Estonia at UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai

We move towards more efficient government structure by bringing energy, transportation, buildings, shipping, and environmental protection under a newly established Climate Ministry, responsible for sectors covering 70% of our emissions. We will adopt a climate law and taxation measures. The economy must fit into the environmental boundaries, and this is a competitive advantage. Responsibility and opportunity of a green transformation lie at our doorstep. Mitigating climate change and putting an end to environmental degradation is an imperative of our time. This paradigm shift in Estonia, known as the Green Turn, demands a fundamental alteration in society, economy, and mindset.

Estonia's Innovative Digital Hub is at the Forefront of Twin Transition, and we aim to accelerate innovation, drive global climate action and green transition.  Estonia has a unique adaptive mindset that is perfect domain for innovative ideas, and we have successfully executed pioneering pilot projects that showcase the viability of green initiatives, exemplified through e-governance, e-voting, mobility initiatives (last mile autonomic vehicle services) and many more cleantech innovators. The clean technologies sector is on the rise to tackle the environmental challenges, energy crisis and sustainable mobility topics. We host NATO's cyber defense cooperation center and have fostered a thriving startup ecosystem. In the true spirit of twin transition, digital infrastructure supports clean technology development. Estonia recognizes that the Green Transition is not only an ecological necessity but also a significant economic opportunity. Innovative environmental products and services, powered by cutting-edge technology, can drive economic growth, and provide a competitive advantage 

Today, buildings account for half of the energy use in Estonia. On the one hand, much progress has been made in decarbonisation of the heating sector and in the installation of ground and air heat pumps. On the other hand, For us, reconstruction with prefabricated elements and monitoring real-time energy consumption is the key. Construction (including demolition, and the recycling and reuse of materials) is one of the most energy-intensive areas in the world and thus has a lot of untapped decarbonisaton potential. Smart and green solutions include replacing non-renewable materials with renewables and thus storing carbon in buildings for a long time. Estonia is a big producer of wooden houses in Europe, and the sector is the most digitized local industry, inherently dependent on modern technology. The production of prefabricated wooden houses is one of the most eco-friendly construction methods, as the process is quick and automated, and all resources are used optimally.

Climate and ecological crises are inextricably linked and need to be tackled in synergy. Nature provides solutions for climate change, but ecosystems face growing biodiversity loss. Healthy ecosystems offer considerable protection against the negative effects of climate change. Only an abundance of habitats will ensure the survival of species - the greater the extent of a species habitat, the better their chances of adapting to climate change. Estonia has had great success in restoring mires, rivers and semi-natural grasslands what are natural sinks. We also have one of the highest shares of organic agricultural land in the EU. By practicing organic production, we avoid burdening nature with synthetic fertilizers and help maintain biodiversity.

We are financing the export of green technology solutions and know-how to developing countries. We consider such cooperation projects important in order to share knowledge and expertise for increasing mitigation and adaptation actions and building resilience of countries around the world. For instance, we have supported the implementation of adaptation actions and emergency communication systems in the Pacific region and drinking water monitoring systems in Grenada island river basin.

We are highlighting the Arctic where environment and ecosystems are affected more severely than any other region in the world, being the fastest warming region on the planet. This is putting an enormous strain on the Arctic communities. Estonian universities engage in measuring and interpreting the rapid changes and their impact on the societies in the Arctic. Technological innovation is also a key enabler for scientists in harsh conditions, like those in the Arctic. A good example is the research on ocean monitoring technology at Tallinn Technical University, where a sea ice monitoring service has been developed which can be used by other countries with similar needs.

We need to develop and use more data-driven and science-based solutions to monitor, measure, understand and communicate the effects of climate change and speed up our adaptation actions. Internationally, Estonia has worked for better data management through UNEP and has helped to launch its policy initiative DEAL (Data for Environment Alliance). For example, regular and transparent reporting on greenhouse gas inventories and tracking national objectives gives us valuable information. Nationally, Estonia has developed a platform on the national greenhouse gas inventories and projections. This not only makes the information accessible and readily digestible to anyone but also works as a tool to track progress in climate action within the public.

A local NGO “Let's Do It World” started a worldwide movement to clean up neighbourhoods. With the support of UN-Habitat, this movement now engages more than 90 million people from 195 countries and territories, making it the largest environmental organization and civic movement in the world. It addresses issues related to human misbehavior, mishandling of waste, poor waste management, and the growing problem of overconsumption. For a more significant shift in societies, we need more concerted efforts from similar environmental movements. World Cleanup Day is established as an international day of United Nations to be held annually on the 22nd of September.

Together with our partners form European Commission, Germany, Belgium, France, Finland, Sweden and Netherlands we are initiating a new project called “Digital and green innovation action”. We advocate for the twin digital and green transition of global fair and inclusive economies and societies, by strengthening digital green entrepreneurship & innovation across these countries. This is expected to have a significant impact on the development of digital green entrepreneurship and innovation and will help create jobs, boost economic growth, and accelerate the transition to a more sustainable future.