The Estonian Council of Environmental NGOs considered the actions that have influenced most remarkably the domain of environment in 2004 and awarded the State Audit office of Estonia with title of Author of GREEN ACTION

1/28/2005 | 12:00 AM

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The Estonian Council of Environmental NGOs considered the actions that have influenced most remarkably the domain of environment in 2004 and named the authors of the most negative and the most positive act as follows:

The title of Provider of DISSERVICE was awarded to the Government of the Republic, which has failed to fulfil its commitments under the Helsinki Convention regarding protection of the sea environment of the Baltic Sea, ensure co-operation between public authorities, or provide adequate resources to ensure monitoring of oil pollution in the territorial waters of Estonia and ensure readiness to operatively eliminate oil pollution in high seas, thus exposing the species living in coastal waters and on shore and their habitats to real danger of extinction or destruction, as appropriate, and endangering people.

According to the executive summary of audit report No. 2-5/04/114 of 23 November 2004 of the State Audit Office of Estonia: "Estonia is not able to eliminate extensive pollution by means of existing equipment. Ability of the government to prevent pollution is low: there is no equipment for the elimination of pollution at low temperatures and in icy conditions and even the existing equipment is largely unusable. In the beginning of 2004, equipment worth EEK 23 millions was acquired from Denmark, but due to technical reasons most of it cannot be used. A part of the equipment that was damaged during the elimination of pollution that originated from Alambra is still out of order and unfit for use. Hence, the government is able to eliminate extensive pollution only with help of foreign countries…"

The title of Author of GREEN ACTION was awarded to the State Audit Office (SAO) of Estonia for the performance audits carried out in the field of environment in 2004 that pointed out the omissions by government authorities and institutions pertaining to national and international environmental commitments and the inability to ensure adequate risk management as regards protection of the environment of the Baltic Sea.

Nomination was based on SAO audit reports No. 2-5/04/114 "Management of sea pollution incidents and elimination of pollution" of 23 November 2004 of the State Audit Office of Estonia; No. 2-5/04/108 "Organisation of ship waste management in ports" of 28 September 2004; No. 2-5/04/8 "Government activities in eliminating residual pollution" of 10 February 2004; and No. 2-5/04/9 "Government’s readiness to eliminate extensive environmental pollution on land resulting from an accident" of 23 February 2004 (http://www.riigikontroll.ee/).

In addition, the Estonian Council of Environmental NGOs decided to welcome the CITIZENS’ INITIATIVE developed in 2004, i.e. local people, who actively protect and preserve the local living and natural environment. Without local initiative, the work of environmental NGOs would be much more difficult. In the longer perspective, individuals standing up for their right to a clean environment and their associations are the most effective tool in ensuring environmental protection in general interests.

Selection of the most environment-friendly and the most environment-hostile act of the year was initiated by the Estonian Green Movement-FoE. In 2002, Government Minister, Heiki Kranich was awarded the title of Provider of Disservice. In 2003, AS Balbiino was awarded the title of Provider of Disservice. AS Edelaraudtee and OÜ Ökosahver were recognised for green activity. As from this year, the titles are awarded by the Estonian Council of Environmental NGOs.


In Tallinn, on 27 January 2005

The Estonian Council of Environmental NGOs is composed of 10 non-profit environmental NGOs: Estonian Fund for Nature, Estonian Green Movement-FoE, Tartu Student Nature Protection Circle, Estonian Student Society for Environmental Protection "Sorex", Estonian Youth Nature Protection Union, Nõmme Road Society, Estonian Institute for Sustainable Development, Estonian Ornithologists Society, Estonian Semi-natural Community Conservation Association, and Estonian Institute for Man-made Environment. For the period from January to June 2005, the Estonian Institute for Sustainable Development holds the presidency of the Council.


Additional information: Valdur Lahtvee, GSM 5094011, [email protected].

  • Posted: 1/28/2005 12:00 AM
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