Actions speak louder than words with voluntary water protection work cities can act as a good example to others. Moving round table discussions

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1 Actions speak louder than words with voluntary water protection work cities can act as a good example to others Moving round table discussions Two tables with separate topics are organized and the groups move from one table to the other. Both groups will discuss both topics. Discussions take approximately half an hour, and the discussions will take about one hour in all. The secretaries present the topic and guides the discussion. They may shortly also refer the discussion of the previous group. Secretaries will stay at their table throughout the discussions, and thereafter, give a short presentation on the outcome. The outputs of groups will be gathered together and a short summary of the results will be sent to all participants afterwards. Actions speak louder than words with voluntary water protection work cities can act as a good example to others Secretaries Topic 1: Olli-Pekka Mäki, City of Turku and Lotta Ruokanen, HELCOM Secretaries Topic 2: Lotta Nummelin, City of Helsinki and Stella Shaumyan, City of Tallinn GROUP 1 GROUP 2 Johanna Backas City of Helsinki Meeli Saksing ERKAS Zane Duze LALRG Silver Riige City of Tallinn Elita Kresse LALRG Elina Häkkinen City of Helsinki Peep Pobbul City of Tallinn Sanna Sopanen City of Helsinki Kajsa Rosqvist City of Helsinki Päivi Islander City of Helsinki Hannes Aarma KIK Salla-Maria Alanen Centrum Balticum Anne Kivinukk Recestonia 1

2 Actions speak louder than words with voluntary water protection work cities can act as a good example to others Topic 1 (Secretaries: Olli-Pekka Mäki and Lotta Ruokanen) Investing in water conservation measures Under this topic we discuss about investments in water conservation measures. What cities can do examples of succeeded projects. The aim is to find relevant investment ideas for water conservation measures and figure out concrete actions that may be good targets for investment plan. Output: Preliminary investment plan Actions speak louder than words with voluntary water protection work cities can act as a good example to others Topic 1, investing in water conservation: output of groups 1 & 2 Eutrophication (&haz. subst.) Small waste water treatment plants (<2000 p.e.): 7/12 applicants got funding from KIK. There is still money left for municipalities, e.g. ones surrounding Tallinn could apply! Stormwater problem: insufficient funds! In external funding owner of the asset owns the project municipality should be the owner, not a private company. E.g. With NIB loans the problem is, who is the applicant. business idea basis (revenue from somewhere, easier in climate change and energy efficiency projects) but still polluter pays principle must be obliged in most of Estonian municipalities the storm waters are in the field of work of water companies, but still the stormwater management (e.g. the third pipe besides fresh and wastewater) must be financed by the municipality however it is cheaper to use/infiltrate the storm water locally and not lead it in pipelines to somewhere else! municipalities in Estonia don t have other instruments than buying land from private owners for planning stormwater flooding/wetland areas (generally land is private owned also in cities) in Latvia also municipalities own land and could thus plan stormwater management areas problem may be also, that WWTP can t expand (don t own land around the plant) Port reception facilities: in Latvia small ports are private, but the city owns a share of the Riga port and could thus at least negotiate in developing the port s ship sewage issues Public awareness: not only people but also real estate sector and other companies, e.g. for increasing understanding so they could plan areas for flooding/stormwater management on their private land 2

3 Topic 1, investing in water conservation: output of groups 1 & 2 Hazardous substances In EE ministry of environment has mapped the contaminated areas, problem are the private owners of land and their terms/agreements 20 polluted areas restored by EU & government funding Oil companies have insurances for pollution (vs. in Finland they must donate to a state-owned oil protection fund) 4-5 M for industrial & military polluted soils almost done by state State does also the monitoring and mapping of the Baltic Sea bottom sediments Marinas/boating harbours are private (contaminated sediments) Biodiversity EE: usually state establishes protected areas and monitors the state of them, state also monitors River Pirita (including Natura areas), Lake Ülemiste and the Baltic Sea However, Tallinn city monitors the stormwaters (including streams) and also the city can establish protected areas In Helsinki: Funding for restoration of streams from city budget (maintenance or investments), also free gravel and stones given for NGOs who do the restoration work cheap! One combined solution and investment idea Stormwater management, biodiversity work and combatting eutrophication could be made simultaneously by stream restoration and by building wetlands Actions speak louder than words with voluntary water protection work cities can act as a good example to others Topic 2 (Secretaries: Lotta Nummelin and Stella Shaumyan) The process of preparing the action plans continue toward concrete actions Under this topic we discuss about shortcuts in water protection in the region. The target is to list what water protection measures cities or municipalities are already doing even the smallest ones are worth noticing. The aim is to find out at least one concrete action, which certainly your municipality or city can implement. Output: Finding out actions that cities and municipalities can develop further 3

4 Actions speak louder than words with voluntary water protection work cities can act as a good example to others Topic 2, Actionplans: Output of group 2 What kind of voluntary actions cities & municipalities can do? Raise public awareness through production of leaflets, writing in newspapers etc. Compile a storm water plan Minimizing nutrient load from traffic. Tools: investing in public transport, increasing the proportion of electric cars, new technical solutions & innovations etc. Lets do it movement, voluntary clean out of beaches, guides in beaches etc. Having a Baltic Sea angle when planning new living areas Restoration of small streams and brooks in cities Cooperation with local voluntary societies and involvment of citizens In public procurment the city or municipality sets criteria for increasing environmentally friendly and recycled products Topic 2, Actionplans: Output of group 2 What have our cities done to protect our waters, what are we especially proud of? Tallinn city built a sanitary area around lake Ülemisto (Tallinn drinking water is coming from the lake) Ground water crisis plan (Tallinn) Storm water strategy (Helsinki) Top scientist are studying things that are of interest to the City of Helsinki (funding of professorship that deals with Baltic Sea issues) (Helsinki) City of Turku is supporting protecting fund for the Archipelago Sea 4

5 Topic 2, Actionplans: Output of group 1 What kind of voluntary actions cities & municipalities can do? Arranged beach cleaning days with information about the Baltic Sea (Subbotnik) Talk to children in schools about problems of the Baltic Sea. This can be done during project week etc. Form Baltic Sea groups in the city (by municipality). Internal communication in the city. The more you use Baltic Sea, the more you should protect it. Open archipelago day introducing people island Provide information to citizens Make people involved in planning and EIA:s 5