These are not empty words and we will proceed from theory to practice in our activities. Our goal is to give even more attention to sustainability. For example, we turned into climate heroes last week and went to plant trees with the Estonian Office of the Nordic Council of Ministers on the initiative of the State Forest Management Centre. Reducing our ecological footprint is important to us and we will certainly work on it in the future as well.
Sustainability is a concept that is acquiring an increasingly deeper meaning in light of global, environmental, social and economic challenges. In addition to specific activities in Estonia, we help bring together Estonian and Nordic experts and share the experience of Nordic countries. You don’t always have to reinvent the wheel, as you can use the practices that are already working and adapt them if necessary. Often, people find the best solutions in joint discussions, so the impact of exchanging ideas should not be underestimated.
Several of our events in the area of green economy and energy approach the subject of sustainability in the most direct manner, but they’re not the only ones. In late 2018 we launched the Nordic-Baltic textile waste mapping project, which will last until the end of this year, and we hope to inform you about the results as the project progresses.
We also will also speak about sustainability and sustainable development at this year’s Opinion Festival (9 & 10 August). The economy, which is based on technological progress, economy of scale effect and cheap energy inputs, has been growing consistently for the last 200 years. Unfortunately, the comforts and wealth created by this model have exceeded nature’s capacity to recover and led humankind to an ecological and social crisis. The resources that are the basis of the economy have run out and the environment that reproduces resources has been ruined. We will try to find answers to the question of how we should go on from here.
The exhibition ‘The Weather Diary’, which introduces innovative Nordic solutions in the area of sustainable and responsible fashion, will open in the Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design on 27 September. The exhibition will certainly offer inspiration and food for thought to all visitors.
The Baltic Carbon Forum will be held in Tallinn on 22 & 23 October. The objective of the conference is to share new knowledge about Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) technologies. A broader view from the Global CCS Institute will also be represented in addition to Nordic and Baltic research institutions and companies.
We will also speak about the energy issues that connect the region at the Nordic-Baltic Energy Conference (24 & 25 October), where Nordic and Baltic energy and climate plans will be introduced. Attendees can also listen to the opinions of researchers and entrepreneurs of the European Union long-term (2050) strategy ‘A Clean Planet for All’ and take a closer look at the various aspects of the energy system, market developments, energy security and the Clean Energy Package.
These are only some of the events that will be organised or attended by the Estonian Office of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2019. We will also continue with several support programmes – you can read more about them here. In order to keep in touch with our activities, subscribe to the Nordic newsletter or follow us on social media (Facebook, Twitter).