KIMO has been a long-standing observer at both OSPAR and HELCOM – regional seas conventions which are tasked with the protection of the marine environment in the North-East Atlantic and Baltic Sea regions respectively. In order to understand the role of OSPAR and HELCOM it is necessary to first understand a little history about the UN’s Regional Seas Programme
What is the Regional Seas Programme?
In 1974, the UNEP launched the Regional Seas Programme to encourage countries who share a common body of water to work together in order to protect their shared marine environment. The Regional Seas Programmes are essentially the means by which the resolutions of the United Nations Environment Assembly are implemented at regional level. Today, there are more than 13 Regional Seas Conventions established by the UNEP – 143 countries participate in them.
The member governments of each Regional Seas Programme create an Action Plan which outlines the region’s strategy and the concrete actions the region needs to take based on its particular environmental challenges.
Most Regional Seas Programmes have gone a step further by adopting legally binding conventions. These Regional Seas Conventions are a statement of political will and a binding commitment from member governments (usually called ‘Contracting Parties’) to undertake joined-up, coordinated action against the common environmental problems they face.
Since KIMO has a voice at two of these Regional Seas Conventions (i.e. OSPAR and HELCOM), we are able to push for changes in regional policy or actions; changes which are in the best interests of our member municipalities and the coastal communities which they comprise. The end result: cleaner seas for all.
The latest chapter: HELCOM Ministerial Meeting, Brussels 2018
The latest HELCOM Ministerial Meeting took place in Brussels on 6 March 2018. The meeting was attended by delegations from the member governments (or ‘Contracting Parties’), including the Ministers of the Environment from Sweden, Russia, Lithuania, Poland, Latvia, Germany, Finland, Denmark and Estonia. European Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. Karmenu Vella was also present along with other high-ranking EU officials. They agreed on new commitments for the Baltic marine environment centred around the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
KIMO International president, Robert te Beest addressed the assembly, reminding them of the integral role which municipalities can and must play in creating a clean and sustainable Baltic Sea.
KIMO submitted a written statement at the meeting, together with Race for the Baltic, emphasising the importance of involving local stakeholders in order to achieve good environmental status in the Baltic Sea region. The time for local action is now as HELCOM is working with renewed vigour to implement the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) and ensure that the targets set in Agenda 2030 are met.
In the statement, KIMO and Race For The Baltic presented recommendations to HELCOM about concrete ways to support and facilitate the crucial work of municipalities . Many of the recommendations were based on feedback from KIMO’s ongoing consultations with our member municipalities. Race for the Baltic’s extensive experience in the Baltic Sea region proved invaluable as they contributed with a number of key recommendations drawing on conclusions from a pilot project they were involved in namely Baltic Sea Pioneers for better Pollution Monitoring and Reporting. We look forward to further collaboration with Race for the Baltic in the future.
While the environmental goals for the Baltic Sea have been set, much work remains to put them into practice.
Take a look at the full list of the recommendations presented to HELCOM.