The Baltic Sea

The many problems of the Baltic Sea, worst of all the eutrophication, impact the habitat types of marine environments. Habitat types are areas of land or water with certain environmental conditions and plant and animal species. Their well-being is the prerequisite for using the sea for recreation and economic purposes.

Half of the underwater habitat types of the Baltic Sea are either endangered or extremely endangered. The most endangered habitat types are close to us in the Archipelago Sea and the Gulf of Finland where the human impact on the marine habitats is the greatest.

The Baltic Sea needs help in many ways

In order to improve the conditions of the Baltic Sea, the nutrient runoffs that increase eutrophication should be further reduced.

The danger for accidents has grown in the Baltic Sea due to increased oil and chemical transports. Preventing accidents is many times easier than clearing the damages afterwards, so preventive measures should be invested in.

Persistent work has been done for the conservation of the Baltic Sea, but no part of the sea has reached a good condition.

The Baltic Sea Challenge

In 2007, the cities of Turku and Helsinki committed themselves to concrete voluntary actions for the good of coastal waters and the entire Baltic Sea; the Baltic Sea Challenge was born. The cities have committed to reducing point and diffuse sources of nutrient pollution, reducing the emissions of vessel traffic and boating, developing readiness for oil destruction measures, and increasing research, awareness and co-operation in order to improve the state of coastal waters and the entire Baltic Sea.

In addition to the cities’ own measures, other operators have also been challenged to participate. So far, over two hundred organizations, such as municipalities, companies, societies, academies, universities, regional operators and state institutions from Finland and other Baltic Sea countries, have accepted the Baltic Sea Challenge.

The Baltic Sea Challenge is not yet complete, come with us!

Turku and UBC

Union of the Baltic Cities is a network of cities in the Northern Europe with over 100 cities around the Baltic Sea, including Turku. The aim of the union is to maintain and develop safe and smart Baltic Sea region cities based on sustainable development through networks, development initiatives, and sharing of know-how. Turku is actively participating in the UBC environment and youth activities, among others. The secretariat of the UBC Sustainable Cities Commission is located at the Baltic Sea House in Turku, and the UBC secretariat in Gdańsk, Poland.

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Additional information about UBC