We cannot do it alone - How to save the sea on shores across borders - An International Day

Transcription

1 We cannot do it alone - How to save the sea on shores across borders - An International Day Tuesday, 1st July 2014 Visby, Gotland, Sweden Baltic Sea Week Venue: Uppsala University, Campus Gotland, Almedalen Library Cramérgatan 5. Hörsal E 22 Many of the challenges related to sustainability worldwide are also prevalent in the Baltic Sea Region and that these include eutrophication, littering, climate change and unsustainable use of natural resources and energy. Meeting these challenges we cannot do alone. The intergovernmental organization Council of the Baltic Sea States, CBSS under its incoming Estonian Presidency arranges the event International Day as an integrated part of Baltic Sea Week, initiated by Forum Östersjön and Uppsala University/ Campus Gotland. This one day event will raise awareness on the environmental status of the Baltic Sea as well as show-casing and discussing cross-border cooperation to save the Baltic Sea waters while ensuring prosperous economies and promoting sustainable development on land. The EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and its Horizontal Action sustainable development provides a supportive framework to foster cooperation among all countries in the Baltic Sea Region to save our common sea and build resilient societies of the future. In this respect this event will highlight some of the main policy actions at present and discuss the added value of cross-border cooperation in transforming the Baltic Sea region into a competitive, low-carbon economy while ensuring sustainable development and inclusive growth. 09:00-10:00 - Opening session Welcoming participants and introduction of the day Moderation: Maxi Nachtigall, Adviser Sustainable development, Council of the Baltic Sea States, CBSS Key note: The Baltic Sea an environmental status report, Jenny Hedman, Swedish EPA Allan Larsson, Forum Östersjön Elena Basile, Italian Ambassador to Sweden; Italian EU presidency 2014 an outlook Lowri Evans, European Commission, Director General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) Meelis Münt, Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of the Environment, Estonian CBSS Presidency an outlook Ewa Dębska, Deputy Director European Policy Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Poland, Poland and Baltic Sea Cooperation

2 10:10-11:10 Council of the Baltic Sea States CBSS-Baltic21 THE BUSINESS IN BEING SUSTAINABLE The use of the term sustainability calls us not to take more from nature than we can give back. Now more than ever we have to develop just solutions to make economic life more socially just and environmentally responsible and less destructive to nature and the commons that sustain us. The business implications of sustainability merit great scrutiny. How are sustainable business models created? How to invest in nature to sustain future economies and ensure resilient societies and how can the private sector be part of this equation? Together with public and private actors from different countries in the Baltic Sea Region we will discuss good solutions on how to create a vision for a more sustainable society. We will showcase how - To raise awareness, engage and create competence in sustainable development among all kinds of actors - Regions and municipalities can take an active and long-term approach in applying sustainable development in the strategic planning and development of its society. And we will illustrate the potential of a modern sales and production companies to be viable and profitable and at the same time to care for people and the environment. Moderation: Ms Barbara Jackson, Baltic Sea Programme Director, Zennström Philanthropies Panelists Carina Aaltonen, Minister of Health & Environment, The Government of Åland Karin Schulz, Secretary General, The natural step, Sweden, Carina Roos, R & D Manager Polarbröd Sweden Leo Padazakos, CEO, Nordic Lokalkapital Gunilla Nordlöf, Director General, Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth

3 SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION BLUE AND GREEN ECONOMY CONSISTENT APPROACHES TO INNOVATION AND INCREASED SUSTAINABILITY? Council of the Baltic Sea States CBSS-Baltic21 The seminar will discuss the role of innovations in developing the BSR s economy away from a traditional high-footprint industrial focus towards a sustainable blue and green economy. There are good opportunities for the BSR to become a globally leading innovation player based on the European agendas of blue and green economy. This will make the BSR attractive as a partner for cooperation with other strong innovative regions in the world and it will support companies in the BSR to increase their global competitiveness. For SMEs in particular, BSR as a home market will be an important step in becoming active on the global market. To draw the full benefits from the regions innovation potential, a more coherent approach is needed, based on cooperation and trust. The session will launch the 'Economics of the Oceans' report, present and critically discuss other strategies and concepts to boost the green and blue economy agenda for the Baltic Sea Region. Moderation: Ellen Bruno, Marine Policy Officer Swedish Society for Nature Conservation Comments by Jörgen Andersson, Åre Lokal Kapital Presentation of the report: Economics of the Oceans, by Catarina Hedar Presentation of Future Water Concept, Östen Ekengren Presentation of the Submarine Network, European Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG), by Joanna Przedrzymirska Speakers & Panelists Östen Ekengren, Executive Vice President, IVL Catarina Hedar, Senior Specalist, SwaM Jörgen Andersson, CEO Åre Lokal Kapital Joanna Przedrzymirska, Head of project management center, The Maritime Institute Gdansk LUNCH BREAK

4 Swedish Institute, Baltic Sea Unit BOTTOM-UP ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATION A DRIVER FOR POLITICAL INTEGRATION? Decision makers wait for consensus in COP 23 before taking necessary action on climate change. Yet, the local transition has already started. How can decision makers commit and support international cooperation and local initiatives in order to build sustainability and political integration today? In a changing environmental and political atmosphere, bottom-up P2P contacts are increasingly important as drivers of change. European and international strategies for sustainability and political integration will not be as effective if not supported and embraced by the local communities. Urban gardens, farmer s markets, soup kitchens and cycle rallies are nothing but a playground for a few idealists if not supported and embraced by the decision makers. Can top down and bottom up be bridged? How can ambitious policy and local action reinforce each other to create momentum for a sustainable transition? How does the current political situation in Europe affect the networks of communities working to solve the common environmental challenges? In this situation, how do we intensify our efforts to create trans-boundary cooperation? Who are the key stakeholders to work with? Can environmental cooperation build integration? Moderation: David Isaksson, CEO/ Founder Global reporting Panelists Jan Lundin, Director General Council of the Baltic Sea States Secretariat Annika Rembe, Director General, Swedish Institute Anastasiia Klonova, Project Manager, Association Norden Jeppe Læssøe, Professor, Aarhus University Emilia Rekestad, Project Coordinator, REALS project

5 THE SEA AS A RESOURCE PROTECT IT AND USE IT RESPONSIBLY The Baltic Sea is our common resource and therefore we have to protect it and use it responsibly. The session will discuss the overall environmental status of the Baltic Sea and overall measures like marine spatial planning in order to form a base for sustainable blue growth. Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (SWaMs) The session will highlight the environmental status of the Baltic Sea and discuss specific challenges like ghost nets and hazardous substances. Furthermore, the seminar will highlight action on joint transnational maritime spatial planning. The main aim of the seminar is to create awareness among the Swedish audience, politicians and the international representatives about the Swedish MSP process, the Swedish status report and highlight the great need for trans-boundary perspective and the need for broad sector integration as well as horizontal and vertical governess collaboration. Sweden has to adhere to and relate to all the Baltic States in the MSP work. To make the ecosystem approached valuable for MSP in Baltic we need to have a common perspective not only on the environment but also about the potential development and how that can be achieved in a sustainable way. Moderation: Anders Carlberg, Maritime Expert, Västra Götalandsregionen Speakers & Panelists Thomas Johansson, Head of Unit, SWaM Talis Linkaits, Head of VASAB Secretariat Tomas Andersson, Senior Analyst, Marine Spatial Planning and Maritime Issues, SWaM Joanna Przedrzymirska, Head of project management center, The Maritime Institute, Gdansk Jens Holm Swedish MP (V) Mattias Rust, Expert Oil Shipping Maritime Spatial Planning, WWF

6 Baltic Sea Action Group Today s topics a mini panel discussion Summing up International Day External expert panel reflecting and concluding on the topics and outcomes of the day for Baltic Sea Week Studentcentrum Campus Gotland Council of the Baltic Sea States CBSS-Baltic21 RECEPTION International Day ends with mingle, drinks and snacks, also accompanied by music performances from the Baltic Sea region and film sequences from a movie on the protection of the Baltic Sea. Welcome are all those who have been involved in making International Day a successful part of Baltic Sea Week in Almedalen Movie(s) by Swedish reporter, director and producer Folke Rydén