Letter from NGOs and scientists calls for Baltic Sea Ministers political commitment to take action for the Baltic Sea

CCB • September 1, 2021

Over the last year, HELCOM Contracting Parties have intensively revised the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) set to be adopted by all Baltic Sea countries and the European Union on 20 October 2021 with the goal to reach a healthy Baltic Sea. Despite this revision, NGOs and scientists note a worrying lack of ambition and commitment of the HELCOM Contracting Parties as actions fall short and target years are pushed back. The message from scientists is clear; with accelerated climate change and loss of biodiversity, we are at an environmental tipping point which will have social and economic repercussions for generations to come.

The conclusions of the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report show that we need to intensify our efforts to minimize human-induced eutrophication, protect and restore Baltic Sea habitats, and adapt the future climate scenarios which will heavily influence the state of the Baltic Sea in the future. In order for the Baltic Sea environment to improve, concrete political targets need to be set that significantly reduce the cumulative, negative impacts from human activities and support the development of a minimal impact, climate-resilient and zero-carbon world.


Ahead of the next HELCOM Heads of Delegation meeting in September, Coalition Clean Baltic along with WWF BEP and 30 scientists have sent a letter asking the Contracting Parties to agree on a 2021 HELCOM BSAP and Ministerial Statement that sets the political ambition required for the coming 9 years.

Read the letter here.

Fisheries Ministers Risk Breaking EU Law, Jeopardising Baltic Sea Recovery

By CCB • October 28, 2025
EU Council decision on 2026 fishing limits fails to implement legally required safeguards, jeopardising the fragile marine ecosystem

Petition launched to stop new oil and gas drilling in the Baltic Sea

By CCB • October 3, 2025
3 October 2025 - Coalition Clean Baltic, together with its Member Organization BUND - Friends of the Earth Germany and the citizens’ initiative “ Lebensraum Vorpommern ”, have launched a petition to stop new oil and gas drilling projects in the Baltic Sea . The petition comes in response to plans to exploit a deposit just 6 km offshore Świnoujście , Poland, in the transboundary waters of the Oder Estuary and Pomeranian Bay. The planned site lies at the heart of NATURA 2000 protected areas , which are vital for biodiversity, climate action, and local communities. Oil and gas extraction in the Baltic Sea poses severe threats to its fragile ecosystems. Industrial activities such as drilling, pipeline construction, and ship traffic risk polluting the water with chemicals, oil leaks, and toxic waste. Underwater noise from pile driving and increased traffic would further degrade marine habitats. These pressures add to the already critical challenges faced by the Baltic Sea, including biodiversity loss, eutrophication, and the accelerating impacts of climate change. The consequences extend far beyond nature. Local communities rely on a clean and healthy Baltic for tourism, fishing, and quality of life. Expanding fossil fuel infrastructure would also undermine Europe’s climate commitments and lock in carbon emissions for decades to come. The petition calls on the Ministry of Climate and Environment of Poland, the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM), the European Commission, and the Secretariat of the Espoo Convention to : Stop the plans for oil and gas extraction in the Oder Estuary and the Pomeranian Bay; Ban any new oil and gas extraction across the Baltic Sea; Ensure strong cross-border cooperation and communication amongst all involved states. The petition is open through the WeMove Europe´s platform and can be signed here .