SPEECH
23.11.2005
Sockholm, Sweden
Notes for a Presentation by Anne Christine Brusendorff, Executive Secretary of HELCOM,
at the Baltic Sea Informal Meeting for Ministers of the Environment on 23rd November, Stockholm, Sweden
HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan
(Check against delivery)
Ministers, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me start by thanking you for the invitation to participate in this informal ministerial meeting on behalf of HELCOM.
During my presentation I will try to outline for you:
· how HELCOM is working to implement an ecosystem approach, with the focus on the various human activities and their interconnection when it comes to impacts on the marine environment; and
· how the ecosystem approach is knowledge based – and is making use of the well-established scientific cooperation and coordination within HELCOM.
While outlining the overall role which HELCOM is playing in the Baltic, I will:
· specifically focus on HELCOM’s role as regards euthrophication, and
· put it into a context and connect this work with the current work of HELCOM to develop a Baltic Sea Action Plan.
It is important to state that a multitude of human actions have changed and are changing the Baltic Sea ecosystem. The effects of these actions cannot be singled out but are often cumulative effects of various actions.
That is the reason why HELCOM has decided to address the issue in a truly comprehensive manner by implementing an ecosystem approach. At the heart of this ecosystem approach are the so-called ecological objectives – by which HELCOM will lay out the boundaries within which we are aiming for a healthy Baltic Sea and by which we will make visions and goals operational.
In this process we also have to be realistic – as we all have to realize that it is not possible to turn the wheel back and return to a “then” situation.
In order to be able to not only talk but also scientifically measure and prove whether we are actually progressing towards the health status of the Baltic that we want – we need data. And this is exactly where HELCOM’s periodical assessments of the Baltic Sea come into the picture. HELCOM has a history of providing information on the health status of the Baltic Sea area, trends and effectiveness of measures taken. This is possible because data obtained from the nine Baltic coastal countries is coordinated and comparable due to the monitoring programmes coordinated by HELCOM.
During this process HELCOM refines raw monitoring data to scientific, targeted and timely advice on how to manage the human actions affecting the vulnerable Baltic marine environment. The scientific information is used as input to various products coming out annually, or with bigger time intervals, which serve as input to the HELCOM policy making process.
This leads me to the role of HELCOM in the Baltic region which in simplified terms can be stated to be: a bridge between science and policy making, in developing measures that specifically take into account the environmental conditions and sensitivity of the Baltic Sea to various human impacts as well as the pressures which are experienced by our Baltic Sea. Thus HELCOM’s priority areas of work are based on the major environmental problems affecting the Baltic Sea, as jointly defined by Baltic scientists. And of course – not least in light of the EU enlargement last year, due account is also given to European and world-wide developments of which the regulations of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) or the development of the European Marine Strategy are two good examples.
HELCOM has three ways of getting her actions through:
- either we pursue joint initiatives of the Baltic Sea States within international organizations. The International Maritime Organization, or more recently EU, are good examples of this;
- or we go for harmonized, and where possible and needed, the strictest implementation of international environmental regulations;
- and lastly as needed we of course aim for HELCOM specific regional actions, either this way making use of the possibility of acting quicker than what can be done on the global level, or making sure that our interests are taken into account. This can be done through development of relevant measures or through joint initiatives like projects, seminars, awareness raising campaigns etc.
It is important to state that our joint efforts have led to a lot of results. Usually only hard currency results are accounted for: such as reductions in the pollution loads reaching the Baltic or by the positive signs in the state of the environment. And we can also show such results - let me just mention the 40% reduction in nitrogen and phosphorus discharges (from sources in the catchment area) and likewise the 40% decrease as regards emissions of nitrogen to the air. And not least the 50% reduction in discharges of 46 hazardous substances prioritized by HELCOM.
These reductions have resulted in decreasing concentrations of lead in living organisms, similar positive trends for concentrations of PCB in the Baltic fish as well as in improvements in the status of populations of white-tailed eagle, cormorant, Baltic wild salmon and seals (in the northern areas of the Baltic).
But of course we also know and the latest assessments also show that there is still a need for further actions. Some of the key challenges for HELCOM’s future work are:
- Even if we do agree on further measures, it takes a long time until the effects of these measures are seen in the environment.
- The enlarged EU has meant that the decisions-making tasks in some areas, such as the Common Agricultural Policy/Common Fisheries Policy, have been taken over by the EU. HELCOM still sees her role in the agricultural/fisheries fields as very important, as HELCOM holds the information on the basis of which the decisions should be taken.
- And of course the implementation in the Baltic Coastal Countries of agreed measures is not always perfect.
And this is now where our HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan comes into the picture and offers us some unique opportunities to achieve more by utilizing our well established co-operation within HELCOM. The Plan:
- is built on good and shared scientific environmental knowledge;
- is the basis for developing uniform environmental measures applicable in a large part of the catchment area of the Baltic Sea; and all of which is importantly
- coupled with a quite high public awareness about the Baltic Sea.
The Baltic Sea Coastal States have decided that HELCOM will play a key role in the development of the Baltic Sea Action Plan.
The Action Plan will be based on Ecological Objectives which will in a clear and scientifically sound manner describe the desired state of the Baltic and will be agreed at political level.
The full set of Ecological Objectives is still under development but here are some of them just to give you a general idea:
- all Baltic fish should be suitable for human consumption
- clear water
- no excessive algal blooms should occur
The Baltic Action Plan will also include proposals on how to achieve these goals.
Wide stakeholder involvement and high political commitment by the Contracting Parties are crucial for the success of the process.
The Baltic Sea Action Plan will cover all key environmental problems of the Baltic and will identify actions to be taken by the Contracting Parties, countries in the catchment area and actions to be taken in HELCOM and in other relevant international fora, including the EU.
The Baltic Sea Action Plan will also assist HELCOM Contracting States to coordinate their positions within international fora in order to reach Baltic environmental objectives.
According to the tentative schedule of the development of the Baltic Sea Action Plan, Ecological Objectives will be agreed in March 2006, stakeholders will be involved and the Action Plan itself is expected to be adopted in a ministerial meeting late 2007.
While all of this might sound a bit abstract – allow me to try to make it more concrete – by using as an example HELCOM’s work within the field of eutrophication.
The causes and effects of eutrophication are well documented. Critical processes in the ecological web of causes and effects can be described by the use of information on water clarity, nutrient concentrations and changes in seashore life. And this in a way so that it is also recognizable and understandable to the layman.
HELCOM holds information on sources, emissions and inputs of nutrients as well as their impacts in the marine ecosystem. This cause-effect information provides the basis for HELCOM’s sound management decisions.
From our HELCOM assessments we get knowledge about:
- the overall nutrient load to the Baltic Sea coming from both water- and airborne sources; and
- the share coming from different sources;
Our results show that about one quarter of the total nitrogen input comes via the atmosphere.
While the remaining part stems from different sources of waterborne nitrogen inputs in the catchment area, including natural background loads, diffuse sources (mainly agriculture) and point sources, such as industries and municipalities.
What we can also conclude from our assessments is that agriculture by far is the polluter number one. Loads of both phosphorus and nitrogen from agriculture exceed those from point sources several times.
From our HELCOM assessments we also get knowledge about the environmental effects of nutrient loads entering the Baltic. Some well-documented examples of effects of eutrophication which are very visible for the layman and general public are toxic algae and murky waters. What we of course should be aware is that the choice of indicators also reflects the way in which we value the marine environment. Toxic algae and murky waters are not attracting tourists – but also have effects on the living conditions for creatures in our sea.
Even if blue-green algal blooms have always been present in the Baltic we have witnessed a drastic increase in such events after the 1960s. This is evident in water samples as well as in the geological record of seabed sediments. Even if we do not know exactly how many blooms there were in a relatively clean Baltic Sea of early 20th century the changes have been dramatic.
Also the clarity of water all over the Baltic Sea has nearly halved from levels of the 1940s. Murkier water is reducing the enjoyment of the seashore during holidays for us all. In addition the reduced clarity reduces conditions for larger plants to live on the seabed and thus also animals taking shelter among these plants.
The cascading effects of these processes can also be seen in reduced numbers of larger animals such as predatory fish. There are reports of reduced numbers of valued coastal fish from all over the Baltic and many researchers and fishermen alike have observed increases in less valued species such as roach. While human caused eutrophication increases the numbers of fish in general, it reduces the proportion of those species valued by man as food items.
The overall aim of HELCOM's work is to try to reduce human induced eutrophication to desirable levels – so that we will achieve a non-disturbed balanced ecosystem. Which naturally raises the next question: “What are desirable levels?”
Well, in an attempt to define these levels, HELCOM is presently developing sub-regional background values for the open sea areas of the Baltic – keeping in mind the need for close coordination and cooperation with similar work undertaken for coastal waters under the EU Water Framework Directive. We all know that it is not possible to turn time back: we will never have a Baltic Sea of the 1800’s. However, when we know these background values that result from natural processes, we can use them as reference for high ecological status. Based on that, we will be able to come up with target levels, a definition of a minimum desirable status of our sea – the sea with good ecological status, the sea with diverse biological components functioning in balance, the sea which supports a wide range of sustainable economic and social activities
And what HELCOM is going to end up with is a management tool by which we can show whether we are reaching if not a high – then at least a good ecological status by deciding on measures to be taken.
At the moment HELCOM is working extensively to assess the environmental impacts of various agricultural policies in the Baltic Coastal States. This we do by combining pollution load models with environmental effect models, to be able to predict the environmental effects of various agricultural policies.
In order for you as politicians to make decisions whether there is a need for additional environmental measures, HELCOM will elaborate background values for naturally occurring levels of eutrophication. And by using these natural levels, HELCOM will by use of for instance the indicators that I just mentioned, be able to depict whether the predicted environmental effects will sustain a balanced ecosystem.
Furthermore HELCOM will come up with suggestions for most cost-effective solutions on how to improve the eutrophication situation in the Baltic.
HELCOM also sees this work as important inputs to the forthcoming revision under the Gothenburg protocol to the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution as well as of the EU Common Agricultural Policy (2009) and of the EU Directive on National Emissions Ceilings for Certain Pollutants (NECs Directive) (2006/2008).
Fresh results of a HELCOM assessment that is considered this week by one of HELCOM’s expert working groups show that with the fulfilment of the targets under the Gothenburg protocol to the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution and the corresponding EU Directive on National Emissions Ceilings for Certain Pollutants (NECs directive) the deposition of airborne nitrogen will increase from present levels. Keeping in mind that as much as one quarter of the total nitrogen input to the Baltic Sea is airborne and that almost half of that is coming from outside the HELCOM area it is of outmost importance that HELCOM deals with this in both the UNECE and the EU.
In order to solve the environmental problems of the Baltic, commitment by the HELCOM Contracting Parties both to the development of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan and its implementation is of crucial importance. It will require political will as well as financial and human resources.
It is also very important that regional environmental needs are taken into account when developing measures within other international fora. HELCOM will of course actively work in this direction e.g. via enhanced co-operation with relevant international institutions and other regional agreements.
We shall in HELCOM do our outmost to provide you with relevant background information, and we on our side count on your active political support so that we together can ensure that also our children and grand children can swim in the Baltic and enjoy its beauty.
Thank you
For more information contact:
Nikolay Vlasov
Information Secretary
Helsinki Commission
Katajanokanlaituri 6 B
FI-00160 Helsinki, Finland
Tel: + 358 9 6220 2235
Fax: +358 9 6220 2239
E-mail: nikolay.vlasov@helcom.fi