Opening statement at Baltic Sea Summit

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Conference of the Heads of Government of the Baltic Sea States on Environmental Protection (Baltic Sea Summit)

Dear friend and colleague, Prime Minister Medvedjev. Thank you for organising this conference.

I attended the 2010 Baltic Sea Action Summit in Helsinki. This conference is a timely follow-up.

There are close, long-lasting ties between our peoples. In historic times it was common for our Viking forefathers to seek political refuge in Russia. In more modern times, shipping and fisheries have become increasingly important.

For Norway broad regional cooperation is of high priority. It is in my country’s best interests to continue to participate actively in the dynamic process taking place in the region.

We believe that ecosystem-based management is a key to resolving the difficult situation in the Baltic Sea. In Norway integrated marine management planning is the very backbone in our management of sea areas.

I welcome a stronger focus on the environment in the Baltic Sea region. I subscribe to the many proposals put forward by my colleagues to strengthen our cooperation in this area.

I would like to commend the Baltic border states for all their efforts to promote sustainable development. A lot has been achieved already. But much remains to be done.

We can draw useful lessons from the Barents Sea and the North Sea, where we have achieved much through international cooperation. I would like to share some of our own experiences from these areas.

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In the Barents Sea, Russia and Norway have demonstrated the enormous benefits of international cooperation. In the 1980s our common cod stock in the Barents Sea had declined substantially. Through effective cooperation, we have both restored the stock and made the returns much higher.

Today, the cod stock is estimated to be ten times bigger than it was 25 years ago. This development was brought about through close cooperation between Russia and Norway. And during the last few years we have eliminated illegal fishing.

We sacrificed quotas in the short term to gain much more in the long term. That is sustainable development in practice. And it is smart economics.

This year, we are able to fish more than six times more cod than in 1990, providing 5 billion meals of wild-caught seafood.

The catch value of the fish resources managed jointly by Russia and Norway corresponds to more than 2 billion dollars annually – again proving the value of sustainable resource management.

In the North Sea we have also demonstrated the benefits of high environmental standards. The North Sea has served as a laboratory for technological innovation.

Stringent environmental and safety regulations have pushed companies to innovate to overcome demanding conditions. This has given our companies a competitive advantage in other challenging waters. And it has ensured that fisheries and oil production can co-exist.

Now, the Barents Sea could be the next important laboratory for offshore technological innovation.

Also this example confirms the message:

High environmental standards do not only protect our environment. They are also smart economics.

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The dynamic economic growth and development of the Baltic Sea region is putting increased pressure on the marine environment. The impacts of climate change will add to this pressure.

Norway supports technological solutions to meet the new requirements for the maritime industry in the Baltic Sea.

One of the most promising alternatives is the use of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as fuel for ships.

By using LNG, sulphur and particle emissions are eliminated. Emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) are reduced by 90 per cent.

And CO2 emissions are reduced by around 20 per cent.

The Baltic Sea region has strong and innovative maritime industries and traditions. And the distances in the Baltic Sea are ideal for short sea shipping.

Therefore, we believe that the Baltic Sea has the potential to become a pilot area for the use of LNG in Europe.

We welcome increased cooperation between governments and businesses to meet environmental challenges. I am glad to see that Norwegian companies are involved in finding solutions for a cleaner Baltic Sea.

Three years ago, the world’s largest nitrogen producer, the Norwegian-based company Yara, promised to help reduce the leakage of phosphorus into the Baltic Sea.

Nutrient run-off from agriculture is one of the major causes of the problem of algal blooms.

The project has shown that by applying modern techniques it is possible to achieve up to a 60 per cent reduction in the run-off of phosphorus.

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The Council of the Baltic Sea States provides a framework for concerted action between the states.

However, we need more than cooperation between our governments.

In particular I would like to commend the international financial institutions, working together in the Environmental Partnership of the Northern Dimension.

We need to engage all stakeholders – the Helsinki Commission, regional and local authorities, financial institutions, private companies and NGOs – if we are to meet the challenges facing the Baltic Sea.

I welcome the fact that this is so clearly reflected in the final document from this meeting.

Let us together demonstrate what cooperation of this kind can achieve in terms of economic benefits and sustainable development.

Thank you.