In memoriam of Lennart Gladh

CCB • March 4, 2021

We have lost a very good friend, true nature lover and defender of our shared environment.

Lennart Gladh… “a biologist who likes fly fishing and clean water as well as living in the country-side among cows and cornfields” as he described himself in Twitter… Lennart was very humble person with certainly wider range of interests and real passion to nature around.

During last two years, Lennart was courageously fighting cancer that struck again hard in early 2021…

Lennart Gladh will be strongly missed by many people in CCB’s network and our hearts and souls are with his family and friends during these days…

Rest in peace, friend, and let Mother Nature heal and care about you, as you did to her…

Jointly with WWF and SLU we have created the ‘In memoriam’ board, where anyone can contribute: https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/wTW4Z2Qe

“We met Lennart in Latvia during our cooperation on Baltic Sea issues together with WWF Latvia. Lennart’s international experience and competence and a strong direct position on the real essence of things were useful in our work on water protection issues in Latvia. Our contacts with him continued during our experience exchange visit to Sweden on dam removal project in 2018, where we got to know Lennart as a nature enthusiast and always a curious person, willing to explore and to know things more deeply. This cooperation lasted until just a week ago, and unfortunately, our communication about river dams will remain unanswered…  Dear Lennart, let sailing wind take and lead you in your eternal journey…”
(Aija Caune, Latvia)

“With great regret I received the news of the death of Lennart. For several years, I had the pleasure of working with him on the CCB’s Board where he represented the WWF Sweden. You could always count on his balanced and always accurate view of the matter. He proved to be a very open-minded and knowledgeable person, very cheerful and pleasant. Lennart’s death is an irreparable loss to the CCB’s community, but also for the Baltic Sea natural environment, of which he was a tireless defender and advocate. I will miss his great professionalism, good and wise advice, peace and sincere dedication to the cause – protection of the Baltic Sea, which he loved so much, and for which he devoted many years of his life. He was just a good man.”
(Jakub Skorupski, Poland)

“Trying to solve environmental problems from the office, with often poor knowledge about the actual field locations, has become increasingly mainstream over years. Not so with Lennart. He was always on the spot, had an impressive familiarity with a profusion of sites scattered all over the Baltic Sea region, knew the specific peculiarities, the acting people and the local ecology. Lennart’s goals were working solutions – results that would last for ages, not just for a project lifetime. Working for these solutions needed a very strong will and stamina, paired by his excellent expertise on conservation ecology and successful implementation of measures”
(Jörg Schmiedel, Germany).

“I cherished Lennart’s opinion and his very down to earth approach to focusing on real actions for the environment. He was a bit akin to Voltairs Candide as in “ok that talk is all fine, but now time to tend our environment”. The importance and love of the sauna is something I will always connect to Lennart”
(Nils Höglund, Sweden)

“I got to know Lennart since 1997, while working together for integrated coastal zone management of Vistula and Curonian Lagoons. Then we met several times when he was coordinating preparation of Nature Conservation Plan for Kaliningrad Region, explored Nemunas Delta, its wetlands, floodplains and polders… in a while, we have re-connected at HELCOM meetings, where he represented WWF… and couple of years later our routes have crossed again in CCB… He kept on being very impatient to slow and toothless efforts of environmental governance in the Baltic Sea Region and was very straightforward in criticizing authorities and industries, especially hydropower and agriculture, as avoiding painful, but needed actions to save the Baltic. He was true Baltic Warrior – strong and stubborn as a Viking, respecting and caring the nature around, enjoying and nurturing its wilderness and beauty, eager to learn and share his vast experience…”
(Mikhail Durkin, Russia)

“Lennart was working for many years with WWF, but also closely involved with CCB the last 5-7 years, e.g. as member of the CCB Board and as Senior advisor to CCB. I will miss his wide competence and knowledge on river management and fisheries management. His death is a great loss for the Baltic Environmental NGO community and for our project work on Free rivers. I always enjoyed his company, exchange of ideas, discussions, his support, laugh and frankness.”
(Gunnar Norén, Sweden).

Coalition Clean Baltic family

Job vacancy: Marine Policy Officer (parental leave cover)

By CCB • February 24, 2026
Coalition Clean Baltic – CCB is a politically independent network, uniting 28 environmental non-profit organizations, as well as partners and experts from 11 countries surrounding the Baltic Sea. The main goal of CCB is to promote the protection and improvement of the environment and natural resources of the Baltic Sea region by encouraging new and constructive approaches and engaging people to become part of the solution instead of part of the problem. CCB Secretariat is based in Uppsala, Sweden. About the Role Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB) is seeking a Marine Policy Officer (parental leave cover) to join its International Secretariat and contribute substantively to regional and EU-level marine advocacy, with a particular focus on the Baltic Sea. The Marine Policy Officer will support the implementation of EU and international marine environmental policy frameworks — notably the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), the EU Maritime Spatial Planning Directive (MSPD) and the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) . All work is grounded in the promotion of ecosystem-based management. The role includes close collaboration with the rest of the Secretariat team as well as CCB member organisations to deliver policy initiatives, advocacy actions, and strategic programme objectives. The Marine Policy Officer will also support the International Secretariat in fundraising, with a focus on the EU LIFE operational grant application. Key Responsibilities Policy & Advocacy Support the implementation of CCB’s strategic plan on marine biodiversity policy. Contribute to marine policy advocacy at EU and at Baltic Sea regional levels (e.g. HELCOM, EU Commission expert groups). Provide input to the implementation and revision of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Collect evidence and views to provide NGO inputs to the forthcoming EU Ocean Act and related initiatives. Support the implementation of the Helsinki Convention and Baltic Sea Action Plan. Engage in the revision processes related to the Marine Spatial Planning Directive (MSPD). Programme & Grant Delivery Provide critical support in fundraising, i.e. project proposal development, especially for securing core grant funding (e.g. for the EU LIFE Programme and potentially Horizon programme). Contribute to CCB´s project management, implementation and reporting activities for various projects. Coordination & Monitoring Closely coordinate marine biodiversity policy work with CCB member organisations. Monitor global, EU, and regional marine policy developments. Liaise with partner NGOs and civil society organisations. Communications & Policy Products Draft position papers, policy briefings, consultation inputs and technical reports on relevant files. Support communications and outreach on marine policy issues. Help organise workshops, conferences, and stakeholder events. Represent CCB in policy dialogues, expert groups, and stakeholder forums at the EU and Baltic Sea level. Cross-organisational Support within the Secretariat and its members Contribute to other CCB thematic working areas as required. Profile We are seeking a policy professional who is: Solutions-oriented and adaptable Experienced in advocacy or campaigning Collaborative and team-driven Passionate about marine conservation Organised, diplomatic, and stakeholder-confident Required Qualifications & Experience Demonstrable professional experience in marine or environmental policy. Working knowledge of key EU frameworks, particularly the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Knowledge of Helcom BSAP is an asset. Postgraduate qualification in marine science, ecology, conservation, water management, or related discipline with substantial marine focus. Eligibility to work and travel within the EU (citizenship or valid permit) with residency in Sweden. Excellent written and spoken English. CCB also welcomes applicants from broader environmental policy/law backgrounds who can demonstrate relevant knowledge. Desirable Skills Experience within the NGO or civil society sector preferred. Advocacy or campaigning experience within the EU, the Baltic Sea or international environmental policy processes. Working knowledge of a Baltic Sea region language (e.g. Swedish, Danish, Finnish, German, Polish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Estonian).

CCB´s submission to the EU Call for Evidence on the Ocean Act

By CCB • February 19, 2026
Uppsala, February 2025 - CCB supports the Ocean Pact and Ocean Act objectives for improving coherence, coordination and effectiveness of EU ocean governance. Yet, in order to achieve this, the Act has to deliver truly ecosystem-based management of our seas and make reaching Good Environmental Status, as defined in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), a cornerstone of the Act. The Ocean Act can set us on a path to recovery of the marine environment under a sustainable and just blue economy, but only if the Act includes the points outlined below and is implemented swiftly and fully.