Photo: Esko Sorakunnas
The members of the Union of the Baltic Cities represent a good sample of European municipalities. Some cities can count the number of inhabitants in millions, some only in thousands. Some cities are old and wealthy, some are young and poor. However, all of us have important Baltic cultural and natural values to save. On the other hand, Baltic cities are facing many kinds of development at the moment and every year numerous decisions are made and actions taken, which strongly affect our common environment.
Some of these decisions and actions are so good that we would like to see them as positive examples of successful environmental work. By distributing information of these solutions the UBC could help its member cities to be aware of the different kinds of possibilities and alternatives as well as contribute to adapting such good practise models.
The UBC Commission on Environment has been discussing the need and possibilities of establishing an honourable environmental reward to be given annually to one of our member cities for the best environmental action of the year. Action in this context may mean any kind of positive environmental initiative the City Council has made or approved or started to implement during the year. It may be a big environmental investment project but it can just as well be a simple and small solution, e.g. innovative implementation of Local Agenda 21 work in the municipality.
In the next General Conference of the UBC in Gdansk in September 1997, the Commission of Environment is going to make a proposal that the Baltic Cities Best Environmental Practise Reward will be established and the first price will be given next year. On behalf of the Commission on Environment, I would like to encourage all cities to do their best for their own environment. In this work everyone will be rewarded - if not by the UBC then by the improvement of our common Baltic Environment.
Nice summer to everyone!
Mikko Jokinen
Co-chairman
UBC Commission on Environment
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