* According to Statistics Estonia, in spite of the fact that there were no major changes concerning environmental pressure in 2005, the continuing of the present trends shows the accumulation of pollutants in the environment.
From positive environmental pressure trends it is noteworthy that energy production from renewable sources in Estonia is increasing — in 2005 11% of the consumed energy was produced from renewable energy sources. The main source of renewable energy was wood.
Although the use of passenger cars is continuously increasing, the cars are newer and the amounts of air pollution decrease. In 2005 compared to 2000, the number of first registrations of passenger cars almost doubled and the use of motor fuels increased by one third. Despite the growth in the number of passenger cars air pollution from mobile sources has not increased.
The amounts of unpurified wastewater to environment decrease compared to the previous years. 1.9 million cubic meters of unpurified wastewater were released to environment in 2005. Due to the increased canalization and purification of wastewater, the release of unpurified wastewater into environment has decreased about three times compared to 2000.
In 2005 compared to 2000, the gross felling has decreased by 45%, whereby felling from private forest has decreased 50%.
From negative environmental pressure trends it must be mentioned that as in previous years also in 2005 about 7 million tons of hazardous wastes were deposited into environment, of which 94% were originated from oil shale treatment. In addition 13.6 million tons of carbon dioxide and 58,000 tons of sulphur dioxide were formed during burning of oil shale and almost 223 million cubic meters of ground water was pumped out from mines. In 2005 the excavation of oil shale accounted for 62% of the volume of excavation foreseen in oil shale development plan (20 million tons as maximum limit in 2015).
The quantity of generated municipal waste has stayed on the level of 400 kilograms per capita since 2000. During the last five years there has been no approach to the target set by Estonian Environmental Strategy for the year 2010 — to stabilize the generation of municipal waste up to 250–300 kilograms per capita.
Compared to 2000 the excavation of mineral resources used in construction (sand, clay, limestone, dolomite and gravel) has doubled and reached the amount of 6.2 million tons in 2005.
The use of pesticides has been constantly growing in Estonia. In 2005 350 tons of pesticides were used on the crops grown in Estonia, which is 14% more compared to 2000.
For further information : Kaia Oras |
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