Start of Competition for NonHazCity Building Award in the Baltic Sea Region

CCB • November 16, 2023

16 November 2016 - Tallinn, Estonia - Today the competition for the first ever NonHazCity Building Award in the Baltic Sea Region was announced at the Green Governance Conference by the Green Capital of Europe 2023 Tallinn and the World Future Council in Tallinn.


The NonHazCity Building Award is the first policy prize recognizing best policies in construction in the Baltic Sea Region at local, regional or national level. It aims is to highlight policies protecting people and the environment from hazardous chemicals in buildings, integrating circularity, toxic-free & climate neutrality. The World Future Council co-ordinates and bestows the award in the framework of the NonHazCity 3 Project.


“Municipalities have a responsibility to protect their citizens and the environment from hazardous chemicals and to contribute to climate-neutral and circular construction. We cannot have sustainable cities and communities without sustainable construction. This award helps us to show that sustainable construction is possible and raise awareness among cities to be at the forefront to implement these solutions,” said the Deputy Mayor of Tallinn, Joosep Vimm.




Alexandra Wandel, Chair, Management Board of the World Future Council commented “Everyone has a responsibility towards future generations that the building sector can make a contribution to a non hazardous, circular and climate-friendly construction. We invite policymakers, civil society, scientists and citizens to submit their nomination for this unique award. We aim to provide inspiration to showcase innovative solutions.”


The nominations can be submitted here.


The announcement was made at the conference "Driving change: empowering sustainability through green governance" that took place at Tallinn Creative Hub as part of Tallinn's Green Technology Week. The conference aimed at bringing together cities from the Baltic Sea region and beyond, as well as businesses and experts, to discuss green public procurement and support for sustainable consumption and production.


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For further information:

Kai Klein, BEF Estonia, Tel +372 53 33 8572

Alexandra Wandel, World Future Council, Tel+49 172 748 39 53

NGOs to EU decision makers: Commit to a Genuine Baltic Sea Recovery Plan

By CCB • May 28, 2025
Key Baltic fish populations are in crisis, warn environmental NGOs. New scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, ICES, confirms the poor condition of key Baltic fish populations, several of which remain collapsed (1). EU fisheries ministers must set 2026-catch limits well below ICES advice and prioritise long-term recovery over short-term economic gains.

EU Commission upholds Fisheries Law: Finland's 2025 Atlantic Salmon quota reduced after unjustified overfishing in 2024

By CCB • May 7, 2025
7 May 2025 - Yesterday the European Commission took a strong decision to deduct Finland´s 2025 Atlantic Salmon quota due to unjustified overfishing last year. This action is a clear application of the EU fisheries rules - aiming to ensure sustainable fishing practices and compliance with established quotas - and an important precedent for the consistent enforcement of fisheries law. In 2024, Finland was allocated a strict by-catch quota for Atlantic salmon, with direct fishing prohibited, except for some specific, minor exceptions. Despite this, Finland reported catching 3,162 salmon in a targeted fishery, under a claimed derogation stating the fishery was for scientific research purposes. Upon review, the European Commission concluded that these activities did not meet the legal standards for such an exemption and therefore found this claim unjustified. The number of vessels participating, 32, the number of salmon caught as well as the fact that Finland refused to re-release the salmon after conducting the “scientific research” are all reasons why the fishery cannot be considered to have been carried out for scientific research purposes. As a result, the same number of salmon caught beyond the legal limit in 2024 is now being deducted from Finland’s 2025 quota, from the same stock. “ We welcome the Commission's decision to take enforcement action and apply the law as intended. It sends a clear message to Member States that exceeding quotas will have consequences. However, more consistent enforcement is urgently needed across EU waters, especially in the Baltic Sea, where many fish stocks are collapsing and the ecosystem is in a poor state ” said Aimi Hamberg, CCB Marine Policy Officer. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland has already responded to the Commission´s quota reduction for Atlantic salmon by stating that this decision “is not legally justified” and they will consider taking legal action against it. As this matter continues to evolve, it is highlighting the importance of collective responsibility in managing fish stocks sustainably. Species like salmon, herring and cod , are under increasing pressure due to overfishing, climate change and habitat loss. In this context, rule enforcement is not just a bureaucratic step but a necessary action to ensure the long-term sustainability of marine life in the Baltic Sea.