Single country profile
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Estonia|
Content: |
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Basic information
| Year of approval of the SD strategy and updates |
NSDS was approved by the Estonian Parliament in 2005. |
| Type of SD strategy | NSDS covers the basic three dimensions of SD, plus the sustainability of Estonian culture. |
| Lead ministry/institution in the SD strategy process |
The Ministry of Environment was responsible for developing the NSDS. The implementation of the strategy is now coordinated by the State Chancellery in order to ensure better horizontal integration. |
| Link to the SD strategy document |
'Sustainable Estonia 21' (2005) The full list(s) of NSDS objectives as identified by a study commissioned by Eurostat can be downloaded here: |
| Further information about the SD strategy process |
N/A |
Mechanisms of Vertical Integration
National — sub-national linkages
The preparation phase of the NSDS started in 2001 and lasted about 4 years. The Local Self-Government Unions (representing the local authorities) were involved in the overall discussion of defining SD priorities. However, no formal arrangements have been developed of sub-national involvement. In the official consultation round for the draft NSDS, different stakeholders groups were involved to provide their comments, including the Local Self-Government Unions. Currently, the State Chancellery is thinking about developing more formal administrative arrangements.
The Commission on SD provides a forum for stakeholder involvement. However, the sub-national levels were not involved so far. This may be changed in the future. Another forum for multi-level cooperation is the Joint Commission of Ministerial Bodies which annually discusses important policy topics, including SD. A draft version of the implementation report about the NSDS was sent to the Local Self-Government Unions for comments.
There are no links between NSDS processes and sub-national SD activities. Generally, bigger cities are more active than smaller municipalities in SD issue. Some sub-national authorities developed SD principles, but no strategies have been developed so far. Also, there are not many LA21 initiatives in Estonia.
EU linkages
The renewed EU Strategy for Sustainable Development (EU SDS) that was adopted in June 2006 foresees that Member States bi-annually report about how they address the priorities of the EU SDS. Estonia has published its first national report on implementing the EU SDS in June 2007.
Mechanisms of Horizontal Integration
The Estonian Commission on Sustainable Development was most instrumental in the preparation of the NSDS. Representatives from national ministries and other governmental institutions participate in this Commission.
Besides the Commission on SD, an Inter-ministerial Working Group, comprising representatives of several ministries and the Estonian Statistical Office, has been established in order to coordinate SD issues (e.g. implementation of the NSDS, National Progress Report of EU SDS implementation, SD indicators and monitoring, etc). The working group is chaired by the Strategy Director of the State Chancellery.
Evaluation and Review
An implementation report was published in autumn 2007. The report included a review of the main activities necessary to implement the NSDS and an analysis of the achievement of strategy objectives.
At the end of 2008, the report on the results of implementation of the Estonian NSDS was compiled and introduced to the Estonian Government. One purpose of the report was to put together and agree on a set of indicators, which could be used to measure SD in Estonia. The set of indicators can be divided in 4 areas (in accordance to the pillars of Estonian NSDS): 1) Viability of Estonian cultural space; 2) Welfare growth; 3) Coherent society; 4) Ecological balance.
Indicators and Monitoring
The Estonian NSDS from 2005 includes a set of 42 preliminary indicators linked to the goals of the strategy. There is work in progress to elaborate a set of indicators for the NSDS.
In 2004 and 2006, the Statistical Office of Estonia has prepared the report 'Indicators for Sustainable Development' based on a set of 60 indicators. Based on this SDI set, the Estonian Statistical Office also hosts a ‘Dashboard of Sustainability’ that displays a core set of sustainability indicators for European countries and the regions/counties of Estonia on maps as well as the performance evaluation of countries/regions/counties.
The full list(s) of indicators as identified by a study commissioned by Eurostat can be downloaded here:
Participation
The Estonian Commission on Sustainable Development, established in 1996, is led by the Prime Minister and co-chaired by the Minister of Economy and the Minister of Environment. The Commission is composed of 28 experts in the field SD, including representatives from government (6), parliament (5), governmental institutions (5), academia (9), business (1) and NGOs (2). The objectives of the Commission are to advise the Government on issues related to SD, develop different sectoral options and comments, present them to the national and local governments, and submit proposals for new legislation.
It is an objective of the Government to increasing the activity of the civil society and its capability to participate in the formulation and implementation of different policies. Currently, the Government elaborates civil society programmes to support the improvement of capabilities of social partners, local government unions and non-profit organisations.
The mandate of Estonian Commission on SD has been renewed. On 12 February 2009, the Estonian Government has adopted the regulation which reviewed the functions of the SD Commission and changed its membership structure. According to the new regulation, the members of the SD Commission are the representatives from the non-governmental organisations only (i.e. no members from the ministries or parliament as has been the case previously). The Strategy Office in the State Chancellery acts as the secretariat of the Sustainable Development Commission and provides link to the government sector and to the Lisbon process (as the Strategy Office is also the national coordinator of the Lisbon process in Estonia).
For
a detailed documentation of all advisory and participatory councils (for SD and/or the environment) in this country,
please go to the EEAC website at http://www.eeac-net.org/bodies/estonia/est_frame.htm and click on one of the listed institutions.
Sub-national activities
Regional SD strategies and LA 21 initiatives
On local government level, there has been four comprehensive SD initiatives that relate to Rio 1992 agreement and Alborg Charter from 1994 and which have led to led to composing SD action-plans (Local Agenda 21). These initiatives have involved different stakeholder groups. The strategies have been consulted with the public and adopted by the local city government. These four initiatives are:
- Kuressaare Agenda 21 (adopted in 1997)
- Tartu Agenda 21 (adopted in 1998)
- Viljandi Agenda 21 (adopted in 2002)
- Pärnu Agenda 21 (adopted in 2004)
Taking SD in broader sense, then lots of SD field initiatives and activities are implemented through general local development strategies and local budgets. Most of Estonian cities and local governments have developed their own long-term development strategies.
Participation of stakeholders in sub-national SD activities
The general practice is that different stakeholder groups are involved in drafting the important strategies and action plans or they are consulted during the implementation process. As said before, not all the regions have their own SD strategies, but most of the SD issues are covered in general regional development strategies.
Evaluation and review mechanisms at the sub-national levels, also in the context of your NSDS (plus indicators used on sub-national level)
During 2008, the Estonian NSDS indicators were updated. The Estonian National Statistical Office is currently in the process of updating the statistics on Estonian SD indicators. The renewed SD statistics are published in autumn 2009. At the same time, the sustainable development dashboard is renewed, which consist also statistics on SD indicators in regions and local level.
Concerning the Aalborg process, there are several local governments that have adopted the Aalborg Treaty – Tartu, Tallinn, Narva, Häädemeeste, Märjamaa. Local governments, which have joined the Aalborg Treaty, give the overview of the situation in the baseline review.
Contact details (names, institutional affiliation, email) of sub-national and/or Local Agenda 21 coordinators
Mrs. Irja Alakivi from the Association of Estonian Cities, irja.alakivi@ell.ee
This Country Profile has been last updated on: Monday, 17 August 2009
For the sources used in the country profiles, please click here.
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