Estonia providing almost EUR 1 mln to support climate solutions in developing countries

TALLINN – The Environmental Investment Center of Estonia is accepting applications for grants for projects that will help mitigate climate change in developing countries and help such countries adapt to climate change.

The budget of the support measure for next year is 967,000 euros.

The international Paris climate agreement requires developed countries to help developing countries mitigate climate change and adapt to its effects. Under the agreement, Estonia has pledged to contribute one million euros annually to international climate cooperation and to help developing countries meet their climate policy objectives, spokespeople for the Environmental Investment Center said.

Minister of the Environment Erki Savisaar said that Estonia will continue international climate cooperation also next year. In the previous three years, Estonian climate solutions have reached Burkina Faso, Costa Rica, Bangladesh, Kenya and several other countries.

"In this way, we are also supporting Estonian businesses, NGOs and universities in the export of their innovative green technology solutions, so it is not just developing countries that benefit from climate cooperation," the Estonian minister said.

In the call for proposals, the Environmental Investment Center is expecting projects that contribute to mitigating or adapting to the effects of climate change in the fields of energy, transport, water, construction, waste management, agriculture, forestry, information and communication technology.

The areas of supported activities are not limited, but the link between the expected results of the projects and climate change must be identifiable in accordance with OECD methodology, meaning the Rio Markers for Climate.

In the three previous years, Estonia has provided altogether 2.8 million euros towards 18 projects. This includes money for the provision of PowerUP Fuel Cells hydrogen and fuel cell based electricity generators to Pakistan and Namibia. The University of Tartu, in cooperation with African partners, is developing a building material in Kenya made from local organic waste.

To reduce expenses on fossil fuels and the content of exhaust gases and soot particles in ambient air, the company Dieselland-Equipment established a modular diesel engine repair workshop in Kenya.

Non-profit associations, foundations, businesses, universities, government agencies and local authorities and the bodies governed by them are eligible to participate in the call for proposals, which will be announced shortly. Applicants are required to have a partner in a country identified by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as a recipient of development assistance.

The minimum amount of support per project is 30,000 euros and the maximum amount 200,000 euros. The maximum grant rate is 90 percent of the eligible costs. Own contribution must equal at least 10 percent of the eligible costs.

The final date of submissions is Feb. 7, 2022.

The money for the grants comes from the proceeds of the EU scheme for trading in greenhouse gas allowances.