December 2022 - You are accessing an archived version of our website. This website is no longer maintained or updated. The Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform has been migrated here: https://sdgs.un.org/

Estonia
Voluntary National Review 2020
MAIN MESSAGES FROM ESTONIA’S VOLUNTARY NATIONAL REVIEW 2020

Estonia is devoted to the UN Agenda 2030 both domestically and internationally. In addition to the 17 SDGs, Estonia is also focusing on maintaining the viability of the Estonian cultural space pursuant to the “Sustainable Estonia 21” strategy. The SDGs are the basis for the “Estonia 2035” strategy that lays down Estonia’s long-term strategic objectives and relevant policy measures. The SDGs are also implemented by integrating them into government level development plans.

Process
This is the second Voluntary National Review (VNR) since adopting the UN Agenda 2030. The preparation of the VNR was coordinated by the Government Office in cooperation with the inter-ministerial working group on sustainable development, the Commission for Sustainable Development, and several non-governmental organisations. It is based on the Government’s activity reports, data collected from non-governmental organisations and enterprises, and proposals from ministries and the Commission for Sustainable Development.

The implementation of SDGs is monitored through a mechanism based on Estonian sustainable development indicators and a regular data based reviews compiled by Statistics Estonia in co-operation with the Government Office and various ministries. The list of indicators was renewed in 2017 to harmonise it with global SDGs. All central governmental indicators are available in the online data-driven “Tree of Truth” that illustrates the status of the goals by governance areas.

Main conclusions
Estonia is generally successful in implementing the SDGs. In the past four years, results in several areas have been maintained or improved. In 2019, Estonia was tenth in the global Sustainable Development Report.

Mapping the actions and indicator-based analyses indicate that Estonia is successful in several SDG-s. Our strengths are accessible and quality education, effective healthcare organisation, high employment rate with minimal long-term unemployment, and a high proportion of renewable energy in overall energy consumption.

Nevertheless, several SDG areas still require work. We need to focus on establishing gender equality (although decreased, the wage gap still remains among the highest in Europe), decreasing the risk of poverty for women and disabled people, including families with disabled children, establishing effective waste management and recycling, decreasing greenhouse emissions, and maintaining natural diversity. We also want to improve the health of our citizens, including mental health, and decrease the number of preventable deaths.

The global COVID-19 pandemic in the beginning of 2020 affects the implementation of SDGs in several areas – economy, employment, healthcare, education, culture, innovation, etc. Specific impacts can be evaluated in future reviews.

The principles for Estonian development cooperation and humanitarian aid are established in the Strategy for Estonian Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid 2016–2020. As of 2020, Estonian development cooperation follows the new development plan for foreign policy and a separate strategy for development cooperation and humanitarian aid. Pursuant to Estonian foreign policy objectives and international agreements to direct more resources into vulnerable countries, Estonia will continue to react flexibly to the needs of less developed and post-conflict countries, developing island states, and landlocked developing countries in areas where Estonia can offer clear added value (for example, healthcare or improving the availability and quality of education).

Next steps The most recent important milestone in strategic planning is establishing the Estonian long-term strategy “Estonia 2035” that helps to integrate SDGs into sectoral strategies in a stronger and more systemised manner. We will continue to incorporate sustainable development into different policy fields.

Estonia and other Eropean Union (EU) Member States agreed to integrate SDGs into European Semester, the EU instrument for economic coordination. This enables a centralised assessment of the SDGs o the EU level to increase the significance of the goals in Estonia and the whole EU.

We will also continue raising awareness on SDGs. This year we are going to participate in the EU Sustainable Development Week, discuss SDGs at the Estonian Opinion Festival and having Sustainable Development Forum. We are supporting and expanding the Coalition for Sustainable Development and creating a platform for sustainable development to enable the government and private sector, non-governmental organisations, and citizens to gain knowledge, take accountability and action in achieving the SDGs.
Voluntary National Review 2016
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE ESTONIAN REVIEW ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGENDA 2030

The Estonian national voluntary review on implementation of the Agenda 2030 gives information on the progress and status of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Estonia. It describes the main measures and plans for implementation of 17 sustainable development goals by government and non-government organizations. The report also presents an overview of the Estonian institutional framework for the coordination of sustainable development issues including the integration of three dimensions of sustainable development, incorporation of the SDGs in national frameworks and creating ownership. A preliminary gap analysis of governments’ policies and global sustainable development goals was initiated in spring 2016 and was used as a relevant input for the review.

The review was compiled in cooperation with several ministries and the Estonian Sustainable Development Commission. Estonian review generally follows the common reporting guidelines for Voluntary National Reviews at the HLPF, as presented in the annex of the Secretary-General’s report on critical milestones towards coherent, efficient and inclusive follow-up and review at the global level (1).

Strategic framework

Estonia has considerable experience in advancing sustainable development. The Sustainable Development Act was adopted by Parliament already in 1995. In 2005, the Parliament adopted the Estonian Sustainable Development Strategy „Sustainable Estonia 21“ (2), which states 4 main goals for sustainable development in Estonia: 1) Viability of Estonian cultural space; 2) Growth of welfare; 3) Coherent society; 4) Ecological balance. The Estonian national sustainable development strategy is implemented by governments’ sectoral and thematic strategies and action plans. The national sustainable development strategy is one of the main horizontal strategies that has to be taken into account by designing governments’ strategic development plans.

Monitoring mechanism

The implementation of sustainable development goals is monitored through an agreed set of sustainable development indicators. The set of indicators is renewed on a regular basis and covers all the relevant sustainable development related topics. The current set of indicators was agreed upon in cooperation with the Sustainable Development Commission, inter-ministerial sustainable development working group and the statistical Office and Government Office. The last indicator-based report on Estonian sustainable development was published in March 2015. (3)

Institutional framework

The Estonian coordination mechanism for sustainable development issues involves government institutions and non-government organizations from all relevant sustainable development spheres. At the central government level, the implementation and monitoring of sustainable development issues is coordinated by the Government Office Strategy Unit, which also coordinates Estonian competitiveness strategy Estonia 2020 and drafts and monitors the Government Action Plan. This helps to maintain the coherence between main horizontal strategies. Estonia also plans to utilize the functioning national coordination mechanism for sustainable development issues in coordinating the implementation of Agenda 2030.

The Estonian Sustainable Development Commission was formed in 1996. It consists of non-governmental roof-organizations which cover different fields of sustainable development (for example education, environmental protection, culture, children, health, local government, academy, companies, agriculture, etc). The Commission meets 4-5 times per year and has thematic discussions on different sustainable development topics, discusses drafts of sustainable development related strategic action plans before they are adopted by the government and publishes focus reports with policy recommendations.

Coordination and monitoring also involves the inter-ministerial working group on sustainable development, which is comprised of representatives from all the ministries and the Statistics Estonia. The SD working group works on an ad hoc basis. For example, the working group has participated in compiling the set of sustainable development indicators, drafting Estonian positions for SDG negotiations, and compiling the Estonian review on Agenda 2030 implementation for the 2016 HLPF.

Next steps for the implementation of the Agenda 2030

The first actions connected to the Agenda 2030 were initiated during the compiling process of the national voluntary review. The preliminary gap analysis of governments’ policies and SDGs has been conducted, and its results were used as input for the review.

The Estonian Sustainable Development Commission has launched a review of the Estonian National sustainable development strategy “Sustainable Estonia21” in the light of Agenda2030 and global trends. The analysis will be completed in autumn 2016. It will give recommendations regarding the renewal of the national sustainable development strategy and its implementation mechanisms.

Estonian Statistics Office has conducted an initial overview of 231 global sustainable development indicators and approximately 14% of the indicators are measurable right now. The renewal of sustainable development indicators will be started in 2016. The aim is to include indicators that help to measure achievements in the fields of SDG-s. It will allow the next indicator-based reports on sustainable development to provide information about performance regarding Estonian sustainable development goals and also global SDG-s. A new list of indicators will be composed in cooperation with an inter-ministerial working group, the Estonian Statistics Office and the Estonian Sustainable Development Commission. Estonia will continue attaching great importance to the development of innovative technological solutions that help to implement the SDGs. As lessons learnt, promoting of digital technology and e-governance solutions have contributed to Estonia´s development in several areas including economic growth and human development.

It is also important to find effective ways to raise general awareness of the Agenda 2030 and to continue contributing to the implementation of the SDG-s via international cooperation.

Status of implementation of global SDG-s – initial results and main challenges

The gap analysis of Estonian governments’ policies and SDG-s, and mapping of policy measures showed that the Estonian government and non-government sector are already implementing measures and taking actions in the fields of all 17 sustainable development goals. Some targets are covered partially or via international cooperation. Gap analysis identified only few targets that are not covered by actions (for example combating desertification and protecting ecosystems in mountains).

The mapping exercise indicated the areas where Estonia has achieved positive results. In the overall picture, the rich biodiversity protections, high share of renewables in the heating sector, inclusive regulatory process of the government, quick and extensive access to public services through e-services and high quality and good accessibility of education stand out as Estonia’s strengths. However, the review has also shown areas where the Estonian government needs continued efforts toward contribution to the implementation of SDG-s and Estonia’s own targets. The main challenges lie in achieving productivity growth, developing an energy- and resource efficient economy, lowering CO2 emissions per capita, an improvement in the subsistence of low income people and tackling the gender pay gap.

Raising the general awareness of Agenda 2030 and creating ownership of SDG-s also need further attention in Estonia. The first conference introducing Agenda 2030 to the wider public was organized already in November 2015, where The Minister of the Environment, Minister for Foreign Affairs and other high-level officials, representatives from companies and civil society explained global sustainable development goals generally, as well as possibilities for implementing the goals using the example of SDG 12 – sustainable production and consumption. Innovative and comprehensive solutions are needed for creating awareness and increasing actions for sustainable development.

Support for other countries

The new Strategy for Estonian Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid 2016–2020 (4) is based on general international development agreements and goals, e.g. the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Addis Ababa Action Agenda, as well as the development policy decisions and guidelines of the European Union (EU). The priorities of Estonian development cooperation are: 1) supporting the quality of education, 2) supporting the development of health care, 3) guaranteeing peace and stability, 4) supporting the development of democracy, introduction of good governance practices and guaranteeing human rights, 5) promoting economic development, 6) fostering environmentally friendly development, 7) raising the awareness of the Estonian public, particularly younger people, concerning development cooperation and humanitarian aid, as well as global development problems.

Covering all areas, Estonia promotes more extensive application of information and communication (ITC) technologies in the framework of development cooperation. Estonian experience in digital development, especially in e-governance and respective public-private partnerships has taught valuable lessons. We are ready to share these lessons with other countries.

Footnotes:
(1) https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/9768Guidelines%20from%20SG%20report.pdf
(2) https://riigikantselei.ee/sites/default/files/content-editors/Failid/estonia_sds_2005.pdf
(3) https://riigikantselei.ee/sites/default/files/content-editors/Failid/saastva_arengu_naitajad_1.pdf
(4) http://vm.ee/sites/default/files/content-editors/developmentcooperation/2016_2020_arengukava_eng_kodulehele_0.pdf
Focal point
Ms Eili Lepik
Adviser on Sustainible Development issues
Strategy Unit
Government Office

Partnerships & Commitments
The below is a listing of all partnership initiatives and voluntary commitments where Estonia is listed as a partner or lead entity in the Partnerships for SDGs online platform
Building up the national infrastructure to ensure the effective implementation of the Ballast Water Convention

The maritime transport is the most important contributor to the invasion and spread of alien species in Estonian marine areas. The aim is to ensure the effective implementation of the Ballast Water Convention and to minimise the risks of alien species invasion. In order to do so, training and capacity building will be provided for the institutions involved in ensuring the implementation of the Ballast Water Convention requirements. For ports and harbours improved cooperation will be ensured with relevant ship generated waste collection and treatment service providers. For the maritime transpo...[more]

Partners
Estonian Marine Institute of the University of Tartu (Academic Institution)
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Creating the regulatoru system to allow for and promote the use of LNG as an alternative fuel

LNG as a ship fuel has several advantages compared to traditional fuels, which are contributing to the CO2 emissions, nitrogen emissions and generation of hazardous wastes. There is no nationally coordinated system in Estonia to use the LNG fuels in shipping. The objective is to decrease the marine pollution caused by traditional fuels. In order to do so it is planned to introduce system which favours the wider use of LNG in shipping, support building relevant pipelines, terminals in ports and building of ships using LNG fuels.

Partners
Ministry of Economics and Communications (Governmental)
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Establishing electronic notification systems for the effective use of fishing gear

The objective is to ensure that fishing gear placed to the sea will be used only as allowed in relevant fishing permits. This will avoid using more fishing gear and fishing more than allowed by the fishing permit. Also the objective is to reduce the impact of abandoned fishing gear that is sometimes left to the sea. Altogether, by using this electronic notification system, it allows for better management of available fish stocks, overfishing, illegal fishing etc. The electronic notification system also helps to find and identify the lost fishing gear. The current permitting system regulates ma...[more]

Partners
Estonian Environmental Inspectorate (Governmental), Ministry of Rural Affairs (Governmental)
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Establishing integrated nitrogen management systems for the Gulf of Riga

Human induced nitrogen loads to the environment and marine environment are exceeding planetary boundaries. Existing measures focusing sectoral nitrogen pollution sources have not provided sufficient solutions to tackle the problem. The objective is to use new approach to manage the nitrogen flows by taking into account also different reactive forms of nitrogen present in the nitrogen cycle. This provides a better and cross sectoral view on nitrogen flows and improved opportunities to target the specific and most relevant nitrogen pollution sources. As a result of this action the integrated nit...[more]

Partners
Latvijas Vides, eoloijas un meteoroloijas centrs (Latvian Geologial and Meteorological Centre, Governmental), Latvijas Valsts mezintnes institts "Silava" (Latvian Forest Research Institute, Governmental), Latvijas Hidroekoloijas institts (Latvian Hydro-ecological Institute, Governmental), Keskkonnaministeerium (Estonian Ministry of the Environment, Governmental), Tallinna Tehnikalikool (Tallinn U...[more]
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Establishing marine protected areas in Estonian EEZ

There are no marine protected areas in Estonian EEZ. The objective is to establish at least two marine protected areas in Estonian EEZ. In order to do so inventories of species and habitats will be made in EEZ, additional marine research and modelling will be carried out to find out long term delevpment terns in EEZ, specific objectives will be identified, cosulted and approved for each marine protected area to be established, relevant maps will be updated and the regular assessment program to evaluate the achievemnt of the objectives in marine protected areas will be put into operation.

Partners
National universities dealing with marine science (Estonian Marine Institute of the University of Tartu, Department of Marine Systems of the Tallinn University of Technology)
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Establishing regional plans for aquaculture in Estonian marine areas

Aquaculture is an essential alternative in implementing the blue economy principles and achieving the relevant objectives. At the same time aquaculture is an important source of pollution. In order to support the blue economy activities related to the aquaculture must be environmentally safe and ecomonically feasible. In order to ensure that regional differences in environmental conditions and traditional economic activities will be considerd and most suitable options to practice environmentally safe aquaculture will be proposed. These options, reccommendation and guidance will be established...[more]

Partners
Ministry of Rural Development, National Environmental Board, Ministry of Finance (regional planning).
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Identifying impacts of climate change on Estonian marine environment and the assessment of cumulative effects of human activities on marine ecosystems

Impacts of climate change are differenet. The aim of this study is to find out specific impacts related to the climate change on Estonian marine areas. The impacts of climate change will be assessed together with other human impacts on marine environment. This information will be used to plan relevant actions and measures for impacts that are yet to come.

Partners
Ministry of the Environment, Estonian Marine Institute of the University of Tartu, Department of Marine Systems of the Tallinn University of Technology
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
IHO Hydrography Capacity Building Programme for Coastal States

The IHO capacity building programme seeks to assess and advise on how countries can best meet their international obligations and serve their own best interests by providing appropriate hydrographic and nautical charting services. Such services directly support safety of navigation, safety of life at sea, efficient sea transportation and the wider use of the seas and oceans in a sustainable way, including the protection of the marine environment, coastal zone management, fishing, marine resource exploration and exploitation, maritime boundary delimitation, maritime defence and security, and o...[more]

Partners
International Hydrographic Organization (IGO); 87 IHO Member States (Governments); International Maritime Organization (UN); World Meteorological Organization (UN); International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (NGO)
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Improving the stormwater discharge systems to decrease the load of nutrients, hazardous substances and litter to the sea

Storm water discharge systems that discharge directly into the sea contribute significantly to nutrient, hazardous substances and litter loads. Storm water systems which are well managed, work effectively, have appropriate water treatment systems help to reduce the marine pollution. The objective is to map all relevant storm water discharge points on Estonian coast, make the assessment of pollution loads from storm water discharges and water quality monitoring in marine areas, analyse and propose appropriate pollution reduction measures, revise the national regulatory system to support the con...[more]

Partners
Municipalities (Governmental)
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Increasing knowledge and awareness on alien species

Alien species are moving from one area to another without us knowing about it. This is due to the lack of information on this particular issues as well as due to absence of well-established scientific facts. The objective is to gather the existing information and scientific proof and make it available for the main target groups such as fishermen, maritime transport sector etc. This should contribute to the objective to stop the invasion of alien species through primary invasion and help to maintain existing ecosystem balance.

Partners
Estonian Marine Institute of the University of Tartu
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Marine litter action plan for ports and harbours

The objective is to reduce the amount of marine litter ending up in the sea. In order to do so, the current waste management system in ports and harbours will be revised taking into account the specific needs to collect also items and wastes that often end up in the sea as marine litter (like abandoned fishing gear). Also pilot and demonstration actions will be carried out in order to test the effectiveness of the planned changes. One of the main target groups to address are the coastal fishermen.

Partners
Ministry of Economics and Communications (Governmental), coastal municipalities (Governmental)
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Public awareness and information camapain on marine litter and prevention of plastics in the sea

The objective is to inform the general public and the society about the problems related to the marine litter with the aim to reduce the littering of the sea. Human activity on the coast is one of the marine litter sources. In order to reduce the littering information and communication campaigns will be organised, training programs for rising environmental awareness and improving environmental education will be arranged, and existing cooperation agreements with relevant stakeholders and target groups will be enhanced.

Partners
National Environmental Board (Governmental), Ministry of Science and Education (Governmental), municipalities (Governmental)
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
United Nations