Baltic Sea Protection in Focus: Environmental Minister Lemke at Meeting of Littoral States in Riga

This week in the Latvian capital Riga, attention turns to the environmental protection of the Baltic Sea as Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke meets with her counterparts from the Helsinki Commission. The agenda of the meeting of Baltic Sea coastal states, including Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Sweden, as well as representatives of the EU, is ambitious: the progress of the Baltic Sea Action Plan is up for discussion. Following the recent agreement in Lübeck, Germany, to expand the plan to include climate protection aspects, the meeting in Riga could represent a turning point – especially since it is the first meeting since 2021 and is taking place without Russian presence. The discussions are far more than routine: the ecosystem of the Baltic Sea is under threat. The new Baltic Sea State Report reveals serious challenges for biodiversity and highlights dangers from overfishing, pollution, and nutrient surpluses. With concrete measures such as the targeted 50 percent reduction in plastic waste by 2030, the states are signaling their determination to act. This year's gathering also has symbolic value – it marks the 50th anniversary of the first Helsinki Agreement, which is considered a milestone in the history of Baltic Sea protection. Thus, the current meeting is an occasion to reflect on the past and to establish future-oriented steps. It is exemplary of the necessity and the will to cooperate across national borders in order to sustainably secure the maritime habitat.