The resolution is a result of this year's gathering of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC), a network of parliamentarians from the Baltic Sea countries, now excluding Russia. The BSPC has existed since 1991 and was established to promote dialogue and exchange between the countries. The network has a board and working groups, including one focusing on climate and biodiversity. The rotating presidency is now held by Germany, hence, this year's conference took place in Berlin, in the splendid plenary hall of the Bundestag, the German parliament.

The conference addressed broad sustainability issues such as democracy, security and gender equality, but also focused on resilience in the marine ecosystem. It emphasised the importance of implementing the Paris Climate Agreement and that the role of coastal environments to function as carbon sinks is essential for climate mitigation. The discussion also covered the need to strengthen resilience of  coastal areas and the open sea, protection of more marine areas and the reduction of fishing quotas to at least the level recommended by science. 

Christoph Humborg stressed the importance of sticking to the Baltic Sea Action Plan. Photo: Private

Professor Christoph Humborg, Scientific Director of the Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre, was one of the invited keynote speakers at the conference, presenting the state of the Baltic Sea and the measures needed to improve it. He stressed the importance of the coastal areas in climate change, the need for a fishing moratorium on several stocks, such as herring, and that eutrophication must be resolved if other ecosystem goals are to be achieved. 

"We must continue working according to the Baltic Sea Action Plan to create the conditions for the Baltic Sea to function as a climate sink. Because it is in the climate matter that the great national economic values of the Baltic Sea are found, not in fisheries", Christoph Humborg emphasised.

After the presentation, there were good opportunities to continue discussing environmental issues with the delegates.

"Parliamentarians from several countries came forward and emphasised the importance of the upcoming EU decision on fishing quotas to be radical enough, a fishing ban would be preferred", says Christoph Humborg.

The BSPC network provides participants with both knowledge and ideas on how to push for issues. As the bullet points in the resolution are general, BSPC members need to bring these issues home and ensure that their own parties push the same line at national level. It remains to be seen what becomes of this good intention. 

"The meeting with the parliamentarians was encouraging”, says Christoph Humborg. ”The commitment to the Baltic Sea environment is there. Now it must be transformed into action.”