MEDIA ADVISORY, Helsinki 9.3.2016
How to reduce marine litter in the Baltic Sea
Who
Representatives of governments, industry, scientific institutions, non-governmental organizations, businesses, HELCOM – and concerned citizens
What
HELCOM Marine Litter Stakeholder Conference
When
9 March 2016, 10:00 – 16:30. Press conference at 12:15–12:45.
Where
Marina Congress Center (Fennia I), Katajanokanlaituri 6, 00160 Helsinki. The Conference will also be webcast live in the Conference web page
Why
Marine litter is a global and local problem with far-reaching implications also in the Baltic Sea. Marine litter impairs marine organisms, threatens human health and safety, and has socio-economic costs – and has consumer behaviour as a significant source.
In June 2015, thirty concrete tasks to combat litter in the Baltic Sea were agreed on by all the Baltic coastal states as well as the EU, and listed in the HELCOM Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter. While the battle against litter is already ongoing, accomplishing the task can only succeed through active and wide involvement of different sectors. Therefore HELCOM is now calling for the businesses, governments, industry and private citizens to search for solutions to tackle the litter problem.
The speakers of the Conference include Peter Kershaw, Leading scientist in micro particles from GESAMP/IMO, Mark Bernard Merkx from Waste Free Oceans Foundation, Sally Clink from Baltic Sea Advisory Council, Vesa Kärhä from Plastics Europe/Finnish Plastics Industries Federation and Esa Nikunen, Head of the Environmental Department of the City of Helsinki, among others. The commentators are expected to include Evgeny D. Grigoriev, Chairman of the Committee for External Relations, City of St. Petersburg, Olga Rublevskaja, Deputy Director for Development, Vodokanal of St. Petersburg, as well as Svetlana Shishokina, Head of the Committee, State Control of Environmental Management of Leningrad oblast. Full programme and other information can be found at the Conference web page.
In addition, HELCOM Annual Meeting - the highest decision-making body of HELCOM - is held on 10-11 March 2016 in Helsinki. The major Baltic Sea environmental concerns will be discussed by all the coastal countries as well as the EU. Among the key Meeting topics are the efforts to limit ships’ Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions in the Baltic Sea; the requested report from Russia regarding dredging activities in the Port of Bronka; as well as a few Recommendations concerning e.g. threatened species and safety of winter navigation in the Baltic Sea. Annotated agenda of the Annual Meeting
Media representatives are warmly welcome to attend the event as well as the press conference at 12:15.
Please accreditate by noon of Tuesday 8 March 2016 by sending your name, e-mail and represented media to: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi, tel. +358 40 523 8988.
