CBSS Expert Group on Sustainable Development celebrates 25th Anniversary!

Created as Baltic21 in 1996, the group has been working throughout the years to strengthen collaboration among the CBSS Member States on questions of common interest towards the sustainable development of the Baltic Sea Region, including topics such as climate change, sustainable urban and rural development, sustainable consumption and production, and innovation and education for sustainable development.

With the adoption of the 2030 Agenda at the UN level, the Baltic Sea Region seized the opportunity to redefine its own vision and shared priorities, and to identify how the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) could be translated and localised to meet the challenges and opportunities in our corner of the world.

It was within this renewed momentum that the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and High Level Representatives of the CBSS Member States in June 2017 in Reykjavik adopted Realizing the Vision: the Baltic 2030 Action Plan. The Baltic 2030 Action Plan outlines 6 Priority Focus Areas where action should be directed for realizing the vision of a sustainable Baltic Sea Region by 2030. It also proposes 6 Activation Processes, which would catalyse increased engagement on sustainable development across sectors, geographic levels and stakeholder’s groups, including youth. Within this renewed agenda, the Expert Group on Sustainable Development was renamed as Baltic 2030 and was tasked to engage stakeholders in implementing the Baltic 2030 Action Plan, convene meetings for exchanging good practices, and communicating results, achievements and success stories.

The Norwegian Presidency of the CBSS Expert Group on Sustainable Development (EGSD) Baltic 2030 builds on  continuity with the Lithuanian Presidency on the topic of a green transition for a sustainable and prosperous Baltic Sea Region. Norway will attach importance to accelerating cooperation on the green transition and the goal of creating sustainable and resilient cities and communities, with an emphasis on innovation and best practice in industry, sustainable transport, clean energy and the circular economy – SDG7, SDG9, SDG11, SDG12, SDG13 just to mention some.

Using the occasion of the 25^th Anniversary, the EGSD – Baltic 2030 will introduce the Review of the “Baltic 2030: Bumps on the Road” report on 24^th November 2021. This review will draw upon data based on the most recent national statistics and recognized international organisations such as OECD and ILO. The analysis also includes an overview of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the implementation of the selected SDGs, and a description of spillover effects which substantially affect implementation.

Save the Date: 15 December EGSD webinar on circular economy, with focus on producer responsibility, and waste to energy with CCS.