The Estonian national strategy for sustainable development “Sustainable Estonia 21” (SE 21) is a strategy for developing the Estonian State and society up to 2030. SE 21 establishes an overall framework for long-term sustainable and balanced development of the state and integrated development of the social, economic and environmental sphere. The strategy specifies the development objectives and general activities. “Sustainable Estonia 21” specifies the following long-term development objectives: vitality of the Estonian cultural space (persistence of ethnic traditions), growth of well-being, society that is closely bound together in the social sense (without sharp social contradictions) and ecological balance. Movement towards knowledge-based society as an integral social system is considered to be an appropriate path to achieving these objectives. Knowledge-based society stands for a culture of operating and decision-making, where objectives that have been set and accepted jointly are achieved in the economy, social life, relations with nature and governing the state by relying, first and foremost, on knowledge, analysis and feedback. By approving the SE 21 strategy and fulfilling the objectives of the strategy, Estonia participates in shaping the development policy of both the European Union and the whole world. Preparing the strategy was organised by a consortium consisting of the following institutions working under the guidance of the Tallinn Pedagogical University (TPU): TPU, the TPU Institute of International and Social Studies, the TPU Institute of Ecology, and AS Lõhmus, Haavel & Viisemann. More than 50 experts participated in composing the strategy, cooperation partners were engaged from both the private and the non-profit sector, and forums and roundtable meetings were held for interested persons and political parties. When preparing the strategy, the requirements of the Århus Convention were followed, and hence the materials were passed on to political parties, ministries, representatives of the non-profit sector and other interested parties for making comments at the end of every stage. In addition, the unfinished materials were constantly available on the web pages of TPU and the Ministry of the Environment for making comments (at the moment, these materials are available on the web page of the Ministry of the Environment. Compiling the Estonian strategy for sustainable development “Sustainable Estonia 21” was launched on the basis of the preliminary task approved by the Government of the Republic in 2002, and the whole project was directed by a group of experts (a committee dealing with individual questions related to the long-term sustainable development of the state). The committee approved the SE 21 strategy at their session on 17 September 2004. The matter was also discussed at the session of the Government of the Republic on 23 December 2004. Further information: Monika Kopti |
