День Балтийского моря/Baltic Sea Day

2021 (English version)

 XXI International Environmental Forum "Baltic Sea Day"

Dates - 23-24 of March 2021

Place: Russia, Saint-Petersburg, EXPOFORUM Convention-and-exhibition centre

Presentations, video and photo

 

During two days, March 23-24, 2021, within the framework of the XXI International Environmental Forum "Baltic Sea Day" at the Expoforum Exhibition and Convention Center events were held. Representatives of authorities at various levels, scientists, experts and representatives of foreign countries discussed topical current issues of updating the Baltic Sea Action Plan and revising its goals until 2030, as well as project activities in the Baltic region, including the programs of cross-border cooperation and the INTERREG Baltic Sea Region Program.

The Forum was held in a hybrid format, expanding the audience of participants by providing the facility to connect foreign speakers and listeners, as well as online broadcast live.

In just two days of the Forum, its events were attended by about 400 people, including representatives of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation, the Committee for Nature Management, Environmental Protection and Environmental Safety of St. Petersburg, Company EKAT-Kaliningrad, SUE Vodokanal St. Petersburg, the Department of Roshydromet for the Northwestern Federal District, the Committee for Natural Resources of the Leningrad Region, Neva – Ladoga Water Basin Administration of Federal Water Resources Agency, the North-West Territorial Administration of the Federal Agency for Fishery, research and educational institutions, public organizations and business representatives. Among the foreign participants on-line were representatives of all countries of the Baltic Sea region, as well as Austria, Belarus, China, Norway, etc.

At the opening of the Baltic Sea Day Forum Deputy Head of the Committee for Nature Use, Environmental Protection and Ecological Safety of St. Petersburg Mr. Ivan Serebritsky addressed the Forum participants on behalf of the Head of the Committee with a welcoming speech and highlighted: “Traditionally, the Forum brings together scientists, representatives of government and business, public organizations and everyone who understands their responsibility to future generations for preservation of the unique ecosystem of the Baltic Sea. The Forum will contribute to the strengthening of international cooperation in the environmental sphere and the solution of environmental problems in the Baltic Sea”.

The panel discussion, as part of the plenary session on 23 March, was attended by: Ms. Lilian Busse - HELCOM Chairman (Germany), Dr. Jacob Hagberg - Head of the Swedish delegation to HELCOM (Swedish Ministry of the Environment), Ms. Ottilia Toresson - Head of the Baltic Sea Region Program of the WWF, Ms. Natalia Tretyakova - Head of the Russian delegation to HELCOM (Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia), regional representatives of the authorities: Mr. Alexander Kuchaev - Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Environmental Management of St. Petersburg, Mr. Boris Komovnikov - Director of the State Autonomous Institution "EKAT-Kaliningrad". The speakers presented their views on the implementation of the HELCOM Action Plan, on the activities that are being implemented and planned in terms of preserving the marine environment of the Baltic Sea region. Ms. Lilian Busse - HELCOM Chairman emphasized that some progress has already been made in achieving the targets for the implementation of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan. “Thus, 13% of the Baltic Sea is under protection, it was also possible to reduce the content of harmful substances in the water area, and raise awareness of the environmental problems of the Baltic. In addition, it is necessary to use models that would allow tracking the problem of eutrophication in the Baltic Sea. There is still a lot of work to be done”concluded Ms. Liliane Busse.

Round tables and expert seminars were devoted to various issues relevant to the region, including the Baltic Sea and Climate Change Mitigation and exchanging best practices on improving climate resilience and integrated water resources management in cities (platform project BSR Water). With the support of the Baltic Industrial Symbiosis project, a round table “The Baltic Industrial Symbiosis Project for the implementation of the SDGs in the Baltic Sea Region” was held, where partners and project participants spoke about promoting the formation of industrial waste-resource chains in the Baltic Sea countries. Participants visited the first experimental shrimp farm in Russia, the production of recycled plastic benches and the Living Laboratory, which implements the ideas of upcycling and industrial symbiosis.

Moreover the following events were conducted:

- Hazardous Substances – updating HELCOM framework. Discussion of the assessment of pollution of the marine environment of the Baltic Sea, the main sources of hazardous substances, measures to prevent pollution.

- Maritime spatial planning, Морское пространственное планирование, within which presentations were made by representatives of the Far East, the Black Sea region and China.

- River Basin Management plans and BSAP targets. Effectiveness and Sufficiency of measures to reduce nutrient loads and achieve BSAP targets.

- Meeting of the Russian national subcommittee of the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme.

- Towards environmentally friendly agriculture.

- Russian-Swedish Working group on Water Resources and Marine Environment meeting.

 

Smart water management: regional strategies, best practices and expertise exchange from the BSR WATER platform was dedicated to an important practical tool - the Water HUB where solutions and recommendations for the effective management of water resources from the entire Baltic Sea region are collected, and the Russian Federation also contributed.

 

The results of the work were presented at an Open Meeting of the Organizing Committee, going to be included in the Thesis Collection of Forum materials, and will also be presented at the meetings of the HELCOM working groups. Briefly about the main items:

- It is necessary to systematically include the factors of climate resilience in the programs, plans and measures of HELCOM

- The importance of the new roadmap for the maritime spatial planning of the Baltic region was noted, including the climate resilience aspects

- Work within the framework of the Helsinki Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Region should be improved to meet current challenges

- Considered the possibility of harmonizing European and Russian environmental standards for hazardous substances and related waste

- It is important to use design capabilities to identify hazardous substances and define methods for dealing with hazardous substances pollution

- The BIS (Baltic Industrial Symbiosis) project is being implemented entirely in line with the circular economy and highlights leading examples of Russian innovations.

 

Technical aspects

The Forum's events were broadcast online, and as a result of all 13 events, the number of views amounted to more than 2,200 (950 of which were views of the English version of the video) and continues to grow, which indicates interest in the event after its completion. Most views - Plenary session (465 views). Most popular broadcasts:

1. Hazardous Substances – updating HELCOM framework

2. Increasing resilience of the Baltic Sea to climate change

3. Seminar “Smart water management: regional strategies, best practices and expertise exchange from the BSR WATER platform”

 

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Министерство природных ресурсов и экологии Российской Федерации Helsinki Commission