According to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, Estonia needs a comprehensive view when it comes to implementing green policy, which requires all key activities to be mapped, and the goal of the government committee’s work is to do so together with top specialists. ‘The climate crisis represents a direct threat to the health and food supply of the Estonian people, to nature and the organisation of society, and this is our last chance to do something about it. The Green Revolution is a large-scale and historic change, which is why it is understandable that questions may be raised among the parties involved; however, we will try to listen to the needs of the various parties involved, in order to make the transition as smooth and painless as possible. It is also important to understand that changes will not begin to take place overnight – the process will take several decades. In the grand plan, the Green Revolution means the opportunity to move over to a more sustainable economic model; one that will ensure the prosperity of Ida-Viru County’s economy and the well-being of its people,’ Kallas emphasised.
Kallas pointed out that in order to achieve climate neutrality, it is necessary for all areas to contribute. ‘As far as the future is concerned, the goal of reaching climate neutrality is inevitable, but that does not mean shutting down our economy. On the contrary – it offers Estonia the opportunity to restructure its current economic model on a more sustainable basis, to encourage new investments and to increase the competitiveness of companies. We must use all of these opportunities wisely,’ said Prime Minister Kallas.
The government committee set goals for activities in the coming months and discussed the establishment of an advisory group of green policy experts comprised of researchers, entrepreneurs and third sector specialists who are involved in the key areas of green policy.
The purpose of the work by the group comprised of top specialists will be to make proposals to the government committee, on the basis of which the government will prepare an action plan for the successful implementation of green policy in Estonia. The group of experts will analyse and prepare a final report on the results of its work early next year.
Lauri Tammiste will lead the work by the group of experts. The group of experts will include representatives from research institutions, the business sector and the non-profit sector, as well as sectoral experts, with the aim being to ensure the widest possible competence.
The Government’s Green Policy Steering Committee is led by the Prime Minister, and its permanent members are the Minister of Entrepreneurship and Information Technology, the Minister of Education and Research, the Minister of the Environment, the Minister of Rural Affairs, the Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure, the Minister of Public Administration, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The Committee’s goal is to coordinate the implementation of green policy in Estonia, in order to promote sustainable economic growth. The Committee will prepare government decisions prior to sessions of the government, and as a result of the work ministers will be better able to coordinate a number of questions related to the area of governance and the execution of tasks.
Estonia has set the goal of achieving neutrality in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Estonia wishes to exit the production of electricity from oil shale by 2035, at the latest, and the use of oil shale in energy as a whole by 2040, at the latest. By 2030, Estonia wants to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 70 per cent compared to 1990 levels. This means significant changes in almost all areas of life, including, for example, the field of energy, the transport sector, energy consumption in buildings, and waste management.
Photos of the Committee meeting: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stenbockimaja/albums/72157719757944918
