Tallinn joins the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change
Tallinn, the European Green Capital 2023, has joined the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change, which has a key objective to support at least 150 European regions and communities in building resilience to climate change by 2030
“Tallinn’s goal is to be climate resilient by 2030. By participating in the mission, we want to promote local capacity to adapt to climate change and involve citizens in decision-making processes. In addition, we are trying to encourage public and private sector actors to invest in green technologies,” said Tallinn Mayor Mihhail Kõlvart.
The European Commission assessed Tallinn’s commitment to implementing measures to adapt to climate change, including the city’s past, ongoing activities and readiness for future initiatives. These activities were endorsed and the City of Tallinn was invited to sign the agreement.
“For example, Tallinn participates in the KNOWING foreign project with a pilot area in Väike-Õismäe, where the most suitable heat wave mitigation methods for the area are developed. In the Trumm area of Nõmme, nature-based stormwater solutions are being adapted to the area. The development of disconnected stormwater solutions will continue. A green factor tool that contributes to the quality of green infrastructure in planning and design is being developed. The restoration of Pääsküla bog, which has been deforested due to human activities, is underway,” said Tuuli Veersalu, an analyst at the Tallinn Strategy Centre, listing the relevant projects currently underway in Tallinn.
Joining the Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change gives Tallinn a good opportunity to engage in discussions with other cities to exchange experiences and knowledge on adaptation. In addition, it will provide access to a platform to be set up this year, which will bring together information on funding measures and best practices from other cities, help identify appropriate methods for assessing the climate risks of municipalities, etc. Among the Estonian local authorities, the cities of Pärnu, Rakvere, Saue, Tartu and Viimsi have joined the mission.
Tallinn has been tackling adaptation to climate change since 2009, when it joined the EU Covenant of Mayors on Climate and Energy. In 2015, Tallinn joined the European Commission’s “Mayors Adapt” climate change adaptation movement, adopting a commitment to reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030. A roadmap for achieving this is included in the Tallinn Climate Plan adopted in 2021. The Tallinn 2035 development strategy sets a target to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
The EU Missions complement the Horizon Europe for 2021-2027 and aim to help tackle major societal challenges, including adaptation to climate change as one of the focus themes.
More information about the climate change adaptation mission is available here.