Constitution International conventions Environmental legislation Environmental Strategy Environmental Action Plan Eurointegration

Chapter I, General Provisisons,  5. The natural wealth and resources of Estonia are national assets, which shall be used economically. Chapter II, Fundamental Rights, Liberties and Duties,  53. Every person shall be obligated to reserve the human and natural environment and to compensate for damages caused by him or her to the environment. Procedures for compensation shall be established by law.

Since the publication of the Brundtland Report in 1987, the concept of sustainable development has become widely accepted. Following to this in several countries the concept of security was enlarged and non-military factors such as social and environmental issues were included. In 1986 A. Westing published overview volume “Global Resources and International Conflicts: Environmental Factors in Strategic Policy and Action” which describes many important security- relevant environmental and resources issues.

The term of ecological resource was introduced in connection with development of environmental monitoring ideologies. Specific character of the components of the natural environment, their integration (holocoenose) and intergated impact of human induced deviations in natural processes, multiple response of natural systems to human impact and economic importance of monitoring activities required to use different from traditional approaches.

Estonia participates in regional and global environmental activities mainly through the participation in and implementation of requirements of relevant environmental convention. 26 environmental conventions are in force for Estonia

Estonia has developed bilateral co-operation with its neighbours as well as with other couuntries. Estonia has signed 31 bi- and trilateral agreements in the field of environmental protection in general and specific fields of environmental protection, fisheries as well in other areas under the “umbrella” of the Ministry of the Environment

HORIZONTAL LEGAL ACTS: -Pollution Charge Act -Environmental Monitoring Act -Environmental Supervision Act -Act on Sustainable Development

WASTE: -Waste Act -Packaging Act -Statute of the National Packaging Register -Approval of the List Specifying the Field of Activity Requiring a Waste Permit for Generation of Waste and the Related Limit Values for Production Volumes and Waste -Volumes -Approval of the List of Products which Cause Damage to the Environment as Waste and whose Production, Import, Export, Sale and Use is Prohibited -Act on the Amendment of the Waste Act -Approval of the Lists of Waste Categories, Waste Types and Hazardous Waste -Application of Section 36 of the Waste Act in Issuing a Waste Permit -Chemicals Act

FOREST: -Forest Act -Law on Hunting Management -Establishment of Special Conditions for the Import, Export and Transit Traffic of Selected Goods NATURE PROTECTION: -Law on the Protection and Use of Wilde Fauna -Establishment of the Rates of and Procedure for Compensating for Damage Caused to Natural Flora and Fauna -Law on Protected Natural Objects - On Approval of the Procedure of Drawing up Management Plans

RADIATION: -Radiation Act -Procedure for Issuing Licenses for Activities Involving Radiation -Statute of Maintenance of the National Dose Register of Radiation Workers; Procedure for Certifying Radiation Workers and for Issuing Certificates AIR: -Ambient Air Protection Act WATER: -Water Act

In 1997 and in 2005, the Estonian Government adopted the National Environmental Strategy, which identifies environmental problems facing Estonia, establishes short-term and long-term objectives and goals. The NES is based on principles of sustainable development.

The following environmental problems were identified:  Pollution of ambient air, which has an adverse impact on human health, ecosystems and buildings;  Past pollution caused by military and industrial sites, which contaminated soil, surface water and damaged landscapes;  Decrease in water resources due to irrational use of ground water supplies;

 Irrational use, pollution and eutrophication of water bodies, decrease in biodiversity, including regeneration of fish stock, deterioration of aquqtic fauna and water quality;  Increase in environmental pollution caused by waste as well as increase in areas contaminated by waste, unregulated waste management, including hazardous waste management;

 Hazard to biological and landscape diversity, including econetwork, reserves, species and sites, as a result of changes in economic activities and land ownership;  Insufficient complience of built environment sound to principles of sustainable development and public health requirements.

1. INTRODUCTION AND PRINCIPLES On 12 March 1997 (2005) the Parliament of the Estonian Republic approved the first National Environmental Strategy for Estonia (NES). The NES has set out ten priority goals for environmental policy and identified short, medium and long- term objectives/targets to be achieved by 2000, 2005 and 2010 respectively.

The ten priority goals are: 1.Stimulation of Environmental Awareness and environmentally friendly consumption patterns; 2.Promotion of Clean Technologies; 3.Reduction of environmental impacts of Energy Sector; 4.Improvement of Air Quality including reduction of transport emissions; 5.Improvement of Waste Management, reduction of waste generation, stimulation of recycling; 6.Clean-up of Past Pollution; 7.Sustainable Use of Groundwater Resources; 8.Surface Water Protection and rational use of water bodies; 9.Preservation of Landscape and Biodiversity; 10.Modification of Built Environment in line with human needs and environmental health requirements.

Estonia became a member of the European Union in For that purpose it was necessary to align our national laws in order to give effect to the entire body of EU law contained in the so-called acquis communautaire.

In 1998 the Guide to the Approximation of European Union Environemental Legislation has been published in which an overview of all environmental law of the European Union has been given and so-called "road map" to the approximation of environmental legislation offered.

Environmental acquis consists of the following parts: - horizontal legislation - air quality - waste management - water quality - nature protection - industrial pollution control and risk management - chemicals and genetically modified organisms - noise from vehicles and machinery - nuclear safety and radiation protection. In 1998 four chapters were added to the acquis: climate change, civil protection, policy and international co- operation.

The limits of environmental space in Estonia Estonia Europe Env.space Goal CO2 emission 14.9t/pc % Fossil fuels 147 GJ Bioenergy 8 GJ Timber 1.00 m Water 1332 m

Energy Forests Radiation victims Past military pollution Greenhouse gas emission GMO’s

Energy sector is controlled by state owned enterprises. Energy production gives approximately 4.3% of the national product. At the same time energy sector is the largest user of natural resources, the largest employee and the largest polluter including emissions and wastes.

ESTONIAN FORESTS ARE AMONG THE LEAST DAMAGED FORESTS OF EUROPE Although Estonia occupies the second last place among the 19 states concerning which WWF conducted its overview concerning the state of forests, results of the 1998 forests monitoring program indicate that Estonian forests are among the least damaged in the whole of Europe.

In the WWF scorecard, Estonia is mainly criticized for the high level of forest pollution. While the average score given to European states concerning environmental pollution was 45 points, Estonia only reached five points which indicates as if the Estonian forests were nine times more polluted than forests of the industrial countries of Europe.

More than 4000 people in Estonia are registered as radiation victims, 22% of them have no health incurance. Only 6% of Tchernobyl clean-up workers have incom higher than average

Number of married veterans is equal before and after the clean-up works. Number of divorces is 4 times higher after the radiation damage

The number of Soviet (Russian) military sites in Estonia was 1565 (87,000 hectares, i.e. 1.9% of the territory). Foreign troops were withdrawn from Estonia on August 31, 1994, however, the damage and pollution caused by the Soviet Army remains for long. The estimated clean up costs of the damage caused by Soviet Army to the environment in Estonia are 60 billion Estonian kroons, i.e. approximately 5 billion USD.