As part of the Fit for 55 climate package, Estonia and other Member States need to review their climate-, energy- and transport-related rules in order to bring current laws and regulations in line with the established objectives. According to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, climate-related topics are a key priority for the Estonian government and there is a clear intention to achieve the European climate neutrality objective by 2050. “Transition to climate neutrality does not happen by itself and therefore all sectors that are related to the transition need a clear vision and action plans to establish their future strategies,” said the Prime Minister.
“We also need to decide how to distribute the efforts made to achieve the objectives in different sectors, such as transport, energy, agriculture, buildings and waste,” said Kallas. The Prime Minister added that the reason for such a thorough discussion of the topic before confirming the positions on the level of ministers is that the long-term impact of these decisions is very significant. “We want to make sure that Estonia enters negotiations with the EU with clear and reasoned positions,” said Kallas.
During the meeting, it was also decided that the Ministry of the Environment will submit to the Green Policy Steering Committee an analysis of and proposals for the adoption of a sustainable financing model for green policy in its administrative area in spring 2022. “The Ministry of Environment aims to use the creation of the environment and climate facility concept to support the achievement of the objectives of green policy and the transition to a more sustainable economic model in Estonia,” explained the Minister of the Environment Tõnis Mölder. The Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education and Research will also define joint starting points for general implementation of the financing model.
Background:
The government’s Green Policy Steering Committee is chaired by the Prime Minister and its permanent members include the Minister of Entrepreneurship and Information Technology, the Minister of Education and Research, the Minister of Environment, the Minister of Rural Affairs, Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Public Administration and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The purpose of the committee is to coordinate the implementation of green policy in Estonia in order to promote sustainable economic growth. The committee reviews the government’s decisions before government meetings, as a result of which ministers can better coordinate questions that concern several areas of government and performance of tasks.
There is also an Expert Group attached to the steering committee, whose task is to make proposals to the government committee, on the basis of which the government prepares the action plan for successful implementation of green policy in Estonia. The Expert Group performs an analysis and compiles a final report of the results by early 2022. The Expert Group is chaired by Lauri Tammiste. The members of the Expert Group include entrepreneurs, scientists, innovation leaders and top specialists from other fields whose activities have contributed to the implementation of green principles: Tõnis Arjus, Ivar Dembovski, Aveliina Helm, Marti Hääl, Arno Kütt, Priit Lepasepp, Taavi Madiberk, Margus Muld, Marek Rannala, Helen Sooväli-Sepping, Anne Sulling, Madis Toomsalu, Eva Truuverk and Ants-Hannes Viira.
Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stenbockimaja/albums/72157720124350969
