Comment on esd-2023-4 doi 10.5194

Abstract. Baltic Earth is an independent research network of scientists from all Baltic Sea countries that promotes regional Earth system research. Within the framework of this network, the Baltic Earth Assessment Reports (BEARs) were produced in the period 2019–2022. These are a collection of 10 review articles summarising current knowledge on the environmental and climatic state of the Earth system in the Baltic Sea region and its changes in the past (palaeoclimate), present (historical period with instrumental observations) and prospective future (until 2100) caused by natural variability, climate change and other human activities. The division of topics between articles follows the grand challenges and selected themes of the Baltic Earth Science Plan, such as the regional water, biogeochemical and carbon cycles, extremes and natural hazards, sea level dynamics and coastal erosion, marine ecosystems, coupled Earth system models, scenario simulations for the regional atmosphere and the Baltic Sea, and climate change and impacts of human use. Each review article contains an introduction, the current state of knowledge, knowledge gaps, conclusions and key statements, based on which recommendations are made for future research. In parallel, Baltic Earth's ongoing outreach work has led to the publication of an information leaflet on climate change in the Baltic Sea, which has been published in two languages so far, and the organisation of stakeholder conferences and workshops.