THEME OF THE ISSUEThe results of the year 2005 and challenges for 2006
Interview with Gunnar Noren, the CCB Executive Secretary
In the interview, Gunnar Noren, the Coalition Clean Baltic Executive Secretary, answers the questions about:
- The year 2005 for Coalition Clean Baltic;
- The main environmental problems for the Baltic Sea presently;
- Major achievements CCB reached in 2005;
- Main challenges CBB is facing in 2006.
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NEWS
New CCB publications in Russian language
The Centre for Environmental Initiatives (St.Petersburg, Russia) has published Russian-language versions of
two CCB brochures and new CCB posters on sustainable household wastewater treatment in single-family homes and in a small village. Free
copies of the brochures are available at the Public Centre for Environmental Information in St.Petersburg. All publications are also
available on the internet:
Upgrading Wastewater Treatment in a Small Village (in Russian). Options illustrated by the
case of Vadsbro, Sweden. Peter Ridderstolpe. Brochure
Guidelines for Using Urine and Blackwater Diversion Systems in Single-Family Homes (in Russian). Maria Lennartsson & Peter Ridderstolpe. Brochure
Ecological Engineering in Sewage Management. Collection of posters by Coalition Clean Baltic (in Russian).
Thumbs up for EU marine regulations - thumbs down for the timetable
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency welcomes the EU Commission's draft integrated marine strategy, but considers the pace of implementation
to be too slow. The EPA advises the Swedish Government to press for a much shorter time horizon for the Baltic Sea and the North Sea.
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Number of ship accidents in the Baltic doubles
The number of ship accidents has almost doubled in the Baltic Sea marine area since 2003, according to a new study by the Helsinki Commission.
Analysis of the data contained in the latest annual reports provided by the Baltic Sea countries to HELCOM reveals that there were 121 accidents in 2004,
compared to 71 in 2003, 63 in 2002, 57 in 2001, and 62 in 2000.
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Commissioner Dimas sets out 2006 priorities
Yesterday (16 February) Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas set out his broad priorities for this year as the
European Commission published its annual Environment Policy Review (EPR) for 2005. The foundations of the next generation of EU environment
policy were laid through the first four in a series of Thematic Strategies. The Commission believes the new policies show that protecting the
environment and boosting economic growth can go hand in hand. Over the course of 2006 Commissioner Dimas intends to build on this progress with
a series of further climate change initiatives and continued action to simultaneously protect the environment and stimulate economic growth through
technological innovation and better regulation. Efforts to ensure Member States implement EU environment laws properly and on time will be stepped up.
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The Baltic Sea Fund awards environmental efforts in Finland, Sweden and Åland
An active and versatile professor from Turku, Finland, with focus on co-operation, and a strongly convincing, experienced and enthusiastic researcher from
Jarna, Sweden, share the Baltic Sea Fund prize in 2006. The prize sum is €22,000. Also ecologic farming is awarded with a prize of €3,000.
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Document 'Europe, Water and the World' available
Last week the European Regional Document 'Europe, Water and the World' for the 4th World Water Forum was finalized. This document, written by several
European stakeholders, is focusing on five themes: Integrated Water Resources Management, Risk Management, Sanitation, Innovative Technology and Water
Solidarity. During the European session on March 18 in Mexico, the document will be presented to the participants of the Forum. 'Europe, Water and the
World' can be found on www.wwf4europe.org (under 'downloads').
Marine waste dumping ban to enter force
A 1996 UN protocol imposing a general ban on dumping of waste into the sea will enter force on 24 March after Mexico this week became the twenty-sixth
country to ratify it. Previous international rules allowed waste dumping into the sea, except for a banned list. Some materials are exempted from the new ban,
including sewage sludge, fish waste, vessels, inert geological material and bulky items containing iron, steel or concrete. Parties to the protocol will now
review the "compatibility" of sub-sea CO2-sequestration, said the International maritime organisation (IMO).
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Environmental Performance Index 2006
The 2006 Environmental Performance Index has been published. It ranks 133 countries on 16 indicators tracked in six established policy categories:
Environmental Health, Air Quality, Water Resources, Biodiversity and Habitat, Productive Natural Resources, and Sustainable Energy. As a quantitative
gauge of pollution control and natural resource management results, the Index provides a tool for improving policymaking and shifting environmental
decision making onto firmer analytic foundations.
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Website World Water Day 2006 now online
If you want to know the theme of the World Water Day, what the events are, or how to get involved: visit the homepage of the WWD 2006!
The website has just been launched and will be enriched in the coming days with information related to the Day's main focus areas.
Visit the website at http://www.unesco.org/water/wwd2006
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