The World Bank approved a $6.39 million grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for the Blueing the Black Sea (BBSEA) GEF Regional Project. This grant will support the governments and the private sector in Georgia, Moldova, Türkiye, and Ukraine to reduce pollution in the Black Sea. The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is the recipient and implementing entity of the Project, IPN reports, with reference to a press release of the World Bank.

According to the WB, in the past few decades, the Black Sea has become one of Europe’s most polluted bodies of water. Eutrophication (excessive nutrients deposited from agriculture activities), chemical pollution, invasive species, ineffective wastewater treatment, industrial hot spots, and atmospheric deposition are among the main threats to the marine environment in the Black Sea. Pressures from pollution threaten its marine and coastal ecosystems and the livelihoods of those who call the Black Sea region home.

The BBSEA GEF Regional Project will finance and promote eco-innovations to address the eutrophication in the Black Sea enabling public sector institutions, development partners, and potential investors to identify, verify, and invest in innovative pollution prevention and reduction solutions.

“Climate change is intensifying the impacts of pollution in the Black Sea, leading to rising temperatures and heightened risks of waterborne diseases, threatening both ecosystems and communities. The project will support strengthening preparedness of governments and the private sector in participating countries to take actions to reduce pollution in the Black Sea,” noted Carolina Sanchez-Paramo, Director of Strategy and Operations for the Europe and Central Asia region at the World Bank.