Recommendations to the 32 BSPC resolution from WG BSPC CCB

1 Gdańsk, 15 May 2023Recommendations of the BSPC W orking Group on Climate Change and Biodiversityfor the 32nd BSPC Resolutionunanimously agreed by the BSPC WG CCB in Gdańsk on 15 May 2023to be included in theConference ResolutionAdopted by the 3 2nd Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC)The participants, elected representatives from the Baltic Sea Region States of Denmark,Estonia, Finland , Germany , Iceland , Latvia , Lithuania , Norway, Poland, and Sweden ,assembling in Berlin on 29 August 2023---call on the Governments in the Baltic Sea Region, the CBSS and the EU,---Regarding mitigation of climate change, preserving biodiversity and adapting toclimate change to:2 Climate Change1. increase the efforts and speed to implement ambitious national climatetargets and adapted extensions – corresponding to the current scientificand measurement results – in line with the Paris Agreement's goal oflimiting the increase in the global average temperature to well below2 degrees Celsius above pre -industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limitthe temperature increase to 1,5 degrees Celsius above those ;2. strengthen regional collaboration and information exchange among thedemocratic Baltic Sea countries and the Arctic to intensify joint strategiesand policies addressing climate change and regularly adapt them to thenewest research results ;3. urge at every opportunity the world's three largest CO 2 emitters, whichcurrently account for more than 50 % of global CO2 emissions, to step uptheir efforts to achieve ambitious climate targets ;4. incentivise renewable energy development by shortening the permittingprocess for wind, solar, other clean and stable energy sources ;5. taking into account the risks connected with the increasing dependence ofthe European market on the suppliers of rare metals and other rawmaterials;6. increase the speed in i mplementing national strategies for transitioningaway from fossil fuels and towards low -carbon energy systems, includingphasing out coal -fired power plants ;7. acknowled ging the different energy strategies and focuses in differentstates to reach th ese goals ;8. increase the focus on the communal and regional levels on implementingadequate climate change measures and to raise awareness in theresponsible administrations ;9. implement coastal management plans to protect and restore coastalecosystems, which can act as carbon sinks and buffer zones against sea -level rise ;10. support increased research and innovation in climate change mitigationand adaptation technologies, encour aging collaboration between academicinstitutions, industries, and governments ;3 11. develop incentives and support for integrating climate change educationand awareness -raising program mes into curricula, public campaigns, andprofessional development program mes;12. foster cross -border cooperation on regional climate initiatives, engagingneighbouring countries and international organisations in joint efforts toaddress climate change in the Baltic Sea region ;13. convene annual Baltic Sea Climate and Biodiversity Summits to raise publicawareness, track progress, share best practices, and refine regionalstrategies to accelerate increased climate action and adaptation ;Biodiversity14. make every effort to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 whileensuring inclusive, socially and environmentally sustainable economicgrowth and development as well as energy security and contribute tomaking the democratic Baltic Sea Region as much as possible a macro -regional best practice example in this regard for the world ;15. fully implement as fast as possible the Kunming -Montreal GlobalBiodiversity Framework (GBF) adopted at the 15th Conference of theParties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD -COP15) on 15December 2022 with its mission to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by2030 , adapt the existing national and Baltic Sea broad strategies andprogrammes and to cooperate intensively among the democratic Baltic SeaStates to realise a swift and effective implementation of the GBF so thatthe Baltic Sea region becomes a global best practice example inimplementing the Global Biodiversity Framework ;16. contribute to the rapid entry into force of the landmark internationallegally binding instrument on the conservation and sustainable use ofmarine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ)from 4 March 2023 and use its tools and possibilities in intensivecooperation within the CBSS and HELCOM to reach the goals mentionedabove ;17. expand the existing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) network and improvecooperation and transboundary management between marine protectedareas in the Baltic Sea to ensure proper enforcement to protect vulnerablehabitats and species;18. consider an ecosystem -based management approach when revising andadapting action plans and strategies to achieve these goals andimplementing these measures. This means management that considers thewhole ecosystem and all human activities, which is aware of andincorporates all pressures and interactions and aims to protect, restore, orenhance the resilience and sustainability of the aquatic ecosystem to4 ensure the sustainable provision of ecosystem services and maintain thebiodiversity ;19. establish and enforce recognisable, legally binding sustainable fishingquotas in the Baltic Sea Region with diversification for species, includingregulations on fishing nets or other methods, ensuring that fish stocksremain healthy and sustainable in the long term. All actions should bebased on respecte d, up -to-date research ;20. further commit to protecting biodiversity and increasing carbonsequestration and natural storage with common and national policies for:a. conservation of carbon -rich ecosystems such as forest s, wetlands ,and nat ural rivers ;b. continuation of sustainable forest management ;21. develop and execute plans to enhance the resilience of the Baltic Seaecosystem to climate change, including protecting coastal habitats andrestoring wetlands ;22. reverse land degradation by 2030, and promote sustainable forestmanagement given their importance for climate and biodiversity ;23. significantly increase efforts to fundamentally improve nutrientmanagement in agriculture, industry , and wastewater treatment plants toreduce nutrient runoff into the Baltic Sea, which contributes toeutrophication and biodiversity loss ;24. ensure a quick and strict implementation of the updated Baltic Sea ActionPlan and its associated action documents within the agreed timelines toachieve a good ecological status of the Baltic Sea by the end of the decadeand consider as far as possible implementing further measures from thepolicy -relevant suggestions for various policy areas in the HELCOM 2021Climate Change in the Baltic Sea Fact Sheet to reach this goal ;25. develop and adopt regional strategies to deal with transboundaryemergencies caused by climate change and pollution, including forest fires,eutrophication and the spread of pathogens. The strategies should includeresear ch into the causes of such emergencies, cooperation between rescueservices and joint monitoring programmes that indicate the risks of suchemergencies.