To ensure the more effective functioning of civil protection system in times of large-scale and long-term crisis, the government will inform the population, provide instructions on how to cope independently, and create adequate operational stockpiles to deal with the emergency. Civil protection works through cooperation between the state, local governments, the private sector, civil society and individuals. If necessary, it is supported by the civil protection undertaken by international organisations and measures set out in bilateral agreements. The continuity of vital services is of the utmost importance in the context of security and safety. To achieve this, the state applies measures to prevent emergencies and keep potential consequences to a minimum in cooperation with all actors in society, monitoring the measures’ performance more closely than ever. Many vital services are provided by the private sector, so it is critical to strengthen cooperation between the public and private sectors in ensuring their continuous operation. The provision of these services not only depends on internal factors but is also influenced by global events and developments in the world economy. This have to be considered in planning. Estonia takes measures to monitor climate change, neutralise its risks and deal with the consequences on the local, regional and national level to reduce vulnerability created by it. The best results are achieved through international cooperation and the balanced development of conservancy and environmental protection, the economy and social sphere, and the intentional and considered use of a well-functioning system intended for development as well as the funds allocated for environmental protection. In addition to the national and local government level, the private sector and non-governmental sectors and research facilities will be involved in enhancing measures for adapting to the impact of climate change. Estonia applies measures to prevent the spread of hazardous substances and materielle and to neutralise sources of pollution on land and sea. Estonia develops maritime traffic management and monitoring systems for the Baltic Sea, primarily the Gulf of Finland, in cooperation with other states to prevent marine pollution. In order to discover pollution as early as possible and identify the source, the long-distance surveillance of marine pollution, including aerial surveillance, must be improved. To prevent major accidents and alleviate their consequences interagency cooperation in planning the location of and monitoring the activity of businesses where those accidents might occur must be improved. Estonia has an early warning system for radioactivity detection, to identify and warn of radiation accidents in nuclear power stations close to Estonia as early as possible. Estonia engages in international cooperation with the EU, NATO and states in the Baltic Sea region to react to major incidents promptly, promote protection against radiation, improve the safety of nuclear plants and reduce possible radiation exposure in the Baltic Sea region. Estonian rescue and crisis management units and experts could be used in UN rescue and aid missions. Health protection helps people cope with their daily lives and increases their contribution to society and the economy, thereby reinforcing the cohesion of society and also raising the country’s ability to neutralise security threats. With globalisation and open societies, the probability of the spread of epidemics and epizootics has increased and the state must be always ready for prevention and their elimination. Diseases that are still unknown and incurable may spread, lack of knowledge or low awareness may cause uncertainty and unsubstantiated fear in the population. 18