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Strategy and development

The Ministry of the Environment is the leader of environmental field in Estonia. We are capable of development and open to the cooperation with our partners and the public. The mission of the Ministry of the Environment is to create such preconditions and conditions for Estonia’s development that would guarantee the preservation of our natural biodiversity and clean environment and ensure that natural resources are used economically. According to the vision of the Ministry, an integrated system of environmental protection covering the entire country should be developed so as to ensure the preservation of our clean environment and sustainable use of natural resources.

Basic values of the Ministry of the Environment are:

• Natural environment is nation wealth

We shape the understanding of the environment as nation wealth of the population. We support the viability of Estonian national culture by taking nature caringly.

• Care and orientation to the future

We care about biotic nature as well as abiotic nature and people and we act on the purpose that our physical and social environment maintains for a long time.

• Determination and fastidiousness

We are demanding on protecting the environment. We have knowledge and fortitude to protect environment as one of our basic value of life. Following the principles of the rule of law we aware the members of society about their environmental responsibility.

• Involvement of partners and openness

We are ready to involve partners and all stakeholders in environmental activities, we are able to listen and understand them. We treat people uniformly.

Activities of the Ministry of the Environment are focused on ensuring operation of the system to achieve balanced development of economy, social sphere, environmental exploitation and environmental protection and targeted and thought use of instruments allocated to the environmental protection.

Strategic planning is necessary to achieve objectives. Framework of environmental protection and environmental use is established in The Estonian Environmental Strategy 2030 and in its implementation plan The National Environmental Action Plan of Estonia 2007-2013 providing long-term objectives in areas of decreasing waste, residual pollution and pollution load, water, mineral resources, energy, transportation, forestry, fisheries, hunting and maintaining landscape and biodiversity.

In order to ensure achieving objectives from environmental area strategic documents and Development Plan of the Ministry of the Environment, organisation is strengthened continuously. Management processes, knowledge-based management is developed and strategic planning is improved. Regulation impact assessment is conducted and quality of public services is developed.

Development and strategic planning of the Ministry of the Environment is coordinated by Development Department.

In addition Development Department:

• coordinates public services development within the area of government of the ministry;
• coordinates activities related to sustainable development in environmental area;
• conducts legislation and strategy documents impact assessments;
• develops environmental information gathering system and environmental monitoring;
• keeps records of expenses on environmental protection and assesses their efficiency and effectiveness;
• coordinates and analyzes the implementation of environmental charges system and other economic instruments;
• analyzes the system operation of the Ministry development plans, development plans of the Ministry area of government and development plans of its public departments, makes amendments in case of need;
• coordinates environmental strategy and implementation plan preparation and supplementation and relevant reporting.