A new report by the Boston Consulting Group looks at how to better understand the multiple benefits municipalities around the Baltic Sea can capture by addressing eutrophication and restoring the waters within their municipalities and ultimately the Baltic Sea region.
The report ‘Restoring waters in the Baltic Sea Region – A Strategy for Municipalities and Local Governments to Capture Economic and Environmental Benefits’ is commissioned by Race for the Baltic, and written from a corporate strategy and change-management lens taking a closer look at the environmental issues facing the Baltic Sea and its coastal states, with the aim to give advice on how municipalities can navigate and prioritize measures. Race for the Baltic writes “For too long the conversation around the Baltic Sea has been a binary one, development/growth or environmental protection. As such, we have reached a stalemate- a rapidly dying sea combined with national governments struggling to undertake serious efforts to address the problems.”
The report was written as a way to try to break the statement above. To help local governments understand the economic impact degradation of the Baltic Sea will have, whilst at the same time help cities develop cost-effective plans. The report finds that the future of the Baltic Sea can be improved through local environmental actions, which will also boost local economies and labor growth. By taking action today, a municipality could generate nearly 3 000 full-time jobs and €270 million over the course of 15 years.
In summary, the main points from the report are:
- Local actions bring many opportunities to boost the local economy and labor market, creating thousands of jobs and generating millions of Euros in economic output, mainly within the tourism, water technology and real estate industries.
- Within the entire Baltic Sea region, 900 000 jobs could be created by 2030, representing almost 2% of the total labor supply. There are also many environmental and socioeconomic benefits from addressing eutrophication, such as improved biodiversity, reduced risk of flooding and a healthier population.
- When leading municipalities were reviewed, it is clear they all share commitment from local politicians and municipality leaders, clear objectives and implementation plans, and secured resources and funding. Also, citizens’ engagement with locally-driven initiatives plays a vital role together with cooperation beyond municipal borders.
- However, the starting points of the municipalities vary. The report shows that two-thirds of all municipalities around the Baltic Sea region are either unaware of the Baltic Sea’s critical state or lack resources to effectively address it. Also, less than 1% of municipalities are working strategically to address eutrophication. There are benefits to capture, and the municipalities are in a position where they can drive the issue locally.
- The report has a clear message for politicians and municipality leaders that restoring the Baltic Sea should not be seen as a cost, but as an opportunity to create local jobs and economic value. Investing in clean and healthy waters will boost jobs and economic activity in municipalities.
With this report, Race for the Baltic are trying to develop a new way of working where the different actors, in this case municipalities around the Baltic Sea states, better understand the economic and environmental ramifications at the level where they are felt. And “to continue the work by having discussion in a language that speaks to potential partners“.
Race For The Baltic will continue their work with a series of workshops this spring around the region, together with partners. To see when and where their next workshops will take place, visit their website.