The electrified railway of Rail Baltica will help reduce the environmental footprint of the transport sector, primarily by reducing greenhouse gas emissions due to the modal shift from private cars to public transport.
Transport CO2-footprint and noise reduction
This makes a significant contribution to reducing CO2 emissions in light of today's discussions on global warming, as compared to other modes of transport, rail transport causes the lowest CO2 emissions: 35 g per passenger-kilometre, which is a full four and a half times smaller CO2 footprint than road transport. Modern electric trains also help reduce traffic noise.
Environmental activities in Rail Baltic Estonia
- Monitoring
- Compensatory work
Environmental impact assessment
All human activities have a greater or lesser impact on the surrounding environment, and the environmental impact of some activities can be significant. In order to prevent or mitigate these impacts, the impact of such activities is assessed when planning activities.
The purpose of environmental impact assessment is to collect and analyze the information necessary for decision-making and to provide solutions to prevent or mitigate the expected significant environmental impact.
The proposed activity may have various impacts of varying magnitude and significance. The environmental impact assessment only addresses those impacts that may be significant.
An environmental impact is significant if it can:
- expected to exceed the environmental tolerance of the impact area,
- cause irreversible changes,
- endanger human health and well-being, cultural heritage or property.
Environmental impact assessment is divided into two parts:
Environmental impact assessment in the narrow sense, or EIA
An environmental impact assessment (EIA) generally begins with the processing of an application for an activity permit. The results of the EIA are taken into account when deciding whether to grant an activity permit.
Strategic Environmental Assessment or SEA
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is carried out when preparing strategic planning documents (SPD) (e.g. plans, development plans, strategists, etc.).
When designing a railway, the following is assessed:
- impact on climate
- impact on protected natural objects
- impact of deforestation
- impact on surface water quality and movement
- impact on fauna
- impact on the green network
- impact on soil
- impact on the relief
- vibration effect
- noise impact
- impact on groundwater quality and water level changes
- impact on vegetation (including forests) and habitat loss
- impact of the spread of alien species
- compliance with the objectives of the current water management plan
