SEI contributes to Estonian environmental management conference

Written by Sturle Hauge Simonsen and Viire Viss

Tuesday, 26 August 2008 00:00

Provides key input on environmental management situation in Estonia, conference presented best-practice case studies on environmental management.

On 26 August the conference Environmental management – quo vadis? was held in Tallinn. Dedicated to the 5th anniversary of the Estonian Association for Environmental Management (EKJA), the conference presented past and future challenges for corporate environmental management in the country.

SEI-Tallinn is one of the founders of the association and the secretary of EKJA is based in the SEI-Tallinn premises. Estonian Environment Minister Jaanus Tamkivi opened the conference, stressing the importance of public sector-corporate collaboration in order to meet national and international environmental targets.

SEI-Tallinn programme manager Mr Harri Moora followed up by giving an overview of environmental management in Estonia.

The conference also presented best-practice case studies on environmental management, identified by the Be-Smarter Network. Presentations were given by environmental management experts from Belgium, Germany, France and Hungary.

Better state-corporate collaboration needed
The conference concluded that better governance initiatives and support on environmental performance should be given, for instance favouring environmentally sound companies in public

Furthermore, the Estonian public sector should demonstrate a stronger commitment to sustainable development and implement environmental management systems in their organisations.