Helsinki, Finland

06.11.2006

The HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan –

Creating a new environmental strategy to restore the Baltic Sea

 

Speech by Prof. Mieczysław S. Ostojski, Chairman of HELCOM,

at the HELCOM Diplomatic Lunch,

6 November 2006,

G.W. Sundmans Restaurant, Helsinki

 

Your Excellencies, dear Colleagues,

Good afternoon. I would like to start my speech by saying how immensely grateful I am to all of you for finding the time to join this traditional HELCOM diplomatic lunch. This is the sixth year when the Ambassadors of all the Contracting States to the Helsinki Convention as well as the countries in the catchment area meet to talk about issues having effect on the international co-operation for the protection of the Baltic marine environment.

Today, I would like to concentrate on one issue - the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan, which we jointly decided to develop last year to solve major problems troubling the Baltic Sea.

The basis for the decision to draw up this plan was, of course, the present unsatisfactory state of the Baltic Sea, and the fact that in spite of environmental protection successes over the last three decades, the measures currently in place will not be enough to cope with mounting pollution and other environmental problems. The diverse human activities both on the sea and its catchment area are placing rapidly increasing pressure on the marine ecosystem. Of the many environmental challenges the most serious and proving difficult to tackle with conventional measures is the continuing eutrophication of the Baltic Sea and input of hazardous substances.

HELCOM has already achieved a 40% reduction in nitrogen and phosphorus discharges (from sources in the catchment area) and likewise a 40% decrease as regards emissions of nitrogen to the air as well as a 50% reduction in discharges of 46 hazardous substances. But in order to achieve “clear water” which is one of the main objectives of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan phosphorous and nitrogen emissions must be further cut by ca. 35% and 10%, respectively.

The decision to draw up this plan was also driven by the growing awareness that if we lose any more time by failing to base policy decisions firmly on environmental considerations, we will undermine both the prospects for the future recovery of the marine environment, and a vital resource base for the future economic prosperity of the whole Baltic region.

The Baltic Sea Action Plan will be completely different from any other plan or programme previously undertaken by HELCOM. It will incorporate an innovative approach to the protection of marine environment. The underlying principle is the ecosystem approach, which was set off in the 1992 Rio Declaration and reiterated at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development. The highlight of this ambitious, but realistic plan is that it will be based on a clear set of Ecological Objectives defined to reflect a common vision of a healthy Baltic Sea, e.g. clear water, no excessive algal blooms and natural distribution of plants and animals. The good ecological status definition will be set based on a holistic view and by creating a balance between the health of the sea the public wants and the human influences that they will accept. With this ecosystem approach protection of the marine environment is no longer seen as an event-driven pollution reduction approach to be taken sector-by-sector. Instead, the starting point is a common understanding and definition of a sea with a good ecological balance, which is deciding the further needs for reductions of pollution loads as well as the level and extent of human activities.

In March 2006, the annual Helsinki Commission Meeting officially approved the key elements of the plan, which I have just mentioned above - a general vision of a healthy sea and a set of strategic goals and ecological objectives to work towards so as to fulfil this vision. Progress towards these objectives will be assessed through measurable ecological indicators devised by HELCOM scientific experts. Objectives and indicators will be carefully selected to reflect the needs and wishes of everyone who has an interest in the Baltic Sea.

Here I also need to mention another major highlight of the Baltic Sea Action Plan which is that it will be elaborated with the active participation of all major stakeholder groups in the region – from governments, through industry and NGOs, right down to individual citizens living on the shores of the Baltic Sea, to ensure that the plan is relevant and can be effectively implemented in practice.

Today, HELCOM is working to identify the actions needed to achieve these agreed environmental objectives and goals within a given timeframe for each of the main environmental priority issues: combating eutrophication, curbing inputs of hazardous substances, ensuring maritime safety, and halting decline in biodiversity and habitat destruction. Here we will also see changes in HELCOM’s approach concerning how practically to achieve a healthy Baltic Sea. HELCOM will no longer aim at “one-size-fits-all” solutions, but will seek tailor-made solutions with the responsiveness of the marine environment as the starting point.

The Plan will distinguish between actions that can be implemented at regional or national level, and measures that can only be implemented at EU level (e.g. Common Fisheries Policy, Common Agricultural Policy, controls over the marketing and use of chemicals) or globally (e.g. the shipping controls defined by the International Maritime Organisation). Actions that need to be taken at European or global level must be addressed by HELCOM through the related international forums.

When it comes to the costs for implementing the HELCOM BSAP, cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analysis need proper reflection. Deliberations must in no way be limited to the allocation of adequate resources to development but also implementation of the plan. Estimated costs have to be compared to impacts from a further degradation of the marine environment stemming from a “business-as-usual” approach as well as to economic impacts from non-action, the cross medial benefits (e.g. health of the citizens), economic benefits to other sectors, e.g. tourism and –last but not least- to the value of the marine environment as such.

The elaboration of the plan, which was officially kick-started at the Stakeholder Conference on 7 March 2006 in Helsinki, will continue until late next year. After a series of meetings and a final Stakeholder Conference in March 2007, which will review a preliminary draft of the plan, the finalised environmental strategy will be adopted at a HELCOM Ministerial meeting currently scheduled to take place on 15 November 2007 in Krakow, Poland. 

Going back to the innovativeness of the Baltic Sea Action Plan, I would like to draw here a historical parallel to the signing of the Helsinki Convention in 1974 which was also avant-garde in that it was the first ever international marine convention to take an overall approach to the protection of the marine environment by addressing all sources of marine pollution, be it from sources based on land, at sea or in the air, as well as by addressing the need to establish co-operation for responding to accidents at sea. So in a way we are continuing here a very long tradition of being the first.

The concept of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan has already been widely supported by the Baltic Sea politicians at various forums, and heralded as a pilot project for the European seas under the newly drafted EU Marine Strategy. The EU on its part described the plan as the cornerstone for further action in the Baltic Sea region, emphasising that plan will be instrumental to the successful implementation of the new EU Marine Strategy in the region.

The new EU Marine Strategy foresees in the future an Action Plan for each eco-region, including the Baltic. HELCOM is in a unique position to deliver this, given its embracing of all the countries in the Baltic Sea catchment area. Hereby also, we are in the unique position to ensure that the special characteristics of the Baltic Sea are fully accounted for in the European policies. In this context, the new plan makes HELCOM a forerunner, and a model to be followed by other regional marine conventions around Europe.

HELCOM is also a forerunner in incorporating the ecosystem approach into its action plan, which is a direct implementation of decisions made at the UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio in 1992 and the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development. This new approach to environmental management will serve as a good example and a model to follow to all regional seas conventions, including the Regional Seas Programmes established under UNEP auspices.  

While developing the HELCOM action plan, we will also take into account the environmental provisions of the Maritime Doctrine of the Russian Federation, which is the only HELCOM country outside the EU in the Baltic Sea region. Close co-operation with Russia is crucial for any further progress to be made in rescuing the troubled Baltic marine environment. The HELCOM action plan, which is being developed with Russia’s participation, in many ways will correspond and will be also instrumental to the implementation of the national Maritime Doctrine.  

But first and foremost we must view the new HELCOM action plan as a joint regional policy with common objectives, common actions, and common obligations, despite the fact that we have different Marine Strategies and Doctrines. The future success of the plan will largely depend on how all the coastal countries – EU and non-EU members - can co-operate to achieve the goal of a healthy Baltic marine environment. And I would like to ask you all here today to send a clear message to your Capitals that HELCOM needs political support to ensure the successful implementation of this action plan. It is crucial that your Governments show a strong commitment and determination.

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is not my intention to withhold you from enjoying your meal so I would like to conclude by saying that the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan is an opportunity to pull together different activities at different levels and join forces to have a healthy Baltic Sea with balanced eco-systems able to support a wide range of sustainable economic activities, including shipping, for the benefit of present and future generations and we should do our best to use this opportunity to restore our common sea. This environmental policy will not only be a promoter of a healthy environment but also a guardian for growth and prosperity of the Baltic Sea region.

Thank you.