The Sustainable Development Committee lead by Prime Minister Juhan Parts has approved the Estonian sustainable development strategy “Sustainable Estonia 21”. This enables the Ministry of the Environment to submit the strategy to the Government of the Republic for approval. “Sustainable Estonia 21” (SE21) is a strategy for the development of the Estonian state and society until 2030. The strategy creates the general framework for interconnecting the social, economic and environmental spheres in terms of long-term development of the society and defines the general objective of development for Estonia as movement towards the so-called knowledge-based society.The long-term objectives of development determined in the strategy are: vitality of the Estonian cultural sphere (maintaining national traditions), greater well-being, coherent society (without sharp social conflicts) and ecological balance. Knowledge-based society is a type of comprehensive social order marked by a new operating and decision-making culture in which the achievement of commonly set and accepted objectives is based mainly on knowledge and analysis. By approving the SE21 and achieving its aims Estonia takes part in shaping the development policy of the European Union as well as the whole world. The preparation of the strategy was coordinated by a consortium lead by the Tallinn Pedagogical University (TPU) and consisting of TPU, TPU Institute of International and Social Studies, TPU Institute of Ecology, and AS Lõhmus, Haavel and Viisemann. It was an extensive and open process during which all materials were available for commenting to all interested parties at the Ministry Internet address under the heading Sustainable Development/ Estonia. The preparation of the Estonian strategy of sustainable development called “Sustainable Estonia 21” was based on the initial tasks approved by the Government of the Republic in 2002 and the project was lead by the Sustainable Development Committee. The Ministry of the Environment is currently preparing a draft of the strategy for submission to the sitting of the Government of the Republic before the end of this year. Further information: Monika Kopti |
