Environment
Global and local environmental goals focus largely on reaching a balance between limited ecological resources and people’s well-being.
According to the strategy “Sustainable Estonia 21”, achieving an ecological balance requires using natural resources sustainably, reducing pollution and preserving biological diversity and natural areas.
Globally, the aims are to stop activities contributing to climate change, to consume and produce in a sustainable and clean way, to preserve water resources and to produce energy using environmentally friendly solutions.
Data on the environment are necessary to assess progress towards these goals. Statistics Estonia publishes data on environmental pressure and the following environmental measures:
Estonia’s environmental protection expenditure rose to €821 million
According to Statistics Estonia, Estonia’s environmental protection expenditure in real terms increased by nearly 56% in the period 2014–2023, that is, from €527 to €821 million. Compared with 2022, the expenditure was up by 13% in 2023. The share of environmental protection expenditure in GDP has decreased compared with 2014.
Renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions are the main drivers of Estonia’s output of environmental goods and services
According to Statistics Estonia, the output of environmental goods and services in 2023 was 4.1 billion euros. The value added of the environmental goods and services sector represented 3.9% of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2023.
Estonia spent nearly 715 million euros on environmental protection in 2022
According to Statistics Estonia, Estonia’s environmental protection expenditure in real terms increased by nearly 37% in the period 2014–2022, that is, from 527 to 715 million euros. The environmental protection activity with the highest expenditure in 2022 was waste management with 347 million euros. The biggest environmental protection investments, worth 75 million euros, were made in wastewater management and protection of soil and water.