OECD Environmental Performance Reviews: Estonia 2017
OECD Environmental Performance Reviews provide independent assessments of countries’ progress towards their environmental policy objectives. Reviews promote peer learning, enhance government accountability, and provide targeted recommendations aimed at improving environmental performance, individually and collectively. They are supported by a broad range of economic and environmental data, and evidence-based analysis. Each cycle of Environmental Performance Reviews covers all OECD countries and selected partner economies. The most recent reviews include Chile and France (2016).
This report is the first Environmental Performance Review of Estonia. It evaluates progress towards sustainable development and green growth, with a focus on waste and materials management, and mining and the environment.
Mining and the environment
Oil shale mining and use are the dominant source of environmental impact in Estonia. While pollution releases from the sector have declined over the last decade, major challenges remain with respect to waste management, air and water quality, particularly in north-eastern Estonia. This chapter provides an overview of trends in the extraction and use of oil shale and other mineral resources, highlights the related environmental impacts and analyses the effectiveness of policy instruments Estonia applies to address them.