Worth it: Benefits outweigh costs in reducing eutrophication in the Baltic, BalticSTERN Summary Report : BalticSTERN Summary Report for HELCOM 2013 Ministerial Meeting

This summary report reviews the findings of BalticSTERN, an international research network conducting economic analysis of the ongoing and prospective efforts to reduce eutrophication in the Baltic Sea. The network has undertaken surveys exploring the benefits to be realized by citizens of countries on the Baltic from improved water quality and estimated cost-effective combinations of nutrient abatement measures which would fulfil the targets of the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP). The cost-benefit analysis reported here evaluated the long-term net benefits and ecological consequences of the BSAP. The results indicate that the overall benefits of pursuing the proposed nutrient reductions clearly outweigh their aggregate cost, suggesting that the BSAP is an economically sound plan for solving the transboundary eutrophication problem. The cost of inaction - not implementing the objectives of the BSAP - would be significant. The research tools developed in BalticSTERN may aid decision making and inform processes related to the planning, design and evaluation of future international and national water management plans and policies for the Baltic Sea.BalticSTER