Baltic Sea faces ‘critical challenges’ on climate and biodiversity, report warns

Audit finds little to no improvement' in health of sea between 2016 and 2021, as Swedish coastguard battles oil spill

The Baltic Sea faces critical challenges" due to the climate crisis and degradation of biodiversity, a report has said, as Sweden's coastguard battled to contain the impact of an oil spill off the country's southern shore.

In the most comprehensive audit of its kind to date, experts at the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (Helcom) said on Tuesday there had been little to no improvement" in the health of the body of water between 2016 and 2021.