The Union of the Baltic Cities celebrated its XII General Conference in Mariehamn 1 – 4 October 2013. The main focus of the conference was on youth unemployment in the Baltic Sea Region. UBC Commission on Environment together with the UBC Urban Planning Commission arranged a workshop on Green Growth for UBC cities. The workshop focused on opportunities of Green Growth and how the development will change during the upcoming years in terms of new technologies, urban planning and work opportunities.

In the conference the UBC Commission on Environment also appointed new co-chairs. Mrs Dace Liepnice from Liepaja continued as a co-chair and we got Mr. Trevor Graham from Malmö and Mr. Risto Veivo from Turku as new co-chairs. Mr Mikko Jokinen ended his co-chairmanship for the UBC Commission on Environment after almost 20 years. We are all greatly thankful for his long and dedicated work for UBC and the development of the Baltic Sea Region.