Panevėžys – Baltic Sea Pioneers for better nutrient monitoring and reporting, Workshop 2 – Focusing on Solutions

The total environmental pressure on the Baltic Sea marine ecosystem is dominated by land-based sources of pollution. These sources, located in the Baltic Sea catchment area, are responsible for more than 90% of the input of nutrients into the sea. Most of the hazardous substances transported to the sea via rivers or precipitating from air, are land-based in origin. While some types of marine litter originate from human activities at sea, e.g. lost fishing gear, the clear majority of the items littering the marine environment have been dumped on land and are transported to the sea via different pathways.

This workshop is the next phase of a project led by SIWI Swedish Water House (SWH), in partnership with Race for the Baltic (RFTB), called “Baltic Sea City Accelerators – Pioneers for better Pollution Monitoring and Reporting”. The project aligns with RFTB’s “Baltic Sea City Accelerator” programme (BSCA) – an open, knowledge-sharing platform, working with municipalities and partnering with stakeholders from various areas, e.g. science, business, NGOs, and solution providers to clean up the Baltic Sea.

The project was initiated as a result of the work SIWI and RFTB do together with municipalities on their local Baltic Sea Action Plans (BSAPs). We saw both a need and an opportunity for further investigation with respect to the municipalities’ monitoring and reporting of nutrient data to regional and national authorities as well as HELCOM. We also see the potential for municipalities to capture additional benefits from this work.

The is the first of three workshops. The other two will take place in Słupsk, Poland, 28 November and in Stockholm, 7 December. Please find the agendas for these two workshops under respective event.

Registration per invitation only.

Venue: Panevėžys

Programme

09.30–10.00 Registration and coffee

10.00–10.05 Welcome by Mr. Rimantas Pauža, Director of Administration, Panevėžys City Municipality

10.10–10.25 Background and Objective of the WS – the Baltic Sea Accelerators: Pioneers for better pollution monitoring and reporting Race For the Baltic
– Overall project objective and conclusions from Research Study and Workshop 1
– Workshop 2 Objective and Agenda
Ms. Lotta Samuelson, Swedish Water House (SIWI) Mr. Marc Klaus, Race for the Baltic

10.25 Tour de Table – Introduction of participants, sharing expectations of workshop and experience with working on Baltic Sea issues (water pollution, nutrient monitoring and reporting, etc)
10. 45 HELCOM Baltic Sea Action plan (BSAP) – what HELCOM is/does and why there is interest to see how municipalities and other local actors are working to help achieve the national BSAP commitments, importance and value of municipalities working on Baltic Sea issues, defined by national and HELCOM targets
Mr. Dmitry Frank-Kamenetsky, HELCOM secretary/HELCOMrepresentative in Lithuania

11.15 The Local Baltic Sea Action Plan – what are they and what is the rationale for municipalities to develop a local BSAP, within the context of BSCA
Mr. Marc Klaus, Race for the Baltic Ms. Asta Puodžiūnienė, Chief Expert of Strategy Planning, Investment and Budget Department, Panevėžys City Municipality

11.45 Lunch

12. 45 Problem Solution Workshop (moderated in local language) There are several political and practical challenges regarding closer engagement from cities/municipalities and HELCOM targets. This workshop aims to highlight the potential benefits for municipalities and to discuss ideas on how closer engagement with HELCOM goals can be achieved.

14.30 Coffee

14.45 Reporting back – Moderators of break-out groups to report on key findings in English. Discussion on main findings for solutions and future collaboration.

15.00–15.30 Wrap-up and Closing remarks
Ms. Lotta Samuelson, Swedish Water House (SIWI) Mr. Marc Klaus, Race for the Baltic

Organiser

• SIWI
• Race For The Baltic
• Panevėžys municipality