Outlook 2026

We are cautiously optimistic about the coming year. The Foundation’s environmental projects have received substantial funding from major, multi-year EU projects. Although the general economic situation has affected, and will continue to affect, both the Foundation’s corporate and private fundraising, we are still cautiously optimistic. Fundraising – including broad-ranging support for fundraising across a number of teams – will be our main priority for 2026. We will also be cutting costs.

2026 will be the second year of our current strategy period. We have already launched three major flagship projects, and will most likely launch a fourth in 2026: Clean Maritime Traffic.

Protecting the Baltic Sea, and other seas and oceans, requires both time and correctly-timed political advocacy. We know that parliamentary elections are approaching in our region (Sweden in autumn 2026 and Finland in April 2027). We want to raise awareness of environmental and marine issues that are important to us in a variety of political forums, and to increase the Foundation’s visibility on key topics such as eutrophication, the discharge of harmful substances into the sea, and the green transition.

We are strengthening our international advocacy through the Alliance for European Seas network. With the help of our international partners, we can bring best practices to the Baltic Sea region and achieve a broader impact within, for example, the EU. The Baltic Sea is also under threat from security risks that could trigger environmental crises.

We are closely monitoring current challenges related to both the Baltic Sea and other seas and oceans, and will address them in line with our mission.

Protecting the Baltic Sea and other seas and oceans requires policies, markets and supervisory bodies that are all working towards the same goals: to reduce loading, to prevent harmful emissions, and to implement climate solutions that will strengthen rather than weaken bodies of water.