Back1st HAZGONE Forum kicks-off in Hamburg
The HAZGONE platform launches a dialogue around the topic of hazardous substances, approaching it from both sides of the stream: upstream, or preventive measures in production and consumption, and downstream – treatment of micropollutants in waste and wastewater. The first of the HAZGONE Forums – the space for the expert discussion – was launched in Hamburg!
The first HAZGONE Forum took place in Hamburg on 16 April 2026, with project consortium and invited stakeholders from different entry points of the hazardous lifecycle narrative: local authorities as well as water and wastewater utilities. The HAZGONE platform philosophy of looking at the whole lifecycle of hazardous substances contributes to the EUSBSR goals for a tox-free region.
Platform synthesis of single project solutions
This event marked the successful launch of the first ready platform deliverable, which shapes the main pool of knowledge that HAZGONE builds on. Managed and curated by the HELCOM Secretariat, the Inventory of Key Employable Solutions is now available!
This is the result of HAZGONE’s first year of work, as project partners went through the ready solutions delivered by single projects, and arranged them into a comprehensive table for tracking and uptaking them for further synthesis and dissemination.
Although HAZGONE already builds on 14 projects in the Baltic Sea Region, the Inventory ambitiously looks beyond it and surveys most of the key European projects in the subject of hazardous substances’ management and governance, reaching ca. 55 international projects! The mapped projects have a total budget of 827 M€ and cover a wide range of funding programmes, providing a valuable and comprehensive picture for the experts.
“The first virsion already shows how much valuable work already exists on hazardous substances in the Baltic Sea region,” – Markus Raudkivi, HELCOM Secretariat
“The first version already shows how much valuable work already exists on hazardous substances in the Baltic Sea region,” says Markus Raudkivi from the HELCOM Secretariat, who leads this activity. “By continuing to expand and update the Inventory, we aim to better connect these solutions with future training efforts and policy development”.
The first version of the Inventory of Key Employable Solutions is out, and it will be updated throughout the platform duration, with the finalised version expected in 2028.
The work continues
The main discussions of the day continued with connecting the ‘upstream’ and ‘downstream’ narratives. Through a set of presentations, group discussions and concrete cases, participants established both vocabulary constraints and possibilities.
HAZGONE has several strands of work currently under development, and more opportunities for exchange will be opening up as the platform now heads towards its second year. With the established philosophy and context, the discussion continues onwards to the practical application.
“HAZGONE is not only one network – it’s a set of connected networks. Knowledge should travel in networks which already exist among the people we trust.”
– Normunds Vagalis, Riga City Council
PA Hazards, an active associated partner of the platform, considers the consolidation of solutions as a first important step to promote and ensure uptake from policy makers and implementers, which is key for a successful platform. From a EUSBSR perspective, the creation of a HAZGONE Forum has great potential to make space for dialogue, co-creation and knowledge sharing across the region to achieve a tox-free Baltic Sea Region.
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