HELCOM says it contributes with voluntary commitments to The United Nations Conference "Our oceans, our future: partnering for the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14", to be held on 5-9 June 2017 in New York (2017 SDG 14 Conference), co-chaired and co-funded by Sweden and Fiji.
Voluntary commitments are one of the core elements of The Ocean Conference, aiming to accelerate the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 "Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development" and its seven targets.
Contracting Parties in HELCOM agreed on four commitments to be pledged at the Conference:
Designate and enhance implementation of the Baltic Sea as NOx Emission Control Area for ships and public-private partnership
Strengthen the implementation of the Baltic Sea Action Plan to support ocean-related SDGs
Identify Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSA) in the Baltic Sea
Regional Seas Programme for ocean related Sustainable Development Goals jointly with other 17 regional sea conventions and actions plans cooperating under the umbrella of UN-Environment
The individual Contracting Parties have also registered commitments to enhance the implementation of SDG 14.
HELCOM is participating in three side events during the conference showcasing the added value of the Baltic Sea regional cooperation. The side events will focus on the role of regional governance, public-private partnerships for sustainable maritime activities and regional marine protected areas networks and the events are organized by Germany, Sweden and UN Environment; Finland; and Mediterranean Protected Areas Network respectively.
HELCOM is an intergovernmental organization made up of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union. Founded in 1974, its primary aims as the governing body of the Helsinki Convention are to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution.
The Sustainable Development Goals were adopted by the UN General Assembly in September 2015 as a part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Agenda contains 17 sustainable development goals (SDG) and 169 targets.