Rally Estonia environmental strategy

Rally Estonia environmental strategy

Rally Estonia Environmental Strategy encompasses the principles of environmental action, as well as long-term goals and directions, objectives, and the organizations involved in achieving these objectives. The environmental strategy is defined as the development of Rally Estonia’s environmental policy.

The FIA has taken responsibility for reducing the climate change footprint and, in cooperation with its members in competition events, supports their efforts towards sustainable development and reducing the carbon footprint.

The Rally Estonia environmental strategy is symbolized by the slogan “Flat out to a green future!”

The strategic objectives for 2020-2030 are as follows:

1. Mitigating climate change and improving air quality, reducing and compensating carbon emissions

By 2050, Estonia's goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector by 60 percent compared to 1990 levels. A specific sub-goal is to halve the share of conventionally fueled cars by 2030 and to eliminate them completely by 2050.

The FIA set a strategic goal in 2021 to prepare plans to reduce carbon emissions by 20% by 2025 and 50% by 2030. In 2021, compensation for emissions will begin through selected projects; in 2027, investments in carbon capture technology and potential synergy with sustainable fuels will start. The goal is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.

2. Reducing waste generation

RRR (reduce, recycle, reuse) principle – to reduce landfill waste, it is important to significantly decrease waste generation by developing waste sorting, reuse, and recycling. It is also important to reduce the hazardousness of waste and the content of hazardous substances in waste.

3. Sustainable use of natural resources (Protection of groundwater and surface water), preservation of landscapes and biodiversity

The goal is to monitor the amounts of water used and wastewater generated, reduce usage where possible, and ensure proper treatment of wastewater. Ensuring the protection of conservation areas and protected species.

4. Participation in SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT processes

The Rally Estonia organization considers it important to participate in sustainability discussions in cooperation with scientists, other organizations, and the public. For this purpose, the organization also joined as a founding member of the business representation organization Rohetiiger.

WRC Rally Estonia Environmental Objectives

• Organizers mainly use hybrid cars, ensuring an annual 10% increase in hybrids
• Rally Estonia 50% carbon emission compensation through forest planting in cooperation with RMK
• Optimal logistics for transport
• Promoting carbon emission reduction – parking for hybrid, hydrogen, and electric cars
• Use of environmentally friendly means for service transport – recommendation for partners
• Energy-saving lighting and equipment at the event location
• Use of solar park energy in main consumption areas in the Leigo spectator area
• Single-use plastics are prohibited
• Organization of waste management either by separate collection at the place of generation or by later sorting. Each spectator area has a waste sorting point; separate waste collection at the Estonian National Museum areas. In the rally park, hazardous waste is also collected separately;
• Minimizing paper printing through the development of digital systems. Maximum reuse of advertisements and posters, using LED screens instead
• Reusable grandstands, stages, barriers
• At the Rally Estonia center, water supply and wastewater are provided from the city system, and all event wastewater is directed to the general sewerage system. Temporary toilets in the stage area, rally park, and spectator areas. Proper collection of surface water from concrete surfaces is ensured; pre-treatment before discharge.
• Competition cars are washed according to regulations – water is mechanically cleaned before being led to stormwater drains, and no detergents are used.
• Some Rally Estonia special stages run through nature parks. Activities are coordinated in advance with the relevant authorities, spectator areas are placed in suitable locations where biodiversity is not affected (outside protected zones), and equipped with necessary temporary infrastructure.
• After the rally, a balance of all environmental load or pressure indicators is compiled – indicators reflecting the intensity of human activity. Rally Estonia measures and monitors indicators per participant.

RE Environmental Strategy full text (pdf)