How unnecessarily high abatement costs and unresolved distributional issues undermine nutrient reductions to the Baltic Sea

Abstract

This paper systematically reviews the literature on how to reduce nutrient emissions to the Baltic Sea cost-effectively and considerations for allocating these costs fairly among countries. The literature shows conclusively that the reduction targets of the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) could be achieved at considerably lower cost, if countries would cooperate to implement the least costly abatement plan. Focusing on phosphorus abatement could be prudent as the often recommended measures—wastewater treatment and wetlands—abate nitrogen too. An implication of our review is that the potential for restoring the Baltic Sea to good health is undermined by an abatement strategy that is more costly than necessary and likely to be perceived as unfair by several countries. Neither the BSAP nor the cost-effective solution meet the surveyed criteria for fairness, implying a need for side-payments.

The Helsinki Convention’s agricultural nutrient governance: how domestic institutions matter

“…Questions relating to institutional capacities are key and how possibly to tackle them (see Andersson et al 2021 deserves to be addressed more carefully in future supra-national negotiations for this and other Conventions.…”

Strengthening the policy framework to resolve lax implementation of the Baltic Sea Action Plan for agriculture

“…Finally, Andersson et al (2021) conclude from their systematic review that the potential for restoring the Baltic Sea to good health is undermined by an abatement strategy, i.e. the revised BSAP (HELCOM 2013b) that is far more costly than necessary, and that is likely to be perceived as unfair by several countries; thereby undermining BSAP implementation.…”

“…The omissions reflect insufficient capacities in government institutions to formalize the prescribed measures into national legislations, and to coherently integrate these with agricultural policy while empowering stakeholders through local institutions (Andersen et al 2021). Further, unsettled issues about the costeffectiveness of country-specific abatement targets and the fairness of the implied distribution of abatement costs likely undermine the determination of some countries for fulfilling their obligations (Andersson et al 2021). Together, these weaknesses in the policy framework are a major hinder to achieving BSAP goals, because agriculture continues to be the major anthropogenic source of N and P emissions to the Sea (HELCOM 2018b).…”

Managing multi-functional peri-urban landscapes: Impacts of horse-keeping on water quality

“…The nutrients originate from a range of different sources in different types of land use, and are often higher in areas with much arable land and high animal density (Hong et al 2012 , 2017 ; Svanbäck et al 2019 ). Common nutrient abatement measures to mitigate eutrophication are improved urban wastewater treatment, improved manure management and reduction in fertilizer application in agriculture (Hong et al 2017 ; McCrackin et al 2018a ; Andersson et al 2022 ).…”