809 On the Future of the Climate Law
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 6th Session, Plenary Sitting
Date: 2025-10-13 21:51
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 20
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 36m
AI Summaries: 20/20 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
As the seventh item on the Riigikogu's agenda, the inquiry (No. 809) submitted by Riigikogu members Tiit Maran, Züleyxa Izmailova, Tanel Kiik, Riina Sikkut, and Heljo Pikhof regarding the future of the Climate Act was discussed, to which the Minister of Energy and Environment, Andres Sutt, responded. Tiit Maran, representing the inquirers, sharply criticized the government's inaction and contradictory signals, noting that the ambitious Climate Act, originally promised by June 2024, was replaced by a weaker draft of the "Climate-Resilient Economy Act." This draft failed to meet international obligations and practically left adaptation aspects unaddressed. Maran expressed concern that mitigating climate change and preparing the population are no longer government priorities, while simultaneously pointing to economic decisions (e.g., increasing logging volumes, exceptions for oil shale mining) that move in the opposite direction.
Minister Andres Sutt confirmed that climate policy remains a government priority. He explained that the new approach is a short, specific, and realistic framework law, differing from the previous version by moving details into sectoral roadmaps. This approach offers greater flexibility for adapting to rapid changes in the economy and technology. Sutt emphasized that the submission of the bill to the Riigikogu has been delayed by the need to discuss and finalize the sectoral roadmaps with stakeholders to ensure a comprehensive picture. The Minister promised to submit the bill to the Riigikogu later this year. During the debate, difficulties in meeting LULUCF (Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry) targets and the need to find realistic solutions at the European Union level were also addressed.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made
Most Active Speaker
Tiit Maran was the most active as the representative of the questioners, presenting a critical introduction and participating in the negotiations. His position is oppositional (other).
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi introduced, as the seventh item on the agenda, Interpellation No. 809 concerning the future of the Climate Act, which was submitted to the Minister of Energy and Environment Andres Sutt by Riigikogu members Tiit Maran, Züleyxa Izmailova, Tanel Kiik, Riina Sikkut, and Heljo Pikhof. He then invited Riigikogu member Tiit Maran to the podium to deliver the report.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tiit Maran has sharply criticized the government for the significant disarray and constant procrastination surrounding the adoption of the Climate Law. This legislation was initially promised as the coalition's central theme and the launchpad for the "green revolution." Despite multiple missed deadlines (originally June 2024) and conflicting assurances from ministers, the law has still not been presented (as of October). Moreover, the intermediate draft—which significantly lowered the original ambitions—was defective concerning both emission reduction targets and the population's ability to adapt to climate change, leading to doubts about whether climate change mitigation remains a priority for the current government.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi highlighted the rule, noting that, unfortunately, additional time is not provided for in this specific situation.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tiit Maran wants to know the plans for preparing the draft act, asking the minister how the involvement of communities and interest groups will be ensured, the extent to which adaptation issues will be addressed, and when the bill is expected to reach the Riigikogu.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanked the audience and subsequently gave the floor to Andres Sutt, the Minister of Energy and Environment, who was once again prepared to answer questions from the interpellators.
Energeetika- ja keskkonnaminister Andres Sutt
AI Summary
Minister of Energy and Environment Andres Sutt confirmed that climate policy remains a government priority, emphasizing the need for swift and systemic action, and introduced a new, concise, and realistic draft bill for the Climate-Resilient Economy Act. This bill sets concrete emission reduction targets but delegates the implementation details to sectoral roadmaps, the preparation of which involves extensive stakeholder engagement, with the aim of submitting the draft bill to the Riigikogu (Parliament) within the current year.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller thanked the previous speaker and gave the floor to Tiit Maran, noting that the latter had a question to ask.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tiit Maran commends the minister but raises a question regarding the process within the European Commission for amending the unfair LULUCF requirements related to land use. He expresses concern that Estonia has begun negotiations without official positions confirmed by the European Union Affairs Committee, which is contrary to standard procedure.
Energeetika- ja keskkonnaminister Andres Sutt
AI Summary
The Minister of Energy and Environment, Andres Sutt, confirms that his activities align with the mandate given by the Riigikogu and is focusing on the realistic achievement of LULUCF targets. He notes that while the targets are necessary, they were initially set without sufficient knowledge regarding the paths to implementation, which is why member states face varying issues. He stresses that solutions adopted by other countries are unsuitable for Estonia, being a forest-rich nation, making objective and flexible negotiation on the means of achieving these goals essential.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller gave the floor to Riina Sikkut.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut does support the decision made two and a half years later to return to the original, short framework law concept of the Climate Act, but she is posing questions to the Prime Minister regarding both his support and the possible loosening of the emission reduction targets in the new version of the law.
Energeetika- ja keskkonnaminister Andres Sutt
AI Summary
Energy and Environment Minister Andres Sutt confirmed that the preparation of the Climate-Resilient Economy Act is the result of two years of collaborative work, and the Prime Minister supports this approach. Sutt emphasized that the level of ambition has not been reduced and the 2050 climate neutrality target remains firmly in place. He explained that, in addition to the targets themselves, a roadmap and a review clause are also crucial, as these allow activities to be adjusted during the working process to achieve the final goal, while simultaneously acknowledging that LULUCF continues to be the greatest challenge.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller gave the floor to Züleyxa Izmailova, inviting her to the podium.
Züleyxa Izmailova
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Züleyxa Izmailova stressed that, unlike political views, climate phenomena are strictly governed by the laws of physics, and she asked the minister to clarify whether the current working version of the climate law would result in higher emissions compared to the previous one.
Energeetika- ja keskkonnaminister Andres Sutt
AI Summary
Minister of Energy and Environment Andres Sutt refused to speculate on the numerical data of the question presented, fearing he might give an inaccurate answer, and promised to verify the figures and provide an exact written response regarding potential changes.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller concluded the round of questions, declared the discussions open, and first gave the floor to Tiit Maran.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tiit Maran expresses dissatisfaction over the ambiguity of the minister's responses, particularly concerning the positions on LULUCF. He stresses that meeting climate targets is impossible if the current economic model is maintained, citing examples such as the increased volume of logging and specific industry exemptions. He emphasizes the significance of the forest as both an ecosystem and a climate stabilizer, and sharply criticizes the absence of a national adaptation strategy for coping with inevitable climate changes. He fears that the process of drafting the climate law will result in inaction and neglect, which would lead to very severe consequences for Estonia.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
After a brief word of thanks, Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller granted the Minister the floor to provide clarifications or explanations, thereby moving the discussion forward.
Energeetika- ja keskkonnaminister Andres Sutt
AI Summary
Minister of Energy and Environment Andres Sutt confirmed that the ministry has put significant effort into preparing the draft bill, stressing that while climate change is an objective phenomenon, we must find common ground on the methods for tackling it. He stressed that clean and modern industry, such as a biorefinery that valorizes domestic timber, is a crucial component of adapting to climate change and does not conflict with nature conservation objectives.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller thanked the participants, closed the debate—as no further requests to speak were received—and announced that the seventh item on today's agenda had thus been successfully concluded.