Stenbock House, November 30, 2023 – Estonia, under the leadership of Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, is actively engaging in the significant UN Climate Change Conference, COP28, taking place in Dubai. Prime Minister Kallas is scheduled to attend the conference from December 1 to 2, delivering a national statement that highlights Estonia’s accomplishments and aspirations in achieving climate targets.
Additionally, she will inaugurate the Estonian pavilion, contribute to panel discussions and side events, and engage in bilateral meetings with fellow heads of state and government.
Prime Minister Kallas emphasized that this year’s climate conference holds a crucial goal of conducting an interim review of the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement, signed in 2015. She stated, “Concrete actions are essential to meet climate change deceleration goals. Interim reviews are instrumental in keeping us on track.
Estonia, along with the entire European Union, remains highly committed to reducing carbon emissions and advancing the development and implementation of green technologies. It is imperative for global counterparts to act in alignment with these principles.”
Key topics of discussion at the conference include formulating an effective climate change mitigation plan and addressing issues related to funding adaptation to climate change. Estonia, alongside other European Union Member States, approaches these negotiations with shared opinions established during the EU Environmental Council on November 16, 2023.
Notably, this year marks Estonia’s debut with its dedicated pavilion at COP, an inauguration led by Prime Minister Kallas. She conveyed, “Addressing climate change is a challenging task, but we must also recognize the opportunities.
Small countries like Estonia play a vital role as providers of solutions in achieving climate neutrality and facilitating the green transition. This is the primary message we aim to convey by showcasing Estonia and our digital and green companies in our pavilion.”
The Estonian delegation, accompanying the Prime Minister, comprises representatives from the Ministry of Climate, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, and Ministry of Finance. Recognizing the importance of involving young people in shaping climate policy, a youth climate delegate is also part of the COP28 delegation.
Estonia’s corporate representation includes 1MTN, Auve Tech, Beast, Fibenol, KappaZeta, KWOTA, Nortal, R8 Technologies, Ragn-Sells, Rail Baltica Estonia, Zero Terrain, Timbeter, and Utilitas. Academic institutions like the University of Tartu, Estonian University of Life Sciences, and Tallinn University are actively represented.
The city of Tallinn, Let’s Do It World, Impact Day, and the Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge are also integral components of the delegation. Further information about the Estonian pavilion can be found at [link].
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP) is scheduled to occur in Dubai from November 30 to December 12, 2023.
This 28th iteration, referred to as COP28, will encompass climate negotiations, assessment of climate change management processes, and the formulation of new strategies to decelerate global temperature rise and control climate change.
The conference aims to bring together diverse stakeholders, including public and private sectors, to collectively address these challenges. Notably, the Paris Climate Agreement, forged during COP21 in 2015, set the objective of limiting global warming to below 2 °C, with efforts to keep it at 1.5 °C. Represented at the conference will be national delegations, international organizations, associations, stakeholders, observers, and businesses, both large and small.
