PM: Estonian pavilion at COP28 shows possibility of combating climate change

TALLINN – Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said when opening the Estonian pavilion at the UN climate change conference COP28 in Dubai on Friday that its main message is to see fighting climate change as an opportunity.

According to Kallas, Estonia will have its own pavilion at COP28 for the first time this year.

"Small countries have an important role as solution providers in achieving climate neutrality and green reform. The decision to open the pavilion was primarily driven by the desire of digital and green companies to present Estonia's experience in implementing the green reform to an international audience. Also, the desire of our companies and universities and other institutions to expand their contacts and find new cooperation partners," the prime minister said.

Kallas noted that the main message of the Estonian pavilion is that we should see fighting climate change as an opportunity.

"As an innovative country, Estonia sees the green transition as the next big opportunity to create a better living environment. In order to achieve the climate goals, companies and society in general must change their way of doing things and thinking. Different digital solutions play a key role here. We call it double transition in Estonia. This means that we have put e-solutions to work to achieve climate goals," she said.

The prime minister added that in the pavilion Estonia can share its experiences so far with others and find new cooperation partners.

"Estonia has a lot to offer the world in the transition to climate neutrality. In the Estonian pavilion, we will share our experiences from, for example, the implementation of the digital revolution, and introduce our companies' solutions in the fields of energy efficiency, smart cities, data management and the circular economy," Kallas said.

In connection with the opening of the pavilion, Estonia also organized a high-level discussion focused on the connection between climate and security.

"Geopolitical tensions and wars, such as Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine, are taking attention and resources away from dealing with the climate crisis. Military activities also have direct and indirect negative effects on the environment. We see how Russia is using ecocide and environmental destruction very deliberately as part of its warfare. Therefore, it is also extremely important from the point of view of the environment to put an end to Russian aggression," Kallas said.

In addition to Kallas, the discussion also featured Katrin Jakobsdottir, the prime minister of Iceland, and David R. Boyd, UN special rapporteur on human rights and the environment. The discussion was moderated by Benedikt Franke, CEO of the Munich Security Conference.

Kallas discussed climate and security also at the Munich Security Conference event "Climate Security Moment: Assuming Joint Leadership" held at COP28 together with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, German Special Envoy for International Climate Action Jennifer Morgan, Icelandic Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir, executive director of the UN Environment Program Inger Andersen and chairman of the Munich Security Conference Christoph Heusgen.

Over 60 events will take place in the Estonian pavilion during the 11 days of the conference. Estonian companies present at COP28 are 1MTN, Auve Tech, Beast, Fibenol, KappaZeta, KWOTA, Nortal, R8 Technologies, Ragn-Sells, Rail Baltic Estonia, Zero Terrain, Timbeter and Utilitas. Estonian universities present include University of Tartu, Estonian University of Life Sciences and Tallinn University. The city of Tallinn, the Let's Do It World initiative, the Impact Day initiative and the Center of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge are also represented.