HAZGONE
Connecting upstream and downstream measures for better hazardous substances governance and policy in the Baltic Sea region
Background
There is no doubt that hazardous substances (HAZ) and micropollutants (MPs, including pharmaceutical residues and PFAS) are two sides of the same coin and represent a serious issue in the BSR. In projects, however, these topics and the related work is often divided clearly into either “upstream” (prevention, substitution, disposal of HAZ) or “downstream” (removal technologies, monitoring, analysis of MPs) solutions. This further breaks up the already scattered knowledge from projects and makes it less accessible to stakeholders.
Many of the solutions focus on single, specific issues. The interlinking of different topics would allow a more comprehensive understanding of the challenge – especially given all the training materials addressing the capacity building needs of municipalities and other target groups. These stakeholders work directly with both upstream and downstream issues and would greatly benefit from a more holistic understanding of HAZ pathways.
The platform project aims to manage the challenge of the missing institutional gap currently in the policy level, where most measures and activities are targeted solely towards downstream stakeholders and activities, missing a lot of the prevention, mitigation and consumer behaviour changing that is needed to work holistically on the topic of HAZ. As NGOs are mostly acting as observes for policy institutions, they need to be empowered to become transmitters for upstream measures and activities for the society, policy makers and business stakeholders, connecting the two streams of work also on a holistic level.
Approach
Hazardous substances are a transboundary issue and, according to the third HELCOM holistic assessment of the Baltic Sea (HOLAS 3), the main driver of poor environmental status across the entire Baltic Sea. They are also a core focus of the EUSBSR Action Plan. Reduction of hazardous substances inputs into the environment requires close cooperation not only between the different countries in the Baltic Sea region, but also between different stakeholders from authorities, business, research community and society representatives.
As many transnational acts have been recently updated (or are currently being revised), including the EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, the REACH Regulation, the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, EU Product Policy and the Baltic Sea Action Plan 2021, there’s a growing need to support stakeholders responsible for implementing these changes. As these frameworks affect all Baltic Sea countries, enhanced cooperation can be a great opportunity to pool information and share practices in a cost-efficient way. The platform’s goals of networking with the different stakeholders, gathering and tailoring knowledge and increasing outreach are designed to support target groups in their daily work in a rapidly evolving EU legal landscape.
Strong outputs have been created through Interreg BSR projects such as NonHazCity 1-3, EMPEREST, ChemClimCircle 1-2, APRIORA and many others. The platform brings them together using Baltic Smart Water HUB as a digital headquarters. Using these collected materials, the project will:
1) Establish a network of stakeholders providing three years of active exchange through public forums, online events, and other engagement tools;
2) Bring tailored outreach materials to the target groups, enabling them to reach their communities;
3) Assist national authorities and treatment plants with the adoption to the revised Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive
4) Take the collected knowledge to the policy level and ensure an equal presence of both up- and downstream measures.
A holistic approach to HAZ is vital for tackling the problem from both ends of the “pipe” and ensuring a healthier Baltic Sea, for the benefit of both the environment and our health.
Project partners and HELCOM’s role
The project is led by the Riga State City Municipality and HELCOM is one of the 12 partners.
- Riga State City Municipality (LV) (Lead Partner)
- Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission – Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) (FI)
- Union of the Baltic Cities Sustainable Cities Commission c/o City of Turku (UBC SSC) (FI)
- Baltic Environmental Forum Germany (BEF-DE) (DE)
- Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB) (SE)
- Stockholm Environment Institute Tallinn Centre (SEI Tallinn) (EE)
- Baltic Environmental Forum Estonia (BEF-EE) (EE)
- University of Rostock (DE)
- Environmental Centre for Administration and Technology (ECAT) (LT)
- POMInno Ltd (PL)
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) (SE)
- EcoDesign Competence Centre (LV)
HELCOM leads work package 1 (WP 1) on connecting upstream and downstream solutions, coordinating knowledge sharing and supporting the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive implementation. It also contributes to WP2 and WP3 activities and links project results to the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) actions, especially via HELCOM Expert Group on Hazardous Substances (EG HAZ).
HELCOM’s involvement provides an opportunity to bring the project outcomes into regional policy work and have a dialogue with a large group of national competent authorities in charge of hazardous substances in water, chemicals policy, product policy, circularity and climate issues.
The project is also supported by 10 associated organisations representing different stakeholders, including Swedish Agency of Marine and Water Management, German Environment Agency, Cities of Stockholm and Helsinki, German Water Centre, Ministry of Climate of Estonia, Environmental Protection Agency of Lithuania, Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre and Polish Bureau for Chemical Substances.
Funding
1.2 million €, 0.96 million € co-financed by Interreg BSR
Project duration
3 years (July 2025 to June 2028)
Resources
Contact
Markus Raudkivi
Project Coordinator
markus.raudkivi@helcom.fi
