The main topic of the first day of the meeting was the 7th Environmental Programme, which is going to determine the main topics and objectives of the environmental policy of the EU for the next ten years. The main topics suggested by the Chairman are very important for Estonia as well and have very much in common with the topics covered in the Nature Protection Development Programme that has just been prepared in Estonia. “In the same manner as the Nature Protection Development Programme focuses
on preserving natural diversity and clean environment, these issues are also
important for Europe as a whole. In the action plan of the EU, a new separate
topic is the improvement of environment in cities, including the reduction of
noise and air pollution,” Keit Pentus, the Minister of the Environment, said. “I
also attach great importance to setting direction towards following the
existing rules and requirements, rather than creating new ones.” The Ministers also discussed the position of the EU at Rio+20, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, which will be held in June this year. The main topic for discussion in Brazil will be a transition to green economy. “For Estonia, it is important that a meeting in Rio should not just remain a place for discussion, but enable us to set certain goals towards which we could strive,” Keit Pentus said. The EU is offering five measurable aims in five areas, which are efficient use of energy resources, water, sustainable land use and ecosystems, oceans and resource efficiency, first and foremost for the purposes of waste. “Estonia is ready to share its experience with those UN countries whose economic situation is still quite unassuming, and for which a sharp transition to green economy can be a real challenge. Estonia is quite experienced in how the development of technologies and e-services can help to save natural resources,” Keit Pentus said in her speech. |
