Commitments 10 Feb 2010 – Feb 2013

Commitments 10 Feb 2010 – Feb 2013 1 2 Baltic Sea Action Group BSAS PROCESS COMMITMENTS Helsinki 2010 – St. Petersburg 2013 3/12/2013 Dear friend of the Baltic Sea, Using medical terminology, the Baltic Sea shows five severe symptoms. First, the sea is obese, second, it suffers from oxygen deficiency and third, our patient shows risk prone traffic behavior. Furthermore, its bladder leaks and it uses drugs. The obesity diagnosis refers to eutrophication caused by nutrient draining from agriculture and inadequately treated wastewater. The oxygen deficiency, which is acute in the dead anoxic sea bottom areas, is the result of decades of nutrient overload and internal eutrophication processes. Increasing marine traffic poses a high risk of collisions, the most dangerous of which are potential oil and chemical spills. The leaking bladder refers to the run-off of untreated waters from urban areas. The hazardous substances problems equal intoxication. This analogy clearly illustrates the different symptoms for anyone, but it also offers a temptation to treat them separately. However, like in medicine, a holistic approach should be applied, taking into account the intertwined relationship of the symptoms. As for all life processes, the cure should involve all aspects of living and working in and on the shores of the Baltic Sea area. Only this approach leads to sustainable solutions and the diagnosis of “the patient will survive”. Most importantly, in the case of this particular patient, this means that our grandchildren will have the opportunity to enjoy a healthy Baltic Sea. The Baltic Sea Action Group has been addressing all the symptoms on different levels since its foundation in 2008. Starting in 2013, we will also begin to re-diagnose the patient. The basis for this evaluation is, e.g., that the eutrophication of the sea is seen as the outcome of a disturbed process in which the circulation of nutrients gets interrupted. If we fix the circulation, the nutrients from agricultural activities, animal manure and other sources will end up on the fields where they can stimulate the growth of crops for food production, instead of enhancing the growth of algae in the sea. Dear friend of the Baltic Sea: You have in your hands the collection of the new Commitments made to the BSAG foundation to save the Baltic Sea. This publication contains all the Commitments made since the previous edition that was published in 2010 at the Baltic Sea Action Summit in Helsinki. Since then, we have received 110 new Commitments. They deal with the above mentioned problems. When browsing through the Commitments, you will find a large variety in terms of content and means chosen by the Commitment makers. This is an important fact to acknowledge. Before solving a complex problem, several prerequisites must be fulfilled, starting from the identification of the problem to making decision makers, as well with those providing potential solutions, aware of the problem. This is the only way to solve a problem of this magnitude successfully. In conclusion, in order to reach our ultimate, common goal - a clean and healthy Baltic Sea - we need Commitments that cover the full spectrum of challenges our sea faces. Addressing them simultaneously is the path to real and sustainable solutions. Please, take a look of what others have already done and consider which competencies and resources you might have that could benefit the Baltic Sea - and your organization. Dr. Mathias Bergman Secretary General Baltic Sea Action Group Contents Contents ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 AGA AB .................................................................................................................................................................................... 9 AKKOR, Association of Peasant Farmers and Agricultural Cooperatives of Russia ................................................. 10 Arcers auto Ltd ....................................................................................................................................................................... 11 Arctia Shipping Ltd ................................................................................................................................................................ 12 atBusiness ................................................................................................................................................................................ 13 Attorneys-at-Law Juridia Ltd. ............................................................................................................................................... 14 Auramarine Ltd ....................................................................................................................................................................... 15 Biovakka Suomi Oy ................................................................................................................................................................ 16 BNL Juridiskais birojs ............................................................................................................................................................ 17 BSSSC Working Group on Maritime Policy ...................................................................................................................... 18 Business Center Papula Oy ................................................................................................................................................... 19 City of Turku ........................................................................................................................................................................... 20 Daghemmet Björnens föräldraförening rf .......................................................................................................................... 21 Dazzle Oy ................................................................................................................................................................................ 22 Document House ................................................................................................................................................................... 23 Ecompter ................................................................................................................................................................................. 24 EcoStream Oy ......................................................................................................................................................................... 25 Elena Mady .............................................................................................................................................................................. 27 Etacap Oy / SodaStream Suomi .......................................................................................................................................... 28 Eurofacts Oy ........................................................................................................................................................................... 29 European Rescue Swimmers Association .......................................................................................................................... 30 Fazer ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 31 Finlandia-talo ........................................................................................................................................................................... 32 Finnair Plc ................................................................................................................................................................................ 33 Finnish Business & Society ................................................................................................................................................... 34 Finnish Defence Forces ........................................................................................................................................................ 35 Finnish Environment Institute SYKE ................................................................................................................................ 37 Finnish Lithuanian Chamber of Commerce ...................................................................................................................... 38 Finnish Navy ........................................................................................................................................................................... 39 Gallery Park Hotel Riga Latvia ............................................................................................................................................. 40 Government of Åland ........................................................................................................................................................... 41 GREENWALK Ltd ............................................................................................................................................................... 42 GREENWALK Ltd ..............................................................................................................................................................

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