2025-03-12
Statement of the Coalition Clean Baltic – CCB
at the Third informal consultation session of the Helsinki Commission (IC HELCOM 3-2025)
Helsinki, Finland, 12 March 2024 - There are plenty of reasons for the HELCOM community to be proud for the achievements within the last year and CCB shares them and praises our joint work.
Despite that our own network of 27 environmental NGOs will only turn 35 this year and despite the challenges of shrinking civil society space both regionally, as well as Europe-wide and even globally, we keep on working to achieve our main goal in protecting the Baltic Sea marine environment.
Last year several of our contributions sparked new light, especially when setting-up the best practices in different fields, naming just few:
- Prioritising the actions to be implemented within BSAP Shadow Implementation Plan
;
- Highlighting the need for true ecosystem approach – with legal case
to ensure EBM as a tool for recovery of Baltic fish stocks, a position paper on grey seals
and inputs to MSP EBA guidelines;
- Contributing
to improved and coherent MPA network by advocating towards increased restoration and establishment of strictly protected areas, focusing on whole ecosystems;
- Drafting recommendations (on dry bulk fertiliser and phosphogypsum
) to minimise nutrient pollution from earlier unidentified sources;
- Supporting sustainable human activities - through seeking solutions for reducing continuous underwater noise from shipping
, addressing discharges from chemical tankers
and steps to-wards
development of the Clean Boating Guide – with increased involvement of stakeholders.
However, we want to particularly highlight the Green Recovery Plan for the Ukrainian part of the Baltic Sea catchment (to be published soon), a strategic document that will hopefully lead for new projects to support Ukraine’s efforts to independent, prosperous and sustainable future and its place in the family of European nations and the Baltic Sea Region. The plan outlines and sets a price tag for specific actions in each segment of the BSAP that Ukraine can contribute to, such as improvement of waste water treatment plants, establishment of buffer strips and Nitrate Vulnerable Zones, development of the network of protected species and restoration of natural amenities, and remediation of hot spots. It is a contribution to our solidarity and support to Ukrainian friends, yet at another frontline.
With the variety of stakeholders in HELCOM family, who, besides their formal roles, are true nature lovers – passionate birdwatchers, divers, berry and mushroom pickers (as figured out last year at the celebrations in Riga), we still have the chance to save the Baltic together. Seeing NGO experts onboard national delegations and NGO’s inputs accepted is a good sign of trust in such work.
But to ensure that life gets better after 50, we should continue our efforts, including in those challenging fields, where quick-fixes like CCS are so tempting to take without solid precautions behind.