Rail Baltica’s electrified railway will help reduce the environmental footprint of the transport sector, in particular by reducing greenhouse gas emissions through a modal shift from private cars to public transport.
Reducing theCO2 footprint and noise of transport
This will make a significant contribution to reducing CO2 emissions in today’s climate warming debate, as rail has the lowest carbon footprint of all modes of transport: 35g per passenger kilometre, which is a full four and a half times smaller than land transport. Modern electric trains also help to reduce traffic noise.
Environmental activities in Rail Baltic Estonia
- Seire
- 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. To prevent or mitigate these impacts, the impacts of such activities are assessed at the design stage.
The purpose of an EIA is to gather and analyse the information needed to make a decision, and to propose solutions to avoid or mitigate the likely significant environmental impacts.
The proposed activity may give rise to a range of impacts, which vary in scale and significance. The EIA only deals with impacts that are likely to be significant.
The environmental impact is as significant as it can be:
- expected to exceed the environmental capacity of the area of influence,
- cause irreversible changes,
- endanger human health and well-being, cultural heritage or property.
The environmental impact assessment is divided into two parts:
Environmental impact assessment in the narrower sense or EIA
An environmental impact assessment (EIA) usually starts with the processing of an application for an operating permit. The results of the EIA will be taken into account when deciding whether to grant an authorisation.
Strategic Environmental Assessment or SEA
Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) are carried out during the preparation of Strategic Planning Documents (SPDs) (e.g. planning documents, development plans, strategic plans, etc.).
The design of the railway will assess:
- climate impact
- impact on protected natural sites
- the impact of deforestation
- impacts on surface water quality and movement
- impact on fauna
- impact on the green network
- impact on soil
- impact on relief
- vibration effects
- noise impact
- impacts on groundwater quality and changes in water levels
- impacts on vegetation (including forests) and habitat loss.
- the impact of the spread of alien species
- compliance with the objectives of the current water management plan
