Rainner Vakra Reappointed as Director General of Environment Department for Second Term
Rainner Vakra will continue to lead the Estonian Environment Department for another five-year term starting July 1, 2027. The decision was signed by Minister of Energy and Environment Andres Sutt, who highlighted Vakra's leadership and tasked him with reforming the environmental permit system.
Rainner Vakra has been reappointed as Director General of the Estonian Environment Department for a second five-year term. The decision was signed by Minister of Energy and Environment Andres Sutt. The new term will begin on July 1, 2027.
In signing the appointment order, Sutt described Vakra as a capable leader under whose management the Environment Department organizes nature protection efficiently and in a customer-oriented manner. Sutt added that Vakra's first task will be to reorganize the environmental permit issuance system to make the process faster and simpler.
Vakra himself promised to emphasize prevention and finding solutions in oversight, rather than just punishing violations.
Before becoming Director General of the Environment Department, Vakra was a member of the board of AS Tallinna Soojus, an elder of the Nõmme district of Tallinn, and was twice elected to the Riigikogu. He was a member of the Centre Party from 2005 to 2012 and of the Social Democratic Party from 2013 to 2021.
As recently as May 2026, Vakra did not confirm his participation in the competition for the position of Director General of the Environment Department.
