Expert article 912 <strong>Baltic</strong> <strong>Rim</strong> <strong>Economies</strong>, 21.12.2011 Quarterly Review 5�2011 Words cannot save the <strong>Baltic</strong> Sea By Liisa Rohweder The need of intensifying the protection of the marine environment of the <strong>Baltic</strong> Sea and the sustainable use of its resources is a widely accepted truth. If we do not act now, we might lose the beautiful sea and its ecosystem forever. The WWF <strong>Baltic</strong> Ecoregion Programme, comprised of WWF and partner organizations in each of the 9 coastal <strong>Baltic</strong> Sea countries, has been working for decades to protect the <strong>Baltic</strong> Sea. We have stressed the need for bold, hi-level political leadership to address the many challenges facing the <strong>Baltic</strong> Sea and have thus been active in influencing a number of agreements and conventions agreed by <strong>Baltic</strong> Sea governments intended to ‘save the sea’. WWF Finland is one of the partner organizations in the <strong>Baltic</strong> Ecoregion Programme. Words and agreements, however, cannot ‘save’ the <strong>Baltic</strong> Sea without the delivery and follow-through of the promises made. In 2007 we began to evaluate the degree to which governments were delivering upon their stated commitments – in the form of ‘Scorecard’ reports. Unfortunately, one of the key conclusions from these scorecard reports was that there was a growing gap between the statements and commitments made by governments and the corresponding actions needed to actually deliver upon their promises. The latest WWF <strong>Baltic</strong> Sea Scorecard report was launched in August 2011. This report measured each of the nine coastal <strong>Baltic</strong> Sea countries’ performance in implementing some of the most important international, regional and European agreements and conventions designed to manage and protect the <strong>Baltic</strong> Sea. On the basis of commitments made in these agreements, the 2011 scorecard assessed a limited number of key indicators within five focal areas of crucial importance to the <strong>Baltic</strong> Sea and its health: Eutrophication, Hazardous Substances, the Protection of Biodiversity, Maritime Activities, and Integrated Sea Use Management – the last being a more integrated approach to planning and managing the use of the sea and its resources. These five areas are all interlinked and dependent on each other. Negative or positive trends within one area will have immediate effects on the other areas as well. Special consideration was taken to grade Russia on a similar scale, even though all agreements and policies did not apply, as Russia is not an EU Member. The Scorecard measured what each of the 9 governments actually delivered in these crucial areas and therefore how well political commitments were being met – as no agreement – no matter how ambitious – can be successful without equally ambitious delivery and implementation. The results of the analysis was expressed in 4 grade levels – from the top grade of ‘A’ to the weakest grade ‘C’ and at the bottom of the scale is an ‘F’ indicating a failing grade. The results of the 2011 Scorecard are disappointing; the total grade for the whole region is an F, indicating that governments have failed to take their responsibility in the work to improve the situation for the <strong>Baltic</strong> Sea. At the top of the scores are Germany and Sweden, both earning a C grade. All other countries received an F. Finland ranked third, followed by Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Latvia and Russia in last place. 74 The areas of most concern regarding lack of adequate follow-through by governments include Eutrophication and the Protection of Biodiversity, which unfortunately reflects well the poor situation in the <strong>Baltic</strong> Sea with yearly algal blooms and declining species and habitats. There has been some improvement when compared with earlier scorecards in the areas of Hazardous Substances, Maritime Activities and Integrated Sea Use Management, even though the overall score, for all countries together, in each of these areas is still only a C. As the Scorecard demonstrates, words and agreements cannot ‘save’ the <strong>Baltic</strong> Sea without the delivery and followthrough of the promises made. These poor grades clearly indicate that the <strong>Baltic</strong> Sea countries are still failing to deliver upon their commitments and take the actions needed to protect and restore the <strong>Baltic</strong> Sea. <strong>Baltic</strong> Sea Governments must show leadership and demonstrate their leadership and with actions, not only words. This and future Scorecards will continue to highlight the difference between commitments and delivery as the lack of action today is undermining the ambitions to save the <strong>Baltic</strong> Sea. In addition to implementing existing agreements it is also time for governments to reform policies so that they work in harmony and not at cross-purposes which is too often the case today. There is for example a need to redirect the EU Common Agricultural Policy from the current emphasis on intensification - which contributes to increased eutrophication - to instead supporting farmers to investing in sustainable agriculture which can promote biodiversity and a clean thriving rural environment. Another example is the need to reform the EU Common Fisheries Policy to stop overfishing and ensure the sustainability of fish stocks, ecosystems and fishing communities. And while government action and leadership is essential, it is not enough. It is the collective responsibility of all ‘users’ of the <strong>Baltic</strong> Sea’s resources - businesses, communities, individuals, and civil society - to come together to secure the protection and sustainable development of this region. We intend to revisit the Scorecard in the coming years in order to measure and monitor Government’s progress – and see if they are, in fact, doing what they promised. We hope that providing a picture of the current situation will help encourage countries, governments, corporations and individuals to engage in and speed up the fight to protect and restore our joint treasure – the <strong>Baltic</strong> Sea. For more information about the scorecard, please visit: http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/baltic/p ublications/?201517/WWF-<strong>Baltic</strong>-Sea-Scorecard-2011- Report or http://wwf.fi Liisa Rohweder CEO, PhD (Econ.) WWF Finland Finland � Pan-European Institute � To receive a free copy please register at www.tse.fi/pei �
Expert article 912 <strong>Baltic</strong> <strong>Rim</strong> <strong>Economies</strong>, 21.12.2011 Quarterly Review 5�2011 75 � Pan-European Institute � To receive a free copy please register at www.tse.fi/pei �
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