BALTIC SEAENVIRONMENT PROCEEDINGS No. 59 - Helcom

Priorities
The working strategy for reduction of pollution from diffuse sources has to be very
pragmatic, progressing from sectors, products and substances. Sectors and products
should be chosen due to high concern of diffuse inputs into the environment and
substances should be chosen due to their high environmental concern.
As far as substances are concerned, the Group should continue to work with selection
of priority substances. The ” Baltic Sea List of Priority Harmful Substances other
than nutrients for immediate action in order to reach the 50 % reduction goal by
1995” was adopted by Helcom 12. This decision could be seen as a first step and
further substances considered as candidates for further actions ought to be identified.
This work was initially carried out through the ” Working Group on Harmful
Substances “. The main task of the Group should be to set priorities for further work
using ‘the Helcom Working List of Chemicals’ as the basis for its deliberations. The
working list includes industrial chemicals as well as active ingredients in pesticides.
As that work required specific expertness, it has later on been decided that it should
be performed within TC Chem (former Working Group on Harmful Substances) with
a new status within TC Diff. Sweden acts as lead country and experts from the other
Contracting Parties have been elected.
The present priorities related to sources and products within TC Diff are
- agriculture
- forestry
- traffic
- stove/fireplaces
- mercury- and cadmium containing products
Current work programme
The activities within Helcom PITF require some inputs from our Group. In the
implementation of the Baltic Sea Environmental Action Programme, an outline for
the first phase has been presented. In this context, the key activities for non point
sources are development and implementation of policies concerning agriculture,
fertilizers and pesticides. TC Diff is of the opinion that diffuse emissions of
chemicals ought to be considered in future work.
The nitrogen load on the Baltic is of great concern and TC Diff is involved in
different activities.
Helcom 14 expressed concern with the substantial airborne inputs to the Baltic Sea of
nitrogen and TC Diff was asked to develop sector-wise reduction targets for
atmospheric emission. It is the opinion of TC Diff that the questions have to be
further clarified before specific proposals will be made. Reference was also made to
the overall reduction target of 50 %, which has been defined by Ministerial Meetings.
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