ACTION FOR A HEALTHIER SEA!

– Cities for a Healthier Sea final seminar, 1 March, 2012, ,

Around 60 persons from Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Sweden took part in Cities for a Healthier Sea final seminar, 1 March 2012 at Forum Marinum in Turku, Finland. The objectives of the seminar were to provide information about voluntary water protection work at local level, discuss the importance of communication and sharing information. The aim was also to examine the Region through the eyes of future studies and talk about the political development that can be expected in the Region.

Cities, municipalities and other local actors have a major influence on the sea through activities such as wastewater discharges, traffic, agriculture, and land use. In addition to implementation of international water protection agreements, voluntary commitments to improving the state of the Baltic Sea such as the Baltic Sea Challenge, further highlights the importance of local actors.

The seminar was the final event of the EU-funded project Cities for a Healthier Sea which started in 2010 for the purpose of more internationalizing the Baltic Sea Challenge and spreading it to other Baltic Sea countries – namely Estonia, Latvia and Sweden. The main target groups were local actors, civil servants, environmental specialists and decision makers in water utilities, cities and rural municipalities, city organisations and associations of local governments in the Baltic Sea Region.

The seminar was divided into five sessions that includes the topics that have been handled during the whole project. The last session was a panel discussion for decision maker and experts. The day started with welcoming words by Mikko Lohikoski, director of communication and External Affairs. Päivi Kippo-Edlund, environmental protection and research from City of Environment Centre presented the Baltic Sea Challenge and opened the first session Local actors run ahead. Kippo-Edlund emphasized that cities, municipalities, and other local actors in the Baltic catchment area have a major impact on the coastal waters and the entire Baltic Sea e.g. wastewater discharges, industrial activity and agriculture. But local actors also benefit from clean coastal waters, e.g. due to increased tourism and improved business, more attractive neighborhoods, strengthened identity, and pride. Next, inspiring examples of good local practices was heard. First, Linda Grinberga from the Latvian Agricultural University gave an example from Latvia and explained how constructed wetlands can act as a natural and beneficial wastewater treatment plant. In Latvia, for wastewater treatment is mostly used biological wastewater treatment plants – aero tanks with activated sludge as main organic matter reducer. Using constructed wetlands as municipal wastewater treatment is new discipline in Latvia. Four constructed wetlands implemented in Latvia from 2003 to 2005 works properly and effectively. In drained agricultural lands constructed wetlands improves the quality of agricultural runoff. There are natural wetlands (10.4% of Latvia territory), but constructed wetlands as agricultural wastewater treatment plant is not very common. Peep Pobbul, Head of Environment Gear Division from Tallinn Environment Department talked about action plan work in Tallinn City. Tallinn City is finishing the storm water handling plan that covers storm water catchment areas together with different solution and economic analysis. Two main problems are increased flooding and storm pollutants migration to the Baltic Sea. The flooding has increased during the last 20 years by human activities e.g. poor condition of ditches and mismanaged systems, increasing the paved surfaces, and decreasing of the filtration area. Also many new develop areas drainage are improperly designed or constructed. Next presentation was from Keep the Archipelago Tidy Association by Aija Bäckström, Secretary General. Keep the Archipelago Tidy Association is a nationwide NGO that has over 200 waste stations for leisure boaters waste in the archipelago and which besides the concrete waste management work is active in environmental education and actively looks for environmentally friendly ways to boat and manage marinas. Bäckström talked about their daily work, what they do, how they are financed, and what kind of services they offer (waste terminals, dry toilets, wastewater pump out stations, environment-friendly harbours etc.). Andreas Hedrén, project manager from municipality of Växjö, Sweden, talked about water protection in Växjö; what they have done, what they are doing, and what they will do in the future. Hedrén talked about the history of the municipality, challenges for a waste water manager, and environmental work in the last two decades. Hedrén presented lake restoration that made central lake into attractive and useful area. Fresh water from supply lake and technical solutions for surface water helps to improve the quality of water. The session ended with a presentation by Markku Alahäme, Quality Manager in Port of Turku. Alahäme talked about environmentally differentiated harbor fee, emissions to air from ships and dredging and disposal of dredged mass. Alahäme presented new wastewater regulations to ships. IMO has approved to designate the Baltic Sea as a special area under Annex IV (sewage) of the MARPOL Convention. Any discharge of sewage into the sea from a passenger ship will not be allowed unless the ship uses an approved sewage treatment plant capable of reducing nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) in addition to the current effluent standards. Alternatively the passenger ship may discharge all sewage into port reception facilities. Application date for new passenger ships 1 January 2016, for old passenger ships 1 January 2018. Alahäme talked more about waste water management and presented some examples about challenges/obstacles related to cruise ships.

Second session, Aim is the same, the ways may differ, started after the coffee break with presentation by Maria Jokela, researcher from Finnish Institute of International Affairs. Jokela talked about different roles of Baltic Sea cities and municipalities in eutrophication prevention. Jokela’s presentation was based on key findings of the PROBALT project (Improving Societal Conditions of the Baltic Sea Protection) 2009-2011, presented in the FIIA research report: Governing the blue-green Baltic Sea – Societal challenges of marine eutrophication prevention (2011). Satu Viitasalo-Frösen, coordinator in Cities for a Healthier Sea project, presented the project and its goals and how the goals can be achieved. Viitasalo-Frösen emphasized local approach and gave few example local events organized during the project. Although cities and municipalities are necessary not so similar, there is a common goal and there is a need for cooperation to solve problems in marine environment. In the end Viitasalo-Frösen highlighted how there is a need for awareness. There is need for more events, more dialogues, more training, and exchanging of ideas. Finland, Estonia, and Latvia are unlike so different practices and methods are needed. First one must learn to know people to have fruitful cooperation.

The third session continued after lunch break around the topic awareness. Kaja , professor from institute of communication, Tallinn University opened session Awareness – a powerful tool by talking about the role of communication; how to make sense and create meanings for environmental issues. Tampere talked about who is responsible for communication and what kind of problems there is when communicating with each other. In the end of the presentation, Tampere gave some practical solutions how to improve communication. Kaupo Kikkas, a professional photographer from Studio Eestifoto presented a slideshow about using art as a way to communicate. Kikkas showed photos taken from different environment and with different kind of people and explained how important message can be delivered through photos. Kikkas have associated his two big loves in photography: nature and portraits. As a result, Kikkas showed participants unique storytelling portraits where environment meets portrait.

Fourth session dealt with investments. Olli-Pekka Mäki, Environmental planner from City of Turku started the session by presenting the storm water handling plan. The preparation of stormwater programme was one of the actions mentioned in joint action plan of Baltic Sea Challenge in Turku and Helsinki. Mäki presented background and objectives of Turku stormwater programme and gave an example of an investment plan made in Hirvensalo, Turku. Tommi Fred, director in Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority presented wastewater infrastructure investments of Helsinki region. HSY is investing for wastewater infrastructure 800 million euros during next 10 years. Massive investment are guaranteeing safe and well operating sewer and wastewater system for growing capital area. Investment for new treatment capacity reduce nutrient load to . Fred presented sewer system in metropolitan area and talked about two big investments, Viikinmäki and Blominmäki wastewater treatment plant. The last presentation of the session and the seminar was held by Ilze Purina, chair of the board, Latvian Environmental Investment Fund. Purina presented financial options for investment projects and for soft projects. Purina talked about Technical Assistance Fund (BSAP) which is jointly managed by NIB and NEFCO. Fund grants for primarily technical assistance to projects that support the implementation of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP). The aim of the fund is to restore the ecological status of the Baltic Sea. In the end, Purina showed new opportunities for financing, such as Life+ and Intelligent Energy-Europe.

Last session was panel discussion: Future is already here. The moderator of the panel was Mr. Mikael Sjövall, Communications Manager, Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO), Finland. The panel elaborated the future of the Baltic Sea, the possibilities and opportunities but also the challenges brought to us by the Baltic Sea Region. Themes included the role of local actors, people’s awareness and attitudes of private citizens and decision- makers in shaping the Baltic future. Considering the state of the marine environment, changes for the better are in progress but do take time, and people should be given hope but not empty promises. Moreover, an issue is how to keep local actors motivated to work and invest money for environmental protection, especially if the polluter is not the one who suffers from the pollutions. Overall, it is important to promote people’s awareness and have clear messages in why and how to improve the state of the Baltic Sea.

All in all, the seminar offered among other things lots of new inspiring ways to implement local voluntary water protection actions, information about awareness raising, and knowledge about investment plans. The seminar brought together actors from different fields of expertise and countries, and the role of local actors was emphasized. New ideas and different approaches were introduced, experiences shared, and information about upcoming and ongoing projects given. The seminar gave participants wide understanding about water protection issues and raised thoughts and ideas for future cooperation possibilities. The role of communication was highlighted and participants learned new tools for improving communication and making the message clearer and more visible.