HELCOM: New nutrient reduction targets confirm Baltic Sea Action Plan approach

by Monika Stankiewicz, HELCOM Executive Secretary. Photo: HELCOM

At the recent HELCOM Ministerial Meeting held in Copenhagen on 3 October, the Baltic Sea countries agreed on the new targets for reducing nutrients pollution as part of their efforts to fight eutrophication of the marine environment and follow up on the commitments of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP).

The meeting finalised a long process, lasting a number of years, with the aim of refining the scientific basis of the original nutrient reduction scheme that was adopted in 2007. Around 118,130 tonnes of nitrogen and 15,180 tonnes of phosphorus have to be cut annually to leave the sea unaffected by eutrophication, by 13% and 41%, respectively, compared to the reference levels from 1997–2003. Given the scale of improvements and changes made to the scheme, these figures are surprisingly close to the original amounts agreed in the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP), which confirms the soundness of the approach.

Defining the national targets has been based on the polluter-pays-principle and the idea to follow a similar level of ambition, irrespective of the source of pollution. The reductions have been shared among the HELCOM countries and, in addition, certain shares have been allocated to other countries in and outside the catchment area of the Baltic Sea, as well as shipping.

For example, it is expected that 3,230 tonnes of nitrogen and 800 tonnes of phosphorus reaching the sea through transboundary rivers could be reduced from Belarus and Ukraine alone. Cooperation with these and other countries needs to be intensified. Thus, the HELCOM Contracting Parties have agreed to initiate joint activities and projects, as well as use the existing mechanisms and international agreements to address pollution in non-contracting parties.

An encouraging fact is that the overall loading of nutrients in the sea has decreased since the BSAP baseline—by about 10% for both nutrients. From a longer time perspective, since 1994, the reductions have been even larger—loading of nitrogen and phosphorus in the Baltic Sea has been cut by 16% and 18%, respectively. However, when looking at sub-basins with reduction requirements and country levels, the picture is less clear as pollution loads have even increased in some cases. Further, the updated assessment of eutrophication of the Baltic Sea in 2007–2011 indicates that nearly the entire sea area is still affected by eutrophication.

Therefore, the agreed reduction targets are a matter of the utmost importance; if met, significant improvement in the sea’s environmental status will show rapidly, even if we have to wait longer for the full effects to become visible.

Read more on the reduction targets in the Summary report on the development of revised Maximum Allowable Inputs and updated Country Allocated Reduction Targets of the Baltic Sea Action Plan here.