Transnational environmental collective action facing implementation constraints – the case of nutrient leakage in the Baltic Sea Action Plan

Responsibility, Inequality, Efficiency, and Equity in Four Sustainability Paradigms: Policies for a Shared Sea from a Multi-Country Analytical Model

“…Alternative feasible sustainability paradigms (i.e., weak sustainability and de-growth) could reduce the intra-generational inequality in welfare with respect to strong sustainability. However, this will require a change of environmental perception (Lundberg, 2013), which in turn will require a larger stakeholder capacity, willingness, and commitment to transition to a more sustainable society (Leal Filho et al, 2016) as well as a tighter agreement among the stakeholders on participation, legitimacy, and top-down vs. multi-stakeholder approaches to governance (Hassler, 2016) Appendix A α F : the future preference for consumption α i : the current preference for consumption in country i β i : the degree of current concern for nature in country i γ i : the degree of current concern for future generations in country i δ i : the degree of current concern for less-developed current generations in country i ε: the degree of aversion to intra-generational inequality ζ: the degree of aversion to inter-generational inequality η: per capita equilibrium use of the environment consistent with the current relevant population θ i : the current use of the environment for each consumption unit for the country i θ F : the use of the environment for each consumption unit for the future generation EC: weighted per capita use of the environment by the current generation EF: per capita use of the environment by the future generation E i : per capita use of the environment by the current generation in country i p i : proportion of the total population in country i U: overall utility as a function of consumption UC: weighted utility for the current generation as a function of consumption UF : utility for the future generation as a function of consumption U i : utility for the current generation in country i as a function of consumption W: overall welfare as a function of environment use WC: welfare of the current generation as a function of environment use XC: weighted per capita consumption by the current generation XF: per capita consumption by the future generation X i : per capita consumption in country i…”

Regional Environmental Governance and Avenues for the Ecosystem Approach to management in the Baltic Sea Area

“…Now that almost ten years have passed since the adoption of the BSAP, doubts have been raised as to whether the goals of BSAP and MSFD will be attained in time (Gilek et al, 2016a;Havsoch vattenmyndigheten, 2015b). As discussed in paper II, several of the interviewees argue that BSAP is less important than the MSFD (interviews no 21, 22, 26, 27, 29;Hassler, 2016b). BSAP is mainly viewed as a tool to implement the MSFD, rather than a goal in itself.…”

“…In a recent study of the NIPs' eutrophication segment, it was found that administrative and political differences create significant challenges to regional cooperation, with Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Germany applying a broader governance approach, whereas Poland, the Baltic states and Russia adopt more traditional forms of governing, positioning the state as the central unit performing top-down steering (Hassler, 2016b). In scrutinising the most recent NIPs, it becomes clear that EAM does not occupy a central position.…”

“…In scrutinising the most recent NIPs, it becomes clear that EAM does not occupy a central position. The major parts of the NIPs are devoted to EU directives, with the exceptions of Russia and Finland, and the priorities and setup of the NIPs differ considerably (Hassler, 2016b). Nevertheless, EAM is growing in importance in the national policies of the Baltic Sea states.…”

“…The MSFD requires member countries to produce Programmes of Measures (POMs), and under the BSAP the member states are obliged to produce National Implementation Plans (NIPs). Despite local adaptation being crucial in implementing EAM, neither the EU directives nor BSAP explicitly state how the targets should be met, or how to set up implementation processes (Hassler, 2016b).…”