Sustainable development

We define sustainable development as purposeful development that ensures the improvement of people’s quality of life in compliance with natural resources and the ability of the natural environment to endure. Sustainable development seeks to balance the social, economic and environmental spheres with the long-term continuation of a rich community life for present and future generations.

Thus, sustainable development is a broad concept incorporating practically all spheres of life. The Estonian National Strategy on Sustainable Development, Sustainable Estonia 21, also covers many different areas, and different ministries are responsible for its implementation. In addition, the fulfilment of the goals of sustainable development is closely connected with issues of competitiveness.

The Government Office has coordinated the implementation  the country’s competitiveness strategies since 2005, currently the National Reform Programme "Estonia 2020" that also contributes to the "Europe 2020" objectives. The Government decided in May 2006 to also delegate responsibility for coordinating the implementation of the strategic development plans for sustainable development to the Government Office.

The Government Office´s Strategy Director is responsible for coordinating the compilation and implementation of the Strategy on Sustainable Development. In addition, the Strategy Director has been appointed national contact person/coordinator of sustainable development issues.

At the moment, Oliver Väärtnõu (oliver.vaartnou [-at-] riigikantselei.ee, phone: +372 693 5623) is serving as the Strategy Director.

The Strategy Unit supports the work of the Strategy Director.

Estonia’s report on the implementation of the European Union Sustainable Development Strategy was compiled under the coordination of the Strategy Unit, and contributes to the European Commission progress report on the implementation of the European Union Sustainable Development Strategy, completed by autumn 2007.

In autumn 2007, a report on the state of the implementation of the Estonian National Strategy on Sustainable Development was compiled and presented to the Government of the Republic. The report included a review of the principle activities necessary in implementing the strategy and an analysis of the attainment of the objectives set by the strategy.