HAZGONE – Connecting up- and downstream measures for better hazardous substances governance and policy in the Baltic Sea Region

Hazardous substances (HAZ) and micropollutants (MPs) are two sides of the same coin and a big issue in the Baltic Sea Region. In practice, however, these topics are divided into two categories: “upstream” (prevention, substitution, disposal of HAZ) and “downstream” (removal, monitoring, analysis of MPs). The HAZGONE platform aims to connect these, equipping different stakeholders with a holistic understanding of the HAZ sources and pathways.

Strong outputs have been created in Interreg Baltic Sea Region projects, such as NonHazCity 1-3, EMPEREST, ChemClimCircle1-2, APRIORA and many others, which the platform brings together using Baltic Smart Water HUB as a digital headquarters. Using these collected materials, the project aims to:

1. Establish a network of stakeholders by providing three years of active exchange through public forums, online events, and other engagement tools.
2. Bring tailored outreach materials to the target groups, enabling them to reach their communities.
3. Assist national authorities and treatment plants in adopting the revised Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive.
4. Take the collected knowledge to the policy level and ensure the equal presence of both upstream and downstream measures.

SEI Tallinn provides data and know-how from the projects ChemClimCircle1 and ChemClimCircle2 to the project deliverable “Inventory of available knowledge (key employable solutions) from the projects”.

In collaboration with other project partners, SEI Tallinn prepares the project output “Policy briefs and recommendations/proposals for updates of policies and legislation”.

Project partners

• Riga State City Municipality (lead partner)
• HELCOM – Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission – Helsinki
• UBC – Union of the Baltic Cities Sustainable Cities Commission c/o City of Turku
• BEF-DE – Baltic Environmental Forum Germany
• Coalition Clean Baltic
• BEF-EE – Baltic Environmental Forum Estonia
• University of Rostock
• Environmental Center for Administration and Technology (ECAT)
• POMInno Ltd
• SLU Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
• EcoDesign Competence Centre

Funding