EnvCom discussed UBC Agenda 21 in Sopot

The UBC Commission on Environment met in Sopot on 20-21 June. The meeting gathered good participation from all over the Baltic Sea Region. The main topic was the advancement of the thematic focus areas of the UBC Agenda 21 Action Programme.

The mayor of Sopot, Mr Karnowski, opened the meeting. He stressed the importance of UBC and especially its Commission on Environment for his city. He reminded that Sopot was one of the first members of UBC and that it takes part in the UBC Agenda 21 programme very actively.

UBC Secretary-General, Mr Pawel Zaboklicki and the co-chairs of the EnvCom, Mr Guldbrand Skjonberg and Mr Mikko Jokinen, had acknowledged Sopot's successful work in environmental issues and mentioned the growing amount of traffic as a future challenge. Mr Zaboklicki acclaimed UBC EnvCom for its good work, in particular its successes in getting project funding. Mr Zaboklicki also transferred the regards of the executive board meeting that had acknowledged EnvCom's success in getting the whole 10 million Euros budget for Agenda 21 action programme 2004-2009 mobilised.

The meeting was also given a full report on UBC's policy liaison and contributions towards the EU Thematic Strategy on the Urban Environment. The Baltic Cities Sustainable Development Survey was reported on. It is a unique survey with an answering rate of 72% and giving a thorough picture of sustainable urban development around the Baltic Sea.

The meeting also debated on several case presentations from member cities and studied local sustainability practices on excursions at Sopot. The next full-scale two-day meeting of the Commission on Environment will be organised in Liibeck in May 2006.