The main working tools of the UBC Commission on Environment are the projects addressing the focus areas of the UBC Sustainability Action Programme 2010-2015. The projects are carried out through working closely together with partners. Open house approach is actively used in linking with partners. In practice this means, that we welcome all partner organizations, other co-operation partners and stakeholders to shape the activities and implement the program together with us.

Other important methods are co-operation and external networking in various forums. UBC is actively involved in the European policy issues and at the Baltic Sea region through various working groups.

The major European level initiative, where we are strongly involved, is the European Sustainable Cities and Towns Campaign. This initiative currently involves over 2.500 European local authorities and eight leading European local government organizations, the UBC being one of these. The UBC President Per Bødker Andersen is representing the UBC at the Political Board of the Campaign, and Head of Secretariat of the UBC Commission on Environment Mr. Björn Grönholm in the Steering Committee. www.sustainable-cities.eu/

Globally, the UBC is co-operating with the Local Authorities of Lake Victoria Region in Africa. This co-operation is part of a large Swedish-lead co-operation initiative and is funded by the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA). The wide partnership between the UBC and the Lake Victoria Region Local Authorities Co-operation (LVRLAC) covers several fields of development of network activities. More about this at LVRLAC project page and LVRAC own website.

In the Baltic Sea Region, we are contributing to Baltic 21 (Inter-governmental and multi-stakeholder Agenda 21 for the Baltic Sea Region) by active membership in the coordinating body (Senior Officials Group, SOG) and by being the Responsible Actor for implementing Baltic 21 in cities (Joint Action 4, City co-operation and sustainable development issues in cities and local communities). UBC EnvCom is also leading the Baltic 21 Ad-hoc working group on Urban Rural development.

Several of our projects have received the lighthouse status in the Baltic 21 – NewHansa, BUSTRIP and Sustainment.


Another, as important, political process in the Baltic Sea Region is the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM, Commission for the Protection of the Baltic Sea Marine Ecosystem). In HELCOM, we are representing our members in the Program Implementation Task Force (PITF), as well as in the overall commission with an observer status.


UBC EnvCom is also actively supporting the work of the Nordic Baltic Aalborg Commitments Network. During year 2007-2008 the Secretariat was hosting the network together with the Association of Finnish local and regional authorities. More about the network.