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National Implementation of Agenda 21
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Information Provided by the Government of Estonia to the
United Nations Department for Policy Coordination and
Sustainable Development
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This country profile has been provided by:
Name of Ministry/Office: Ministry of the Environment
Date: 22 November 1996
Submitted by: Mr. Rein Ratas, Secretary General Mr. Andres Kratovits, Counsellor, International Relations Department
Mailing address: Toompuiestee 24, EE0100 Tallinn, Estonia
Telephone: 372 6262 802; 372 626 2841
Telefax: 372 6262 801; 372 626 2845
E-mail: andres@ekm.envir.ee
Note from the Secretariat: An effort has been made to present all country profiles within a common format, with an equal number of pages. However, where Governments have not provided information for the tables appended to Chapters 4 and 17, those tables have been omitted entirely in order to reduce the overall length of the profile and save paper. Consequently, there may be some minor inconsistencies among the formats of the different country profiles.
All statistics are rendered as provided by the respective Governments.
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| APELL | Awareness and Preparedness for Emergencies at Local Level |
| CFC | chlorofluorocarbon |
| CGIAR | Consultative Group on International Agriculture Research |
| CILSS | Permanent Inter-State Committee on Drought Control in the Sahel |
| EEZ | exclusive economic zone |
| ECA | Economic Commission for Africa |
| ECE | Economic Commission for Europe |
| ECLAC | Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean |
| ELCI | Environmental Liaison Centre International |
| EMINWA | environmentally sound management of inland water |
| ESCAP | Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific |
| ESCWA | Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia |
| FAO | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |
| GATT | General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade |
| GAW | Global Atmosphere Watch (WMO) |
| GEF | Global Environment Facility |
| GEMS | Global Environmental Monitoring System (UNEP) |
| GEMS/WATER | Global Water Quality Monitoring Programme |
| GESAMP | Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Pollution |
| GIPME | Global Investigation of Pollution in Marine Environment (UNESCO) |
| GIS | Geographical Information System |
| GLOBE | Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment |
| GOS | Global Observing System (WMO/WWW) |
| GRID | Global Resource Information Database |
| GSP | generalized system of preferences |
| HIV | human immunodeficiency virus |
| IAEA | International Atomic Energy Agency |
| IAP-WASAD | International Action Programme on Water and Sustainable Agricultural Development |
| IARC | International Agency for Research on Cancer |
| IBSRAM | International Board of Soil Resources and Management |
| ICCA | International Council of Chemical Associations |
| ICES | International Council for the Exploration of the Sea |
| ICPIC | International Cleaner Production Information Clearing House |
| ICSC | International Civil Service Commission |
| ICSU | International Council of Scientific Unions |
| IEEA | Integrated environmental and economic accounting |
| IFAD | International Fund for Agricultural Development |
| IGADD | Intergovernmental Authority for Drought and Development |
| IGBP | International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (ICSU) |
| IGBP/START | International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme/Global Change System for Analysis, Research and Training |
| ILO | International Labour Organisation |
| IMF | International Monetary Fund |
| IMO | International Maritime Organization |
| INFOTERRA | International Environment Information system (UNEP) |
| IOC | Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission |
| IPCC | Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change |
| IPCS | International Programme on Chemical Safety |
| IPM | integrated pest management |
| IRPTC | International Register of Potentially Toxic Chemicals |
| ITC | International Tin Council |
| ITTO | International Tropical Timber Organization |
| IUCN | International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
| MARPOL | International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships |
| OECD | Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development |
| PGRFA | plant genetic resources for agriculture |
| PIC | prior informed consent procedure |
| SADCC | South African Development Co-ordination Conference |
| SARD | sustainable agriculture and rural development |
| UNCTAD | United Nations Conference on Trade and Development |
| UNDP | United Nations Development Programme |
| UNDRO | Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Coordinator |
| UNEP | United Nations Environment Programme |
| UNESCO | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization |
| UNFPA | United Nations Population Fund |
| UNICEF | United Nations Children's Fund |
| UNIDO | United Nations Industrial Development Organization |
| UNU | United Nations University |
| WCP | World Climate Programme (WMO/UNEP/ICSU/UNESCO) |
| WFC | World Food Council |
| WHO | World Health Organization |
| WMO | World Meteorological Organization |
| WWF | World Wide Fund for Nature (also called World Wildlife Fund) |
| WWW | World Weather Watch (WMO) |
1. The Estonian Parliament has ratified the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Biodiversity Convention in 1994. For the implementation of these conventions, interministerial working groups have been established involving civil servants, scientists, and NGOs. National reports/communications have been published. These reports are based on broad scientific research. Principles of these conventions have been included into several national legal acts, as well as national and regional action plans.
2. Agenda 21 has been introduced to:
- members of the Parliament; - members of the Government; - civil servants and local authorities; - entrepreneurs; - the public A popular edition of the Agenda 21 has been published in Estonian.
3. In February 1995, the Parliament passed the Act on Sustainable Development. In accordance with this Act: - National Environmental Strategy has been worked out; - elaboration of a National Environmental Action Plan has begun; - national forestry policy is completed; - critical and usable reserves of renewable national resources have to be established and adopted by the Government (in case of peat it has been done already).
4. For the implementation of the Act on Sustainable Development and principles of Agenda 21, the following bodies have been established:
4.1. In November 1996 the high level Commission on Sustainable Development (27 members): Chairman - Prime Minister Vice-Chairmen - Minister of the Environment; Minister of the Economy Members - representatives of the Ministries of Education, Environment, Economy, Transport and communication, Agriculture, Social Affairs; members of the Parliament; representatives of scientific society
4.2. Executive Commission of the Ministry of the Environment;
4.3. Steering Commission in the Ministry of the Environment.
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1. Key National Sustainable Development Coordination Mechanism(s)/Council(s).
Contact point (Name, Title, Office): Mr. Rein Ratas, Secretary General, Ministry of the Environment of the Republic of Estonia
Telephone: (372) 6262 802 / 372 626 2841
Fax: (372) 6262 801; (372) 626 2845
e-mail: andres@ekm.envir.ee
Mailing address: 24 Toompuiestee Street, EE0100 Tallinn, Estonia
2. Membership/Composition/Chairperson 2a. List of ministries and agencies involved: Ministries of the Environment, Education, Agriculture, Economy, Transport, Social Affairs
2b. Names of para-statal bodies and institutions involved, as well as participation of academic and private sectors: Academy of Science, Tartu University, Tallinn Technical University, University of Agriculture
2c. Names of non-governmental organizations: Estonian Green Movement, Estonian Green Cross, Nature Protection Society
3. Mandate role of above mechanism/council: Coordination
4. If available, attach a diagram (organization chart) showing national coordination structure and linkages between ministries:
Submitted by (Name): Mr. Rein Ratas
Signature: Signed.
Title: Secretary General
Date: 22 November 1996
Ministry/Office: Ministry of the Environment
Telephone: 372 6262 802; 372 626 2841
Fax: 372 6262 801; 372 626 2845
e-mail: andres@ekm.encir.ee
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AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 2: INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
TO ACCELERATE SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND RELATED DOMESTIC
POLICIES (with special emphasis on TRADE)
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: No information
1. Decision-Making Structure: No information
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information
3. Major Groups: No information
4. Finance: No information
5. Regional/International Cooperation: No information
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AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 3: COMBATING POVERTY
Focus of national strategy
Highlight activities aimed at the poor and linkages to the
environment
No information
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: No information
1. Decision-Making Structure: No information
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information
3. Major Groups: No information
4. Finance: No information
5. Regional/International Cooperation: No information NB: Developed countries, where domestic poverty alleviation is not a major concern may wish to briefly describe their position regarding global poverty alleviation.
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| Unemployment (%) | |||||
| Population living in absolute poverty | |||||
| Public spending on social sector % | |||||
| Other data
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AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 4: CHANGING CONSUMPTION
PATTERNS
National policy objectives/focus
National targets
No information
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: No information
1. Decision-Making Structure: No information
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information
3. Major Groups: No information
4. Finance: No information
5. Regional/International Cooperation: No information
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| GDP per capita (current US$) | |||||
| Real GDP growth (%) | |||||
| Annual energy consumption per capita (Kg. of oil equivalent per capita) | |||||
| Motor vehicles in use per 1000 inhabitants | 209.2a | ||||
| a 1993 b = 1996 * in prices and purchasing
power in 1991
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Government policies affecting consumption and production.
1. Goals and Agents (Stakeholders)
Indicate with a (X) those agents which your Governments policies are meant most to influence.
| Agents Goals | |||||
| Material efficiency | |||||
| Energy efficiency: | |||||
| Transport | |||||
| Housing | |||||
| Other | |||||
| Waste: | |||||
| Reduce | |||||
| Reuse | |||||
| Recycle |
Comments:
2. Means & Measures and Agents (Stakeholders)
Indicate with an (R) those agents who assume primary responsibility for any of the policy measures indicated; indicate with an (I) the agents for which the impact is expected to be especially significant.
| Agents Means & Measures | |||||
| Improving understanding and analysis | |||||
| Information and education (e.g., radio/TV/press) | |||||
| Research | |||||
| Evaluating environmental claims | |||||
| Form partnerships | |||||
| Applying tools for modifying behaviour | |||||
| Community based strategies | |||||
| Social incentives/disincentives (e.g., ecolabelling) | |||||
| Regulatory instruments | |||||
| Economic incentives/disincentives | |||||
| Voluntary agreements of producer responsibility
for aspects of product life cycle | |||||
| Provision of enabling facilities and
infrastructure (e.g., transportation alternatives, recycling) | |||||
| Procurement policy | |||||
| Monitoring, evaluating and reviewing performance | |||||
| Action campaign | |||||
| Other (specify) |
Comments:
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 5: DEMOGRAPHIC DYNAMICS AND
SUSTAINABILITY
| NATIONAL PRIORITY: | ||||
| STATUS REPORT: No information
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1. Decision-Making Structure: No information
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information
3. Major Groups: No information
4. Finance: No information
5. Regional/International Cooperation: No information
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| Population (Thousands) mid-year estimates | ||||
| Annual rate of increase (1990-1993) | ||||
| Surface area (Km2) | ||||
| Population density (people/Km2) | ||||
| Other data
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AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 6: PROTECTING AND PROMOTING
HUMAN HEALTH
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: The Government of Estonia has
enumerated the following objectives for this chapter : the
integration
of environment and development at the policy, planning and
management level providing an effective legal and regulative
framework; development and promotion of the integrated provision of
environmental infrastructure, optimization of the
existing infrastructure for the purposes of necessary specialized
environmental health services; improvement of the
technical capabilities for the monitoring, assessment and
management of environmental risks to health; reducing
differences in urban and rural health needs and assessment and
evaluation of the main causes of the premature death of the
population; drafting a national strategy for development of
qualified human resources; capacity-building for decision
makers on different levels; and assessment and identification of
the special needs of vulnerable groups.
1. Decision-Making Structure: The Government of Estonia has
provided a legal framework for dividing the level of
responsibilities and tasks among national, community and municipal
levels.
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: Institutions
necessary for the training of working environmental health
specialists have been created; health education has been introduced
to educational institutions; and new strategies for the
training of environmental health and public health specialists are
being developed.
3. Major Groups: All vulnerable groups - children, youth,
women - are subject to high health risk.
4. Finance: As a rule, the prevention of environmental risk
factors is being financed by the agent of the risk. When it is
impossible to identify any specific risk agent, the expenses are
accordingly borne by state or municipalities.
5. Regional/International Cooperation: No information
| Life expectancy at birth Male Female Average |
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| Infant mortality (per 1000 live births) at least 500 g birthweight | ||||
| Maternal mortality rate (per 100000 live births) | ||||
| Access to safe drinking water (% of population) | ||||
| Access to sanitation services (% of population) | ||||
| Other data
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AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 7: PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE HUMAN
SETTLEMENT DEVELOPMENT
Soviet policy resulted in rapid growth in the urban population
and largely unpopulated rural areas. Abandoned villages
are now being revived since farms are being returned to their
former owners. The population in large towns is also
decreasing because of migration and the departure of the foreign
military.
Sustainable and democratic planning methods are being enhanced
through the training of planning experts. Estonia has
received "know-how" support from the Nordic countries, Germany and
the Netherlands.
Energy and transport systems are comparatively
well-established. There are problems, however, with their
maintenance.
In order to create an environment supporting the sustainable
use of natural resources, relatively small enterprises have
been established. The privatization of large construction companies
has been initiated and foreign investors have been
given priority.
Local authorities are responsible for handling the
population's social problems (e.g. housing). One obstacle to the
decentralization of management is the lack of expertise within
local government.
The financial resources of local governments are limited.
Thus, the implementation of the anticipated measures has
not been fully satisfactory, e.g. purification equipment for
sewage has not been installed to anticipated levels.
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: The decades from the 1960s to the
1980s were characterized by extensive construction in towns and
in rural areas of standard large-panel apartment buildings for up
to 130,000 people. Currently, the main activity in this
area is the planning and construction of "inhabitant-friendly"
housing areas and renovation of the large panel buildings of
the 1960s. Privatization of housing areas is limited due to the
poor conditions of living quarters and to the lack of financial
resources of potential buyers.
1. Decision-Making Structure: New legislation - the
Constitution of 1992, the Land Law, the Property Rights Law, the
Law on Privatization, etc. - is regulating issues related to human
settlements. They need to be improved since all essential
reforms have not yet been fully implemented.
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information
3. Major Groups: No information
4. Finance: In order to renovate housing stock, both
national and international funding (e.g. through loans) is
necessary.
Approximately US$ 722 million of external funding will be required
in order to implement all planned activities. The
external funding resources are: the Nordic Council of Ministers,
the International Federation for Housing and Planning
(IFHP), the Nordic Investment Bank (NIB), the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.
5. Regional/International Cooperation: As an economy in
transition, Estonia needs external help in reconstructing and
redesigning its economy and structures. The international
organizations and funding mechanisms with which Estonia
cooperates are described above.
| Urban population in % of total population | |||
| Annual rate of growth of urban population (%) | |||
| Largest city population (in % of total population) | |||
| Other data
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AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 8: INTEGRATING ENVIRONMENT AND
DEVELOPMENT IN DECISION-MAKING
The Ministry of the Environment was reorganized to take over
responsibilities for national branches of some former
Soviet organizations. It governs all aspects of society which are
related to the environment. Inter-ministerial committees
on the Framework Convention of Climate Change and the Convention of
Biological Diversity have been established. The
National Council of Sustainable Development and the Joint Council
of Nature Societies on Sustainable Development have
also been established.
Some scientific institutes are specialized in general problems
of sustainable development.
The environmental monitoring system is being reorganized.
In 1995, the act on sustainable development was enacted by
Parliament. On 12 November 1996, the Government
established the high-level commission on sustainable development,
with the Prime Minister as a head of the commission.
The Commission includes several ministers, members of the
Parliament, Scientists, NGOs and other outstanding persons.
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: As an economy in transition,
Estonia's focus has been on property and land reform during recent
years. Both the Government and the Parliament have concentrated on
the preparation of laws and implementation of
reforms. Recent years have not been very favorable for promoting
environmental policy. Nevertheless, at the beginning of
1994, the Ministry of Environment created a framework law of
sustainable development which has been ratified by
Parliament. The law is intended to state the main principles of
sustainable development and to establish responsibilities on
the enforcement of various activities, which include: 1) the
obligation of the government to develop master plans for the
most important branches of the economy (e.g. energy, transport,
and agriculture); and 2) the obligation of the
government and local authorities to organize physical planning in
regions and municipalities. Environmental protection
considerations must also be part of any national or regional
plan.
1. Decision-Making Structure (please also refer to the fact sheet): Please refer to "Status" above
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information
3. Major Groups: No information
4. Finance: No information
5. Regional/International Cooperation: Please refer to "Status" above
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AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 9: PROTECTION OF THE
ATMOSPHERE
The Montreal Protocol and its Amendments
Montreal Protocol (1987) signed in 1996
London Amendment (1990) signed in 19--
Copenhagen Amendment (1992) signed in 19--
The latest report(s) to the Montreal Protocol Secretariat were
prepared in 1995
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
UNFCCC was ratified after 1 July 1992.
The latest report to the UNFCCC Secretariat was submitted in 1995.
Additional comments relevant to this chapter
Estonia signed the Framework Convention in Rio in June 1992.
The Parliament of Estonia ratified the Convention on
May 11, 1994 and the Act on Ratification of the UNFCCC was declared
by the President on May 26, 1994. The
Convention entered into force for Estonia on October 28, 1994. An
interministerial committee for the implementation of
the Convention was established in January 1995.
Estonia presented its first national communication to the COP
1 in March 1995. In 1996, the In-depth Review Team,
composed of the Secretariat of the UNFCCC, visited Estonia in order
to review National Communication and gather
additional information on the implementation of the Convention.
The Report of the results of this visit is expected to be
ready by the end of 1996.
Several ministries and institutions have contributed to the
National Communication, including the Ministry of
Agriculture, Ministry of Economy, Department of Energy, Ministry of
Transport and Communication, Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, Institute of Ecology, and Environmental
Information Centre to the Ministry of the Environment. Estonia
was assisted in the preparation of its communication by the United
States in the framework of the programme "US
Support for Country Studies to Address Climate Change". The work
started in October 1994 and focuses on greenhouse
gas inventories, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change,
mitigation, national strategies and public education. It is
coordinated by the Institute of Ecology.
Currently, Estonia is also participating in two UNEP/GEF
Projects: "Country Case Studies Programme on Climate
Change Impacts and Adaptation Assessment, phase I", and "Economics
of Greenhouse Gases Limitation, phase I".
The Ministry of Environment has the prime responsibility for
climate change related matters. An interministerial
committee on the implementation of the Convention was established
in January 1995. It includes representatives from the
Ministries of economy, environment, energy, agriculture, foreign
affairs and transport, as well as several individual
scientists.
TPES stood at 6.78 Mtoe in 1992, down 33% from 1990. The
decline in energy supply was due to a combination of
reduced demand for energy as a result of the economic recession and
shortages of imported supplies.
Estonia's domestic energy resources consist of oil shale, peat and
wood. Oil shale, a sedimentary rock which decomposes
to yield oil when heated, is the country's main energy resource,
making up more than half of TPES in 1992. It is mined
on a large, although declining scale - for production fell from 5.0
Mtoe 4.2 Mtoe between 1990 and 1992. It is used
mainly in electricity generation, processing industry and cement
production. Oil shale based electricity
production accounted for 90% of Estonia's electricity output.
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT:
1. Decision-Making Structure: The Ministry of the Environment, Interministerial Committee on Climate Change are primarily responsible for the protection of the atmosphere in Estonia.
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information
3. Major Groups: Both NGOs and the scientific community participate in decision-making in this area.
4. Finance: Mainly international
5. Regional/International Cooperation: No information
|
| CO2 emissions (eq. million tons) | ||||
| SOx " | ||||
| NOx " | ||||
| CH4 " | ||||
| Consumption of ozone depleting substances (Tons) | ||||
| Expenditure on air pollution abatement in US$ equivalents (million) | ||||
| Other data
| ||||
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 10: INTEGRATED APPROACH TO
THE PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT OF LAND
RESOURCES
With the re-establishment of independence in Estonia, revision
of all the plans proved necessary and as a result,
decisions were made on their validity or annulment. The objective
of the revision was to create an awareness of planning
problems on all administrative levels and to exert pressure on
local governments to deal with development problems.
Planning and building in Estonia is based upon the Planning
and Building Act, enforced in 1995. Local governments
have revised the existing plans and, proceeding from legal acts,
reached the following decisions:
- 19 municipalities and 4 towns have new legally appropriate
plans,
- 26 municipalities and 11 towns are in the process of producing
plans,
- 315 small towns and 36 towns maintain revised plans,
- 40 earlier plans are subject to invalidation.
For the dissemination of skills and knowledge required for the
production of comprehensive plans in compliance with
principles of sustainable development and democracy, the Ministry
of Environment, in cooperation with municipalities and
foreign partners (Nordic countries), organizes the work of pilot
projects. The overall objective is to complete up-to-date
comprehensive plans for all municipalities by the year 2005.
The production of country plans has been initiated in each of
the 15 counties. According to the legal acts, these must
be completed by the year 1998.
Work on the national plan "ESTONIA 2010" was initiated in
cooperation with county governments and ministries in
1995 and is envisaged to last for three years.
The first phase of the joint project of all the countries
around the Baltic "Vision & Strategies around the Baltic Sea
2010" (VASAB 2010) was completed as an international plan in 1994.
In the second phase of the joint project, the
Estonian Ministry of Environment is participating in five theme
projects. Through VASAB 2010, a continuous and
integrated planning process in cooperation with Baltic countries
has evolved.
In agreement with valid legislation, comprehensive planning
for municipalities and towns is generally financed by local
government. County and national planning schemes are financed by
the state.
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: Over the 1945-1989 period, plans
for all Estonian towns and rural settlements were produced, as
well as district and national plans.
1. Decision-Making Structure: New legal acts (e.g. Planning and Building Act, 1995; Local Government Act, 1994; Land Reform Act, 1996) and planning regulations and norms (e.g. order of design permit issue, 1996; norms of Estonian street design, draft) have been implemented.
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: 23 local governments have new legally appropriate plans; 37 local governments are in the process of producing new plans; almost 330 plans of different rural settlements and towns are valid with revisions; almost 40 existing plans have been cancelled.
3. Major Groups: Local and county governments, as well as various interest groups (NGOs), are active in this area.
4. Finance: Planning in rural municipalities and towns is financed by local governments. Pilot projects are supported from the state budget. Foreign aid has been available for training and advanced training (Finnish Ministry of Environment, Swedish SIDA, IFHP, PHARE). Financing has been insufficient for planning. County governments would require approximately 200-300 000 EEK per year from the state budget for targeted financing. Rural municipalities and towns would require targeted planning support of approximately 200-400 000 EEK per county annually (1 USD = 12,2 EEK).
5. Regional/International Cooperation: Examples of cooperation include the programmes, Vision & Strategies around the Baltic Sea 2010; Tampere-Helsinki-Tallinn-Riga Development Corridor; Via Baltica; Larger Baltic Islands Development; Baltic Compendium of Planning Legislation; Network of Cities; Opening Estonian Coastal Zone for Tourism; various county, urban and municipal planning schemes with involvement of foreign experts and instructors; joint project of the border town Valga-Valka with ECOS Overture (EU) and with Finland and Sweden; municipal cooperation, i.e. Räpina town and Räpina municipality, planning cooperation between Pepsi Region municipalities, etc.
|
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 11: COMBATING
DEFORESTATION
Working Groups have been the main vehicle for examining
various issues. Their members represent all main interest
groups including the Forestry Department, various Government
Ministries, Forest Industries, Private Forest Owners and
non-governmental organizations. The main task of the Working Groups
has been to identify and analyze suitable
development alternatives in their special field. To support the
analysis, a number of special studies have been carried out.
Based on recommendations of the Working Groups, the National
Coordinator's Office prepared the first draft of the
Forest Policy.
The first draft of the Policy was submitted to the Steering
Committee, which is an official body appointed by the
Government. The Committee is headed by the Minister of Environment,
and the members include civil servants from key
ministries as well as representatives of the private sector and
non-governmental organizations. The Committee produced
the second revised draft focusing on issues requiring political
decision-making, and will later submit it for the
Government's consideration.
The second revised draft will be submitted to the Government
for review and modification as required. When
formulating the final draft, the Government will draw on public
input and debate on the revised draft of the Forest Policy.
The final draft will be approved as the National Forest Policy,
thus constituting the basis for formulating new legislation
as well as development and investment programmes for the forest
sector. It is anticipated that the National Forest Policy
will be approved in 1997.
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: In the early 1990s, the Estonian
forestry sector was organized largely on the basis of
administrative
structures inherited from the Soviet era. The adjustment to a
market economy and new environmental standards proved to
be slow and difficult, and gradually it became apparent that a
thorough overhaul of the sector was needed. The principal
issues were related to organizing public forest administration,
establishing an appropriate balance between forest
production and conservation, and providing support to private
forest owners. In order to accelerate the development in the
forest sector and to improve the basis for legislative reforms, the
Ministry of Environment decided in early 1995 to launch
the Estonian Forestry Development Programme, which includes the
task of formulating a National Forest Policy. The
objectives set for the policy formulation process were :(i) to
define the general objectives for the development of the forest
sector, and (ii) to determine the action to be taken by the public
sector in order to reach these objectives. The process has
been under way since September 1995.
1. Decision-Making Structure: Ministry of the Environment and Forestry Board are the institutions primarily responsible for sustainable forestry in Estonia.
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information
3. Major Groups: No information
4. Finance: No information
5. Regional/International Cooperation: Helsinki Process, ECE/FAO
|
| Forest Area (Km2) | ||||
| Protected forest area | ||||
| Roundwood production (solid volume of roundwood without bark in mill m3) | ||||
| Deforestation rate (Km2/annum) | ||||
| Reforestation rate (Km2/annum) | ||||
| Other data
| ||||
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 12: MANAGING FRAGILE
ECOSYSTEMS: COMBATING DESERTIFICATION AND
DROUGHT
International Convention to Combat Desertification in Countries
Experiencing Drought and/or Desertification
Particularly in Africa
Each party shall file reports on implementation with the Conference
of Parties, as often and in the form to be determined. Parties are
to report on
development of national action programmes. The Conference shall
assist affected developing countries to make reports.
Convention
No information
The latest report to the Secretariat of the Convention was
prepared in 19--.
Additional comments relevant to this chapter
No information
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT:
1. Decision-Making Structure: No information
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information
3. Major Groups: No information
4. Finance: No information
5. Regional/International Cooperation: No information
|
| ||||
| Land affected by desertification (Km2) | ||||
| Other data
| ||||
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 13: MANAGING FRAGILE
ECOSYSTEMS: SUSTAINABLE MOUNTAIN DEVELOPMENT
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: No information
1. Decision-Making Structure: No information
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information
3. Major Groups: No information
4. Finance: No information
5. Regional/International Cooperation: No information
|
|
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 14: PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE
AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: According to the Act on
Sustainable Development, promotion of sustainable agriculture and
rural
development is a social priority. This is also stressed in the
National Report on Biodiversity.
1. Decision-Making Structure: Parliament, the Ministry of
Agriculture, and the Ministry of the Environment are the
institutions that are primarily responsible for sustainable
agriculture and rural development policy in Estonia.
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: Scientific
Institutes, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Information Center
of the Ministry of the Environment are the major actors in this
area.
3. Major Groups: No information
4. Finance: State budget, Environmental Fund, and Forest
Capital are the primary sources of financing.
5. Regional/International Cooperation: Included are Baltic
Cooperation, Cooperation with the European Union and the
Council of Europe
| Agricultural land (Km2) | |||||||||
| Agricultural land as % of total land area | |||||||||
| Agricultural land per capita | |||||||||
| 1995 | |||||||||
| Consumption of fertilizers per
Km2 of agricultural land as of 1990 * Mineral fertilizers (NPK total, Kg) * Organic fertilizers (Kg) |
582,3
341,9
240,3 Other data
| | |||||||
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 15: CONSERVATION OF
BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
Convention on Biological Diversity
Parties are to develop national strategies, plans and programmes
for sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity and integrate
them into general
development plans.
Parties shall identify, monitor and maintain data on components of
biodiversity.
Parties shall introduce appropriate procedures requiring EIAs for
projects likely to have significant adverse effects on biological
diversity.
Parties shall submit reports on measures which it has taken for the
implementation of the Convention, at intervals to be determined.
Convention
signed in 1992; and ratified after 1 July 1992
Latest report submitted in 1996.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora
Convention ratified after 1 July 1992.
Latest report submitted in 1996.
Additional comments relevant to this chapter: According to
the Government, one of most important goals in this area
was to draft and pass the Act on Sustainable Development which was
approved by the Riigikogu on February 22, 1995.
The Act states, "Preservation of biological diversity shall be
guaranteed through a national programme and an action plan
approved by the Government of the Republic of Estonia, the
implementation of which shall be financed from the national
budget..." (Art.9).
In the autumn of 1995, two important national policy papers
were drafted: the Estonian Environmental Strategy and
the Estonian Forest Policy. Both of them included a biodiversity
section and the draft versions of the documents position
the biodiversity issue rather highly. Both documents were finished
by the Fall 1996 and presented to the Government for
approval.
As for the implementation of the Convention on Biodiversity at
the national level, contacts have been promoted
between authorities in different sectors which deal with issues
related to biodiversity: e.g., agriculture, fisheries, forestry,
and scientific institutions. Various activities have been
implemented in those sectors in regards to the in situ and
ex situ
conservation of species, the maintenance and breeding of local
animal breeds and cultivars of plants, and spatial and land
use planning in areas with protected landscapes, etc. Existing
infrastructure includes a well-developed network of
protected areas, databases concerning local cultivated plant
species and animal breeds, seed banks of forest trees, gene
banks established for different purposes, specific programmes for
species protection managed by botanical gardens and the
zoo, and national monitoring programmes concerning fisheries,
forests, and biological resources in general. According to
the Government, all of the above-mentioned activities would have
been impossible without learning from international
experience and participating in processes at the international
level.
The monitoring system, based on state finances, was
established in Estonia to monitor the use of natural resources
(forest, fish, mineral resources, water), as well as for monitoring
protected and endangered species and communities.
The National Biodiversity Strategy, approved by the GEF, will
help Estonia establish a comprehensive cross-sectoral
framework which can be used in the future for inter alia
project identification and acquisition of funding for activities
aimed at the preservation and sustainable management of
biodiversity. The document will also be important for the
preparation of background documents for an integrated biodiversity
management planning process, the promotion of
public involvement and participation in this process, as well as
encourage local initiative.
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT:
1. Decision-Making Structure: The Governmental Commission
on Biodiversity and Ministry of the Environment are the
institutions primarily responsible for the conservation of
biodiversity in Estonia. The Government of Estonia established a
special Governmental Commission to deal with issues related to
biological diversity, and developed a concrete agenda for
its implementation. The ministerial ad hoc group on
sustainable development - the Committee on Sustainable Development
- has been involved in issues related to the Convention of
Biological Diversity since 1993. The main task of the group has
been to influence government policies towards greater consideration
of sustainable development principles in national
policy. In 1995, Estonia also established a national ad hoc Task
Group on CBD.
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: UNEP supported a
Biodiversity Country Study project which is currently
being finalized. The project will define "basic needs" for the
effective conservation and rational use of national
biodiversity at a desired level, estimate the costs and benefits
related to these "basic needs", as well as define the
necessary support measures required to fulfill them, and provide
the foundation for the preparation and implementation of
a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.
The project, "Implementation of the Act on Sustainable
Development and the Biodiversity Convention in Estonia",
funded by the EU LIFE programme, provides the possibility to
evaluate ways of integrating the requirements of the
Convention into the management plans of protected areas.
3. Major Groups: No information
4. Finance: Funds are derived from the State Budget, the
Environmental Fund, and the Fisheries Fund. The application
for support for the preparation of the National Biodiversity
Strategy, Action Plan (NBSAP), and First National Report to
the Convention on Biological Diversity was approved by the GEF.
5. Regional/International Cooperation: A very significant step
in implementing the requirements of the Convenntion
was the signing of the Association Agreement between Estonia and
the European Union in 1995. This led, inter alia, to a
resolution to develop legislation on biotechnology and GMO in 1997.
Among others, cooperation with UNEP, the World Bank, and a
number of bilateral partners has been of high
importance. Among the most important initiatives are the
UNEP-supported Biodiversity Country Study project (see
above); the Keypoints for National Biodiversity Action Plan for
Estonia, a triple project for the three Baltic countries
funded by the World Bank; the project, "Implementation of the Act
on Sustainable Development and the Biodiversity
Convention in Estonia," funded by EU LIFE; and the support from the
GEF for preparation of Estonia's National
Biodiversity Strategy, Action Plan and First National Report to the
Convention on Biological Diversity.
Also important have been the international seminars
"Environmental Conventions and the Baltic States" held in
Tabasalu, Estonia in 1993, and Parnu, Estonia in 1995 organized by
the Stockholm Environment Institute - Tallinn, and
the workshop on the status and implementation of the CITES
Convention and CBD in the Baltic States, organized by the
Ministry of the Environment of Estonia and the Baltic Environmental
Forum (June 1996); and the UNEP Workshop on the
Practical Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity
in the Baltic Countries held in Tallin on October 16-19, 1994.
| Protected area as % of total land area | |||
| Number of threatened species | |||
| Other data: 4 natural parks, 60 nature reserves, 200 landscape reserves, 1 biosphere reserves. | |||
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 16: ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND
MANAGEMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: No information
1. Decision-Making Structure: No information
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information
3. Major Groups: No information
4. Finance: No information
5. Regional/International Cooperation: No information
|
|
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 17: PROTECTION OF THE
OCEANS, ALL KINDS OF SEAS, INCLUDING ENCLOSED
AND SEMI-ENCLOSED SEAS, AND COASTAL AREAS AND THE PROTECTION,
RATIONAL USE AND DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR LIVING RESOURCES
The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea
No information
See also the attached tables on the next pages.
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT:
1. Decision-Making Structure: No information
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information
3. Major Groups: No information
4. Finance: No information
5. Regional/International Cooperation: No information
| Catches of marine species (metric tons) ton | ||||
| Population in coastal areas | ||||
| Population served by waste water treatment (% of
country's total population) | ||||
| Discharges of oil into coastal waters (metric tons) ton | ||||
| Releases of phosphate into coastal waters (metric tons) P total, ton | ||||
| Releases of nitrate into coastal waters (metric tons) N total, ton | ||||
| Other data BOD7 38,000 (1990) 4,480 (1995)
| ||||
Chapter 17 (Oceans) Continued:
| Check the boxes in the column below left: | Check the boxes in the column below right: |
| For level of importance use: | For level of implementation use: |
| *** = very important | *** = fully covered |
| ** = important | ** = well covered- gaps being addressed |
| * = not important | * = poorly covered |
| N = not relevant | O = not covered; N = not relevant |
TABLE I. THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED BY THE APPROPRIATE COORDINATING MECHANISM FOR INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF COASTAL AND MARINE AREAS AND THEIR RESOURCES.
|
| |
| a. Preparation and implementation of land and water use and siting policies. | ||
| b. Implementation of integrated coastal and marine management and sustainable development plans and programmes at appropriate levels. | ||
| c. Preparation of coastal profiles identifying critical areas including eroded zones, physical processes, development patterns, user conflicts and specific priorities for management. | ||
| d. Prior environmental impact assessment, systematic observation and follow-up of major projects, including systematic incorporation of results in decision-making. | ||
| e. Contingency plans for human induced and natural disasters. | ||
| f. Improvement of coastal human settlements, especially in housing, drinking water and treatment and disposal of sewage, solid wastes and industrial effluents. | ||
| g. Periodic assessment of the impacts of external factors and phenomena to ensure that the objectives of integrated management and sustainable development of coastal areas and marine environment are met. | ||
| h. Conservation and restoration of altered critical habitats. | ||
| I. Integration of sectoral programmes on sustainable development for settlements, agriculture, tourism, fishing, ports and industries affecting the coastal areas. | ||
| J. Infrastructure adaptation and alternative employment. | ||
| K. Human resource development and training. | ||
| L. Public education, awareness and information programmes. | ||
| M. Promoting environmentally sound technology and sustainable practices. | ||
| N. Development and simultaneous implementation of environmental quality criteria. |
TABLE II. TECHNOLOGY (MARINE ENVIRONMENT)
|
| |
| A. Apply preventive, precautionary and anticipatory approaches so as to avoid degradation of the marine environment, as well as to reduce the risk of long-term or irreversible adverse effects upon it. | ||
| B. Ensure prior assessment of activities that may have significant adverse impacts upon the marine environment. | ||
| C. Integrate protection of the marine environment into relevant general environmental, social and economic development policies. | ||
| D. Develop economic incentives, where appropriate, to apply clean technologies and other means consistent with the internalization of environmental costs, such as the polluter pays principle, so as to avoid degradation of the marine environment. | ||
| E. Improve the living standards of coastal populations, particularly in developing countries, so as to contribute to reducing the degradation of the coastal and marine environment. | ||
| F. Effective monitoring and surveillance within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of fish harvesting and transportation of toxic and other hazardous materials. |
TABLE III. SEWAGE RELATED ISSUES
|
| |
| A. Sewage related problems are considered when formulating or reviewing coastal development plans, including human development plans. | ||
| B. Sewage treatment facilities are built in accordance with national policies. | ||
| C. Coastal outfalls are located so as to maintain acceptable level of environmental quality and to avoid exposing shell fisheries, water intakes and bathing areas to pathogens. | ||
| D. The Government promotes primary treatment of municipal sewage discharged to rivers, estuaries and the sea, or other solutions appropriate to specific sites. | ||
| E. The Government supports the establishment and improvement of local, national, subregional and regional, as necessary, regulatory and monitoring programmes to control effluent discharge. Minimum sewage effluent guidelines and water quality criteria are in use. |
TABLE IV. OTHER SOURCES OF MARINE POLLUTION, THE GOVERNMENT HAS:
|
| |
| A. Established or improved upon, as necessary, regulatory and monitoring programmes to control emissions, including recycling technologies. | ||
| B. Promoted risk and environmental impact assessments to help ensure an acceptable level of environmental quality.n | ||
| C. Promoted assessment and cooperation at the regional level, where appropriate, with respect to the input of point source pollutants from the marine environment. | ||
| D. Taken steps to eliminate emissions or discharges of organohalogen compounds from the marine environment. | ||
| E. Taken steps to eliminate/reduce emissions or discharges or other synthetic organic compounds from the marine environment. | ||
| F. Promoted controls over anthropogenic inputs of nitrogen and phosphorous that enter coastal waters where such problems as euthrophication threaten the marine environment or its resources. | ||
| G. Taken steps to develop and implement environmentally sound land-use techniques and practices to reduce run-off to water courses and estuaries which would cause pollution or degradation of the marine environment. | ||
| H. Promoted the use of environmentally less harmful pesticides and fertilizers and alternative methods for pest control, and considered the prohibition of those found to be environmentally unsound. | ||
| I. Adopted new initiatives at national, subregional and regional levels for controlling the input of non-point source pollutants which require broad changes in sewage and waste management, agricultural practices, mining, construction and transportation. | ||
| J. Taken steps to control and prevent coastal erosion and siltation due to anthropogenic factors related to, inter alia, land-use and construction techniques and practices. |
TABLE V. ADDRESSING CRITICAL UNCERTAINTIES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE. IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAMME AREA THE GOVERNMENT IS CARRYING OUT THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES:
|
| |
| A. Coordinating national and regional observation programmes for coastal and near-shore phenomena related to climate change and for research parameters essential for marine and coastal management in all regions. | ||
| B. Providing improved forecasts of marine conditions for the safety of inhabitants of coastal areas and for the efficiency of marine operations. | ||
| C. Adopting special measures to cope with and adapt to potential climate change and sea-level rise. | ||
| D. Participating in coastal vulnerability assessment, modelling and response strategies particularly for priority areas, such as small islands and low-lying and critical coastal areas. | ||
| E. Identifying ongoing and planned programmes os systematic observation of the marine environment, with a view to integrating activities and establishing priorities to address critical uncertainties for oceans and all seas. | ||
| F. Research to determine the marine biological effects of increased levels of ultraviolet rays due to the depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer. | ||
| G. Carrying out analysis, assessments and systematic observation of the role of oceans as a carbon sink. |
TABLE VI. RATING OF ACTIVITIES IN THE AIR AND MARITIME TRANSPORT SECTORS IN THE SMALL ISLANDS DEVELOPING STATES (SIDS)
| 1. Frequency (external flights) | 1. Frequency (external shipping) | ||
| 2. Frequency (in-country flights) | 2. Frequency (in-country shipping) | ||
| 3. Cooperation at regional level in air transport and civil aviation | 3. Cooperation at regional level in shipping | ||
| 4. Cooperation at international level | 4. Cooperation at international level | ||
| 5. Economic viability of national air line | 5. Economic viability of national shipping line(s) | ||
| 6. Economic viability of regional air line | 6. Economic viability of regional shipping line (s) | ||
| 7. national level training in skills for air transport sector | 7. National level training in skills for maritime transport sector | ||
| 8. Access to training in skills for air transport sector within the region | 8. Regional level training in skills for maritime transport sector | ||
| 9. Access to international training for air transport sector | 9. Access to international training for maritime transport sector | ||
| 10. Supportive of ICAO |
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 18: PROTECTION OF THE
QUALITY AND SUPPLY OF FRESHWATER RESOURCES:
APPLICATION OF INTEGRATED APPROACHES TO THE DEVELOPMENT,
MANAGEMENT AND USE OF WATER RESOURCES
The Estonia Water Management Development Plan is a document in
which general principles and goals of water
protection and water supply are formulated.
Concrete measures to fulfill international obligations and
internal water policy goals are defined in the Estonian Water
Protection Programme for the years 1995-1998. Based on this
programme, detailed Water Protection Programmes for
each year have been elaborated. The programmes contain investment
plans for the construction and reconstruction of
waste water treatment plants, sewerage systems and drinking water
supply systems, as well as plans for financing applied
research and the elaboration of legislation concerning water
management.
It is estimated that investments on a scale of approximately
100 MECU are needed for solving water management
problems in Estonia. At present, only 1/3 of these needed finances
are guaranteed by allocations from budgets, loan
agreements, assistance from foreign countries, and PHARE.
Through the Water Protection Programme, the construction and
reconstruction of 54 wastewater treatment and drinking
water supply projects were financed in 1996. Of main importance
were projects that included investments in Tallinn,
Tartu and Haapsalu water management systems and small municipal
projects. The main domestic sources of financing
include the state budget (5.4 MECU), Environmental Fund (1.4 MECU)
and local budgets (ca 7 MECU). Of foreign
sources, loans from the World Bank and IBRD, assistance from
Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland,
Norway, NEFCO and PHARE must be emphasized.
Although the Estonian Water Protection Programme for the
1995-1998 period is not completely financed at this time, it
is expected that in 1988, almost all Estonian towns with a
population over 10,000, can meet the requirements of
HELCOM recommendation 9/2 concerning BOD7 (<15 mg/1) and
phosphorus (<1.5 mg/1).
Assuming that the Water Protection Programme will be more or
less successfully implemented and taking into account
the remarkable decrease in water consumption and pollution from
municipalities, industries and agriculture (due to
decrease of production and reorganization of economy), it is
expected that Estonia can generally meet the 50% reduction
goal of Ministerial Declaration 1988.
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: Several relevant plans and
programmes have been elaborated during recent years in Estonia to
implement the Declaration on the Protection of the Marine
Environment of the Baltic Sea, (1988); meet Helsinki
Commission recommendations; improve water quality of the Baltic Sea
and inland water bodies; and supply the population
with high quality drinking water.
1. Decision-Making Structure: The Ministry of Environment
is the body mainly responsible for issues related to
freshwater resources.
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information
3. Major Groups: No information
4. Finance: Approximately US$ 30 million is needed per year
for the qualitative modernization of Estonian water
management. Domestic funds include the state budget, the
Environmental Fund, and local budgets. Of foreign sources,
loans from the World Bank and IBRD, and assistance from Finland,
Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Norway,
NEFCO and PHARE are all important. According to preliminary
negotiations, the purchase of water measurement
equipment will be financed through EU PHARE funds.
5. Regional/International Cooperation: Estonia was the
first of the newly independent Baltic states which acceded to the
Baltic Sea Convention (signed originally in 1974) which was revised
in 1992. Estonian scientists have regularly
participated in the technical activities of the Helsinki Commission
(HELCOM) since 1974. Estonia has cooperated in
fulfilling its responsibilities regarding joint decisions made in
the Convention.
| | ||||
| Fresh water availability (total domestic/external in million m3) | ||||
| Annual withdrawal of freshwater as % of available water | ||||
| Other data
| ||||
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 19: ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND
MANAGEMENT OF TOXIC CHEMICALS, INCLUDING
PREVENTION OF ILLEGAL INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC IN TOXIC AND DANGEROUS
PRODUCTS
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: No information
1. Decision-Making Structure: No information
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information
3. Major Groups: No information
4. Finance: No information
5. Regional/International Cooperation: No information
|
|
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 20: ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND
MANAGEMENT OF HAZARDOUS WASTES,
INCLUDING PREVENTION OF ILLEGAL INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC IN HAZARDOUS
WASTES
The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements
of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal
Parties shall cooperate to disseminate information on transboundary
movement of hazardous wastes. Parties shall cooperate to promote
environmentally
sound low-waste technologies, to transfer technology and cooperate
in developing codes of practice. Parties to assist developing
countries.
Parties shall immediately inform affected parties as to accidents.
Prior to the end of each calendar year, parties shall provide the
following information
on the preceding calendar year: (a) the authorities handling
Convention matters; (b) information regarding the transboundary
movement of hazardous
wastes; (c) measures adopted to implement convention; (d) available
statistics on human health and environmental effects of generation,
transport and
disposal of hazardous wastes; (e) information on agreements entered
into; (f) information on accidents; (g) information on disposal
options; and (h)
information on development of waste-reduction technologies;
Basel Convention
signed in 1992; and ratified after 1 July 1992
The latest information was provided to the Basel Convention
Secretariat in 1995.
Additional comments relevant to this chapter
Annual waste generation in Estonia (according to data registered in
1995) was 13.4 million tons. Of this sum,
approximately 7.3 million tons can be characterized as hazardous
waste. The greatest amount of wastes are generated in
oil-shale mining, chemistry and oil-shale based power production
activities. At present, there are very few specialized
hazardous waste treatment facilities in Estonia. In the absence of
treatment facilities, the majority of hazardous wastes is
deposited in special repositories or disposed of in common domestic
waste landfills. The Ministry of Environment, in
cooperation with Denmark and EU-PHARE Cross Border Cooperation
Programme, is currently implementing the first
phase of establishing a nation-wide system for collection,
transport, treatment and final disposal of hazardous waste.
In recent years, a number of companies have been established
whose main activity is the disposal of hazardous waste.
Currently, they are able to treat only small amounts of the waste
generated. Annual limits for waste deposits are
established for enterprises with waste permits issued by local
environmental authorities. The classification of hazardous
wastes is based on the Estonian Waste Classifier (1991), the
International Waste Identification Code (IWIC), and on the
principles used for waste identification according to the Basel
Convention. Using this system, the Ministry of
Environment has begun to cooperate with the State Statistics Board
to collect information on waste generation, treatment
and disposal.
The inventory of contaminated sites in former Soviet military
areas has been carried out in order to identify measures
required for their clean up.
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT:
1. Decision-Making Structure: The Ministry of Environment
is responsible for issues related to hazardous waste. The
main legislative document is the Waste Act (1992). In this Act,
principles of waste prevention, minimization and source
reduction are determined. Several lower-level regulative acts have
been issued as regulations of the Government or of the
Ministry of the Environment, e.g.: the Estonian Waste Classifier
(1991); On Issuing of Licenses for Handling of
Hazardous Waste (1992); On Issuing of Waste Permits (1992); On
Labelling of Hazardous Waste (1992); and On Export,
Import and Transit Movements of Hazardous and Other Waste (1992).
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: Existing education
and training systems in the field of hazardous waste
management are insufficient. The establishment of centers
providing training and information on environmentally sound
technologies and hazardous waste management will be necessary in
the near future.
3. Major Groups: Larger industrial enterprises are
encouraged to treat, recycle, re-use and/or dispose of their
wastes, at
the source.
4. Finance: Economic regulatory incentives have been
implemented to stimulate waste minimization, re-use and
recycling. The Government of Estonia has established special fees
for waste disposal and rates, depending on the degree
of hazard. The fees paid by companies are directed to the
Environmental Fund and used as financial resources for
investments, research and implementation programmes in the field of
waste management.
5. Regional/International Cooperation: Estonia ratified the
Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary
Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal in 1992, and the
Convention came into force in the same year.
Estonia participates in international cooperation within the
framework of the Basel Convention, and takes part in the
preparation of technical guidelines for environmentally sound
management of hazardous wastes with UNEP.
| Generation of hazardous waste (1000 t) | ||||
| Import of hazardous wastes (t) | ||||
| Export of hazardous wastes (t) | ||||
| Area of land contaminated by hazardous waste (km2) | ||||
| Expenditure on hazardous waste treatment (US$) | ||||
| a National Information of Estonia to the CSD
1994
| ||||
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 21: ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND
MANAGEMENT OF SOLID WASTES AND SEWAGE-RELATED ISSUES
The main means of handling municipal waste is disposal at
landfills. There are no facilities for incinerating or
composting domestic waste. According to the inventory of landfills
in 1995, there were 279 functioning municipal landfills
in Estonia, most of them in rural areas. The majority of rural
landfills are small, insufficiently managed and often do not
meet environmental quality criteria. New landfills for the biggest
cities (Tallinn, Tartu, Pärnu, Jõhvi) are planned to be
designed and constructed according to international environmental
criteria. For this purpose, new guidelines and standards
will be introduced in accordance with European Union legislation.
To encourage use of recyclable materials, particularly
packaging materials and wastes, the Packaging Act has been approved
by the Riigikogu (Parliament) in 1995.
In order to promote waste minimization technologies and
procedures, programmes for some industries are being
developed and implemented in cooperation with experts from the USA
and Denmark.
One of the Government's main goals is to extend and improve
waste collection and transportation systems.
Privatization processes in Estonia are having an impact in this
area. Privatization will promote the application of the
Polluter Pays Principle in waste management through the
establishment of service charge rates which will ensure that
generators of waste cover the full cost of their disposal in an
environmentally sound manner. Due to economic constraints,
currently some companies, as well as a part of population, cannot
afford to pay the full-scale costs of waste disposal.
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: Solid household wastes, including
commercial waste, street sweepings, construction debris etc.,
form a relatively small part of total waste generated annually in
Estonia. Approximately 533 thousand tons of solid waste
were disposed of in 1995 by waste collection and transportation
companies in landfills and waste deposit sites. Waste-related
services organized by municipalities and private companies cover
areas with a population of about 900,000 people,
approximately 60% of the population.
1. Decision-Making Structure: The decision-making
structure, legislative framework and general policies in the area
of
solid waste correspond to those of hazardous waste discussed in
chapter 20.
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information
3. Major Groups: Companies have an important role in the
management and minimization of solid waste.
4. Finance: Please refer to "Status" above
5. Regional/International Cooperation: International
partners in the field of Estonia's waste management are the
countries of Baltic region, mainly Denmark and Finland.
| Generation of municipal waste (1000 t) | ||||
| Waste disposed(Kg/capita) | ||||
| Expenditure on waste collection and treatment (US$) | ||||
| Waste recycling rates (%) | ||||
| Municipal waste disposal (Kg/capita) | ||||
| Waste reduction rates per unit of GDP (t/year) | ||||
| a National Information of Estonia to the CSD
1994
In 1995, 60% of population were covered by municipal waste services.
| ||||
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 22: SAFE AND
ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES
Though Estonia is a non-nuclear country, because of uranium
processing at Sillamäe, there is a large uranium milling
tailings depository. Geotechnical investigations of the depository
have shown that the dam's stability does not meet
international requirements. Initiatives are being taken to
strengthen the dam.
In the near future, the Government intends to close the Tammiku
facility and to store the radioactive waste at the
Paldiski facility exclusively.
NATIONAL PRIORITY: High
STATUS REPORT: There are currently two sites for
the management and storage of radioactive wastes in Estonia. One
was established for low and intermediate level waste at Tammiku,
12km south from Tallinn. It used to serve as a central
treatment and storage facility for the radioactive waste in
Estonia. The Tammiku facility was designed in accordance with
criteria developed in Moscow in the end of the 1950s. Approximately
55% of the vault's capacity is presently occupied.
The other is situated at the former Soviet Navy training centre at
Paldiski, 45 km WNW from Tallinn. There are two
storage facilities for radioactive waste at the site, one for
liquid and another for solid waste. The storage of radioactive
wastes at the Paldiski facility is now performed by using concrete
containers from Sweden.
1. Decision-Making Structure: The operating authority in Estonia for the storage of radioactive waste is ALARA Ltd., while the controlling authority is the Estonian Radiation Protection Centre.
2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information
3. Major Groups: No information
4. Finance: No information
5. Regional/International Cooperation: No information
|
|
| |
| Ch. 24: GLOBAL ACTION FOR WOMEN TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE AND
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women was signed on 20 November 1991
accession on 21 October 1991
24.b Increasing the proportion of women decision makers. Percentage of women: in government % 22% (1992) - (1996) in parliament % 11% (1992) 11% (1996) at local government level % 20.7% (1992) - (1996) 24.2.e assessing, reviewing, revising and implementing curricula and other educational material with a view to promoting dissemination of gender-relevant knowledge. Curricula and educational material already promote gender relevant knowledge
24.2.f and 24.2.c formulating and implementing policies, guidelines, strategies and plans for achievement of equality in all aspects of society including issuing a strategy by year 2000 to eliminate obstacles to full participation of women in sustainable development. Policies/strategies etc. are being drawn up
24.2.d establishing mechanisms by 1995 to assess implementation and impact of development and environment policies and programmes on women Mechanisms are being developed
Brief comments on this chapter (maximum 100 words) (please, do not exceed this page): Women took a very active part in political processes during the period of preparation for independence from 1988-1991. Movements such as the fight against mandatory conscription in the Soviet army had its start and ultimate realization due to the instigation of women's organizations. The 1995 parliamentary elections demonstrated the worldwide tendency towards decreased numbers of women in higher decision-making bodies. There is an established commission between various Estonian Ministries which deal with gender-related issues. | |
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| Ch. 25: CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT. 25.4 establishing processes that promote dialogue between the youth and government at all levels and mechanisms that permit youth access to information and opportunity to present their views on implementing A21. Name relevant youth fora (3-4 most important): 1. Estonian Children Organisation 2. Ayfa Estonia 3. Forest Youth 4. Tartu Students Society for Nature
Describe their role in the national process: Advisory 25.6 reducing youth unemployment Youth unemployment 1992:______________ 1996: 3% (We have no exact statistics about it yet) 25.5 ensuring that by year 2000 more than 50% of youth -- gender balanced -- have access to appropriate secondary education or vocational training. The goal set in Agenda 21: has been reached
Brief comments on this chapter (maximum 100 words) (please, do not exceed this page): There is no environmentally active youth organization at the moment in Estonia.
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| Ch. 26: RECOGNIZING AND STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND THEIR
COMMUNITIES.
26.3.a establishing a process to empower indigenous people and their communities -- through policies and legal instruments: in place
26.3.b strengthening arrangements for active participation in national policies indigenous people participate fully in appropriate national processes
26.3.c involving indigenous people in resource management strategies and programmes at the national and local level. indigenous people are fully involved
Brief comments on this chapter (maximum 100 words) (please, do not exceed this page): No information
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| Ch. 27: STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS: PARTNERS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. 27.5 developing mechanisms that allow NGOs to play their partnership role responsibly and effectively. 27.6 reviewing formal procedures and mechanisms to involve NGOs in decision making and implementation. 27.8 promoting and allowing NGOs to participate in the conception, establishment and evaluation of official mechanisms to review Agenda 21 implementation. Mechanisms exist already NGOs are participating fully
27.7 establishing a mutually productive dialogue by 1995 at the national level between NGOs and governments.
Brief comments on this chapter (maximum 100 words) (please, do not exceed this page): There is mutually productive dialogue between NGOs and Government. An important role for implementing Agenda 21 is filled by the Estonian Green Movement and by the Stockholm Environmental Institute of Estonia Branch. These organizations are participating in the conception, establishment and evaluation of official mechanisms. They are also involved in the elaboration of a regional Agenda 21.
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| Ch. 28: LOCAL AUTHORITIES' INITIATIVES IN SUPPORT OF
AGENDA 21.
28.2.d encouraging local authorities to implement and monitor programmes that aim to ensure participation of women and youth in local decision making. There are at least ------ local agenda 21s. -----% involve representation of women and/or youth They involve ----% of population Government support of local agenda 21 initiatives: plans to support
Brief comments on this chapter (maximum 100 words) (please, do not exceed this page): No information
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| Ch. 29: STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF WORKERS AND
THEIR TRADE UNIONS. 29.2 full participation of workers in implementation and evaluation of A21. 29.3 a to e (By year 2000, (a) promoting ratification of ILO conventions; (b) establishing bipartite and tripartite mechanism on safety, health and sustainable development; (c) increasing number of environmental collective agreements; (d) reducing occupational accidents and injuries; (e) increasing workers' education and training efforts. LO Conventions have been ratified; Workers take some part in National Agenda 21 discussions/implementation
Brief comments on this chapter (maximum 100 words) (please, do not exceed this page): Estonia has ratified 21 conventions between 1922-1938 and 7 conventions between 1993-1996.
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| 30: STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY. 30.6 increasing the efficiency of resource use, including reuse, recycling, and reduction of waste per unit of economic output. There are governmental policies encouraging the above objective. There are governmental policies requiring recycling etc.
30.18.a encouraging the concept of stewardship in management and use of natural resources by entrepreneurs.
List any actions taken in this area: One of the steps the Government has taken towards sustainable development is the use of economic instruments. The prices for the use of natural resources and pollution charge rates were raised pursuant to the rise of the consumer price index (by 1.417). All revenue collected from taxes and charges are allocated to the environmental fund.
30.18.b increasing number of enterprises that subscribe to and implement sustainable development policies.
A few big enterprises have adopted sustainable development policies. A few Small and Medium sized enterprises have adopted sustainable development policies.
Brief comments on this chapter (maximum 100 words) (please, do not exceed this page): All of the enterprises that have to pay charges, revenues and taxes for the use of natural resources or for pollution have to act in a sustainable manner. Taxes and other charges will increase annually where the behaviour of enterprises has not improved. Where positive results for environmental protection have taken place, the tax burden decreases.Rates increase each year for those businesses that pay pollution charges, revenues and taxes. Pollution charges are a complex indicator of pollution extent (range). According to this indicator, 80% of the total pollution volume in Estonia originates from twenty enterprises.
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| Ch. 31: SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL
COMMUNITY. 31.3.b improving exchange of knowledge and concerns between s&t community and the general public. scientific community has already established ways in which to address the general public and deal with sustainable development.
31.9 developing, improving and promoting international acceptance of codes of practice and guidelines related to science and technology and its role in reconciling environment and development.
Brief comments on this chapter not already described in chapter 35 (maximum 100 words) (please, do not exceed this page): No information
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| Ch. 32: STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF
FARMERS. 32.5.c promoting and encouraging sustainable farming practices and technologies.
32.5.e developing a policy framework that provides incentives and motivation among farmers for sustainable and efficient farming practices.
32.5.f enhancing participation of organizations of farmers in design and implementation of sustainable development policies.
Brief comments on this chapter (maximum 100 words) (please, do not exceed this page): Government policies are promoting and encouraging sustainable practices and technologies. In cooperation with the Board of Education, the Ministry of Environment prepared teaching materials for environmental education and organized a seminar on water protection problems in agriculture for the teachers of agricultural schools.
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AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 33: FINANCIAL RESOURCES
AND MECHANISMS
Financial resources and mechanisms are also covered under each
sectoral chapter of Agenda 21 where
relevant. This summary highlights broader national financial
policies, domestic and external
(including ODA)
CHANGES IN NATIONAL BUDGET TO ADDRESS SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT: The Estonian Ministry of
Environment receives 222,6 mil. EEK (Estonian Kroons) from the
national budget for the implementation of policies and
strategies for nature protection and sustainable development.
NEW ECONOMIC INSTRUMENTS: Pollution charges and resource
taxes are the most important economic
instruments used for promoting sustainable development.
Eight percent of state investment programmes supports local
environmental infrastructure for the building and
reconstruction of various environmentally important
developments.
ELIMINATION OF ENVIRONMENTALLY UNFRIENDLY SUBSIDIES: No
information
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: No information
| ODA policy issues No information
|
| ODA funding provided or received (Total US$million) | ||||||
| Net flow of external capital from all sources as % of GDP | ||||||
| Other data
| ||||||
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 34: TRANSFER OF
ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND TECHNOLOGY, COOPERATION AND
CAPACITY-BUILDING
Transfer of environmentally sound technology, cooperation and
capacity-building is also covered under each sectoral
chapter of Agenda 21 where relevant. This summary highlights
broader national policies and actions relating to chapter
34.
NATIONAL PRIORITY: Sustainable Development
STATUS REPORT ON LINKS BETWEEN NATIONAL, REGIONAL
AND INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION
NETWORKS/SYSTEMS: No information
| Describe any work being undertaken at the national or
local level regarding efforts to promote clean production
processes and/or the concepts of eco-efficiency. These processes
may include training, preferential financial
arrangements, information dissemination and changes in legal or
regulatory frameworks. The Package Law, issued on 3 May 1995, prescribes the implementation of Estonian third-party certified environmental labels, which will be established in the end of 1996. The main goal of this law is the propagation of environmental labelling among producers and customers, as well as training the label jury and criteria commission for European eco-labelling strategies. There have been some cases of ad hoc environmental labelling in Estonia, mainly in the field of soft agriculture. In order to promote environmentally friendly tourism, the Hiiumaa Green Label was established by the Hiiumaa Centre of the West-Estonian Archipelago Biosphere Reserve.
Provide information on the adoption of environmental management systems. National reaction to environmental management system standards such as the ISO 14000 Series and others. Please note efforts made at the national level to promote their adoption and the creation of certification infrastructure in order to facilitate access to these standards to local industry.
A few enterprises, notably small subsidiaries of large foreign firms (e.g., SADOLIN), have begun to adopt environmental management systems. Environmental management system standards ISO 14001: 1996 and ISO 14004:1996 will be adopted by the Estonian Standardization Board (EVS) at the end of 1996. The adoption of EIA and the Environmental Auditing Act by Parliament is expected to take place at the beginning of 1997. Estonia has translated the first ISO auditing standards ISO 14010:1996, ISO 14011:1996 and ISO 14012:1996 and intends to implement these standards in the beginning of 1997. A training program for environmental auditors has begun. The accreditation of certification bodies is provided by EVS according to the Minister of Finance's Regulation No. 45 (25 February 1994) based on the working document CEN/CLS TC 1/WG 2 N17 "General criteria for the assessment of certification bodies" and on the CEN standard EN 45002.
List and describe programs or work under way to facilitate the transfer of ESTs to small and medium sized enterprises. Please note efforts to facilitate access to financial resources and other transfer strategies.
No information
|
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 35: SCIENCE FOR
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
STEPS TAKEN TO ENHANCE SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING, IMPROVE LONG
TERM SCIENTIFIC
ASSESSMENT, BUILDING OF CAPACITY AND CAPABILITY: There are
five different types of research and
development funding by the state: 1) the Ministry of Education
supports infrastructure expenditures (administration,
heating, etc.) for the state research institutions; 2) the Estonian
Science Foundation allocates research grants and general
purpose financing; 3) research grants are allocated on the basis of
the research projects submitted in an open contest; 4)
research and development carried out within the framework of state
and ministerial programmes is financed separately; 5)
the Innovation Foundation supports mainly development projects.
A decision was made recently to increase state investments in
technological development activities and to encourage the
generation of additional resources for research and development
from the private and foreign sectors.
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT ON NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE,
RESEARCH NEEDS AND PRIORITIES:
Estonia is currently undertaking reform in the area of higher
education and research - the primary aim of which is to
restructure research and technological development and raise the
international competitiveness of Estonian higher
education and research. The research is mostly state-funded,
non-military, and concentrated in universities and research
institutions and entails basic and applied research. The specific
priorities of the ongoing reform are: develop a national
innovation system for Estonia's economic growth; increase
cooperation between institutions of higher education and
research and private enterprise in order to support greater sharing
of technology and the transfer of know-how; improve
the quality of teaching and research; and establish the foundation
of an information and knowledge-based society.
| Year | ||||
| Number of scientists, engineers and technicians engaged in research and experimental development | # | 19-- | ||
| Total expenditure for research and experimental development (US$eq.) | $ | 19-- | ||
| Other data
| ||||
| Number of scientists, engineers and technicians engaged in research 1992-1994 by field of science | ||||
| Field | ||||
| Natural sciences | ||||
| Engineering | ||||
| Medical sciences | ||||
| Agricultural sciences | ||||
| Social sciences | ||||
| Humanities | ||||
| Research funding from state budget in 1996 Allocation | ||||
| Infrastructure | ||||
| General purpose allocation | ||||
| Research support | ||||
| Ministry studies (development programmes) | ||||
| Development support through Innovation Foundation | ||||
| 1992 | ||||
| 1993 | ||||
| 1994 | ||||
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 36: PROMOTING EDUCATION,
PUBLIC AWARENESS AND TRAINING
a) Reorientation of education towards sustainable
development: Of the four compulsory cross-curricular themes in
the
Estonian National Curriculum for Primary and Secondary Schools,
Environmental Education is one. In the field of
environmental education, the Government exercises continuous
cooperation with basic and vocational schools, as well as
with Universities.
A new national curriculum will be implemented from year 1997
in grades 1,4,7 and 10. Subsequent curricula have
been compiled incorporating the elements of environmental
education. Each school is required to develop its own school
curriculum. Environmental education is learned as a part of core
subjects through cross-curricular activities and, if the
school chooses to do so, through optional courses. Four different
curriculum materials of environmental education have
been compiled for different levels of education. These materials
were made available to schools for free.
b) Increasing public awareness: Raising public
environmental awareness and shaping an environmentally friendly
consumer is one of the priorities of the national environmental
strategy. Environmental issues are discussed in newspaper,
TV and radio broadcasts. Today, there seems to be less interest in
environmental improvement due to pressing economic
concerns, than before UNCED.
c) Promoting training: In 1995, support was offered to
promote environmental education in biology classes at the
Estonian Youth Hobby Centre Telo and Rapina Higher Horticultural
School. A meeting of young geologists has also taken
place in addition to a countrywide olympiad in biology and
Environ-Tallinn Nature Conservation Society.
Training has been carried out mainly through the Ministry of
the Environment and the Ministry of Education. The
Ministry of Education is responsible for pre- and in-service
training of teachers. There are three Nature Hobby Centers in
Estonia offering in-service training courses for teachers and which
coordinate after-school environmental education
activities for students.
ROLE OF MAJOR GROUPS: No information
FINANCING AND COST EVALUATION OF THE LABOUR ACTIVITIES: The
Estonian Environmental Fund
awarded scholarships to the students of the environmental
protection technology and environmental engineering branches
of Tallinn Technical University. The University of Turku (Finland)
and the Institute of Zoology and Hydrobiology of the
Tartu University in Vilsandi National Park have received financial
support from the Government.
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT: No information
| ||||
| Adult literacy rate (%) Male | ||||
| Adult literacy rate (%) Female | ||||
| % of primary school children reaching grade 5 (1986-97) | ||||
| Mean number of years of schooling* | ||||
| % of GNP spent on education | ||||
| Females per 100 males in secondary school | 104a | |||
| Women per 100 men in the labour force | ||||
| a 1992
* During the last two years, 90% of young people have received secondary school diplomas.
| ||||
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 37: NATIONAL MECHANISMS
AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION FOR CAPACITY-BUILDING IN DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES
National capacity building is also covered under sectoral
chapters.
Donors: You may wish to describe here how Agenda 21 has
influenced your ODA policies in this area.
Developing countries: You may wish to describe any new
national mechanisms for capacity building - and any changes
in technical cooperation.
NATIONAL PRIORITY:
STATUS REPORT ON NATIONAL ENDOGENOUS CAPACITY
BUILDING: No information
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 38: INTERNATIONAL
INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
| Ch. 38: Brief summary of any particular UN System
response affecting this country/state:
No information
|
AGENDA 21 CHAPTER 39: INTERNATIONAL LEGAL
INSTRUMENTS AND MECHANISMS
| Ch. 39: International Legal Instruments are covered
under the relevant sectoral chapters. This is a listing of major
agreements/conventions (not already covered) entered into and
relevant to Agenda 21: Conventions ratified by Parliament are as follows: Basel (1989) Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal (ratified on May 14th), Gdansk (1973) Convention on Fishing and Conservation of the Living Resources in the Baltic Sea and the Belts (rat. on February 10th, 1993), Ottawa (1978) Convention on Future Multilateral Co-operation in the North-West Atlantic Fisheries (rat. on Feb. 10th, 1993), Copenhagen (1964) Convention on International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (rat. on Feb. 10th, 1993), Ramsar (1971) Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (rat. on October 20th), Washington (1973) Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (rat. on Oct. 20th, 1993), Vienna (1963) Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages (rat. on April 6th, 1994), Joint protocol (1988) relating to the application of the Vienna Convention and the Paris Convention (rat. on April 6th 1994), Rio de Janeiro (1992) Convention on Biodiversity (rat. on May 11th, 1994), New York (1992) UN Framework Convention on Climate Changes (rat. on May 11th, 1994), Hensinki (1992) Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (rat. on May 3rd, 1995). Other environmental convention in force in Estonia are as follows: Berne (1979) Conservation on Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (entered into force in Estonia on August 3rd, 1992), London (1973) Convention on Prevention of Pollution from Ships (entered into force in Estonia on March 16th, 1992) and its supplementary protocol (MARPOL 1973/78) and Annexes I - V (Annexes I and II entered into force in Estonia on March 16th, 1992, Annexes III - V on November 18th, 1992), Brussels (1969) Convention on Civil Liability for Oil-pollution Damage (entered into force in Estonia on March 1st, 1993), Brussels (1971) Convention on Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil-pollution Damage (entered into force in Estonia on March 1st, 1993), The following convention has been signed by Estonia: Helsinki (1992) Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents.
|
| 2. | International cooperation and trade | |||||
| 3. | Combating poverty | |||||
| 4. | Changing consumption patterns | |||||
| 5. | Demographic dynamics and sustainability | |||||
| 6. | Human health | |||||
| 7. | Human settlements | |||||
| 8. | Integrating E & D in decision-making | |||||
| 9. | Protection of the atmosphere | |||||
| 10. | Integrated planning and management of land resources | |||||
| 11. | Combating deforestation | |||||
| 12. | Combating desertification and drought | |||||
| 13. | Sustainable mountain development | |||||
| 14. | Sustainable agriculture and rural development | |||||
| 15. | Conservation of biological diversity | |||||
| 16. | Biotechnology | |||||
| 17. | Oceans, seas, coastal areas and their living resources | |||||
| 18. | Freshwater resources | |||||
| 19. | Toxic chemicals | |||||
| 20. | Hazardous wastes | |||||
| 21. | Solid wastes | |||||
| 22. | Radioactive wastes | |||||
| 24. | Women in sustainable development | |||||
| 25. | Children and youth | |||||
| 26. | Indigenous people | |||||
| 27. | Non-governmental organizations | |||||
| 28. | Local authorities | |||||
| 29. | Workers and trade unions | |||||
| 30. | Business and industry | |||||
| 31. | Scientific and technological community | |||||
| 32. | Farmers | |||||
| 33. | Financial resources and mechanisms | |||||
| 34. | Technology, cooperation and capacity-building | |||||
| 35. | Science for sustainable development | |||||
| 36. | Education, public awareness and training | |||||
| 37. | International cooperation for capacity-building | |||||
| 38. | International institutional arrangements | |||||
| 39. | International legal instruments | |||||
| 40. | Information for decision-making | |||||
No information
|
| Latest 199- | ||||
| Number of telephones in use per 100 inhabitants | 19.7 | 23.2 | ||
| Other data
| ||||
Copyright © United Nations
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Comments and suggestions: esa@un.org
Last updated 1 November 1997