The Baltic Sea: A Report on Conservation Efforts
The Baltic Sea is one of the busiest sea areas on our planet. About 90 million people live within its drainage basin, and the working pressure on the sea is immense. It also happens to be one of the most polluted seas in the world. National and international conservation work has been carried out for decades, but substantial pollution from past decades is still evident. The Baltic Sea is especially threatened by nutrient pollution from human activities, climate change, harmful substances, and global biodiversity loss.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Goal 14: Life Below Water
- Goal 15: Life on Land
It is clear that long-term conservation work must continue. Turku and Helsinki are leading the way by, among other things, investing in effective wastewater treatment measures that have significantly reduced waterway phosphorus levels, a top cause of eutrophication. Both cities also prioritize their responsibility for the protection of their waterways in their city strategy.
City Strategies
- Turku’s Strategy: Preserving the Vast Archipelago
- Helsinki’s Strategy: Protecting the Maritime Environment
“The sea, the maritime environment, and our proximity to the sea are important to both residents and tourists. Being close to the sea makes our cities nice places to live and creates opportunities for the event and tourism sector. Our use of the sea must nevertheless be carried out in a sustainable manner. The City of Turku is nestled in a vast archipelago and therefore has a special responsibility and means to preserve this unique natural environment,” said Minna Arve, Mayor of Turku.
“Cities can actually do quite a lot to protect the Baltic Sea. For example, city planning can influence land use and construction projects. We can also affect the well-being of our nature and forest areas and thus support biodiversity. We can also encourage the formation of residents’ Baltic Sea identity and emphasize the importance of a healthy sea for all of us,” said Mayor of Helsinki Juhana Vartiainen.
Photo: Mika Ruusunen
New Plan Result of Widespread Collaboration
Helsinki and Turku founded the Baltic Sea Challenge in 2007. The cities committed themselves to pursuing concrete protection measures that exceeded the minimum requirements of Finnish legislation as well as challenging other actors to join the network. In the previous policy period, the cities of Helsinki and Turku succeeded in implementing the appointed measures successfully, improving the overall health of the Baltic Sea. Many of the activities that were found to be functional and effective have remained a permanent part of normal municipal operations.
Conservation work is not just an ecological issue; it has a far-reaching effect on our economy, culture, and individual well-being.
The new Joint Baltic Sea Action Plan of the Cities of Helsinki and Turku is the fourth of its kind. The latest iteration was launched at the annual Baltic Sea Challenge seminar, held at Helsinki City Hall on Thursday, 25 January 2024. The new Action Plan has been co-created as the result of widespread collaboration from an even wider network of participants. Residents of both cities, municipal employees from different administrative divisions, and representatives from organizations, learning institutions, and research institutes were invited.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
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SDG 14: Life Below Water
- Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.
- Indicator: Nutrient pollution from human activities, harmful substances, and global biodiversity loss in the Baltic Sea.
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SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
- Indicator: Effective wastewater treatment measures in Turku and Helsinki that have significantly reduced waterway phosphorus levels, a top cause of eutrophication.
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SDG 15: Life on Land
- Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity, and protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.
- Indicator: Preserving biodiversity as one of the main objectives of the Baltic Sea Challenge’s new Action Plan for 2024–2028.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 14: Life Below Water | Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution. | Nutrient pollution from human activities, harmful substances, and global biodiversity loss in the Baltic Sea. |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management. | Effective wastewater treatment measures in Turku and Helsinki that have significantly reduced waterway phosphorus levels, a top cause of eutrophication. |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity, and protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species. | Preserving biodiversity as one of the main objectives of the Baltic Sea Challenge’s new Action Plan for 2024–2028. |
Analysis
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Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDG 14: Life Below Water, SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, and SDG 15: Life on Land.
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What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
Based on the article’s content, the specific targets that can be identified are Target 14.1 under SDG 14, Target 11.6 under SDG 11, and Target 15.5 under SDG 15.
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Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These indicators include nutrient pollution from human activities, harmful substances, and global biodiversity loss in the Baltic Sea for Target 14.1 under SDG 14, effective wastewater treatment measures in Turku and Helsinki that have significantly reduced waterway phosphorus levels for Target 11.6 under SDG 11, and preserving biodiversity as one of the main objectives of the Baltic Sea Challenge’s new Action Plan for 2024–2028 for Target 15.5 under SDG 15.
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Source: turku.fi
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