Water Framework Directive, and their implementation in national contexts.

As Chairperson of the Planning Appeals Board since February 2021, she maintains significant influence in practical environmental governance beyond academia. Her teaching portfolio includes Environmental and Planning Law, EU Law, and Environmental Management in Europe at the University of Copenhagen, as well as previously contributing to the Master in Environmental and Energy Law program at Aarhus University.