Keskkonda

Keskkonda is the partitive form of the Estonian noun keskkond, which means environment or surroundings. The base keskkond refers to the environment as a whole, including natural, built, and social elements that influence living beings and human activities. Keskkonda appears in sentences that require the partitive case, often in contexts of ongoing or indefinite actions.

In everyday Estonian, keskkonda is used with verbs that take a partitive object, such as hoida keskkonda (to preserve the environment) or kaitsta keskkonda (to protect the environment). It is contrasted with keskkonna, the genitive form used for ownership or when describing relationships like keskkonna kaitse (protection of the environment) or keskkonna kvaliteet (the environment’s quality).

The concept of keskkond covers natural environments, built surroundings, and social contexts that affect ecosystems and human life. It is a central idea in ecology, geography, urban planning, and environmental policy. In Estonia, keskkond is a focus of environmental protection and sustainable development, and the term frequently appears in legislation, policy discussions, and institutional names, such as Keskkonnaministeerium (Ministry of the Environment).

See also:

- Keskkond

- Keskkonnaministeerium

- Keskkonnaseadus