Considering climate arguments in environmental impact assessment

In Estonia, the aspects of climate change are unaccounted for in environmental impact assessments (EIAs), which is a considerable problem. While making environment-related discretionary decisions, the decision-makers have also been unable to take into account the climate change aspect (including failure to have due regard to important principles of environmental law). The project is aiming to lead to considering the climate aspects in EIA as standard practice where the climate aspect will be given the necessary attention in the course of decisions concerning the environment.

Project activities include actions to support raising awareness among the target groups, (i.e. manual, trainings, legal analysis) and providing legal aid. In order to achieve greater legal certainty, filing strategic challenges and administrative court actions where appropriate are considered. In the final phase of the project,  advocacy activities at a national level are planned.

As a result of this project, the target groups will become aware of the scope and necessity of considering the climate change aspect in EIA, they will have practical instructions at their disposal, in addition to an improved legal certainty in the said matters. The project will contribute to better considering the climate aspects in EIA as regular practice where the climate aspect will be given the necessary attention in the course of environment-related decisions.

Project partners

• Estonian Green Movement (Friends of Earth/Estonia)
• Estonian Environmental Law Center