Thoreson presentation at 27 BSP

Slide 1:Baltic Sea Scorecard and the need for stringent actionOttilia Thoreson, DirectorWWF Baltic Ecoregion ProgrammeBaltic Sea Parliamentary ConferenceThe Baltic Sea – Our LifelineMariehamn, Åland27 August 2018Slide 2:WWF Baltic Ecoregion ProgrammeWWF DenmarkWWF FinlandWWF GermanyWWF PolandWWF RussiaWWF SwedenBaltic Fund for Nature (Russia)Estonian Fund for NatureLithuanian Fund for NaturePasaules Dabas Fonds (Latvia)Slide 3:Series of Scorecardsassessing the progress against the BSAP commitmentsSlide 4:Baltic Sea Action Plan Scorecard 2018Key areas assessed:EutrophicationHazardous SubstancesBiodiversityMaritime ActivitiesDelivery towards a Sustainable Blue EconomyAre political commitments being met?Actions achieved since previous 2013 ScorecardSlide 5:Methodology of ScorecardResults are based on HELCOM Explorer database – accuracy is limited to the quality of countries’ reportingScoring is divided according to action deadlinesChallenging to track progress – actions have changed, been split into new actions or combined with little explanation as to whySlide 6:Summary of Scorecard resultsAll countries are lagging behind on their commitments!Slide 7:HELCOM Explorer –assessment of delivering to the BSAPThere are 103 actions in the HELCOM Explorer database that have passed their deadline:Slide 8:WWF Principles for a Sustainable Blue EconomyEUTROPHICATIONAcheive national nutrient reduction targetsSlide 9:HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCESMeasures for ranges of unaddressed contaminantsSlide 10:BIODIVERSITYReverse trend in biodiversity & overall food webSlide 11:MARITIME ACTIVITIESAddress threat from alien species & underwater noiseSlide 12:WWF Principles for a Sustainable Blue EconomyProvides a scientifically based definition of a Sustainable Blue EconomyStarts from the understanding that no economy can sustain itself when its natural resource base is systematically being degradedAims governance and action toward a Blue Economy based on renewable energy and circular material flows that maintains or restores ecosystem healthSlide 13:Progress against Sustainable Blue EconomySlide 14:Recommendations – approaching the BSAP goal line 2021Report promptly on progress of actionsFuture reform and regional drivers allow for specialised requirementsLeadership for delivery of Sustainable Blue EconomyCountries must commit increased financingSlide 15:Thank you for listening www.panda.org/balticSlide 16:Thinking beyond 2021 – to address Baltic Sea challengesRevamp the BSAP to meet the challenges with global changeDemonstrate model to achieving a Sustainable Blue EconomyHELCOM become a flagship for the implementation of the SDGs