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“Acting now for the future” Estonia

by Alis Jankelevitsh, Helen Birgit Post, Alexandra Voit, Markus Luik and Karl Erich Sooaru

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RECYCLING IN ESTONIA

  • Separate collection of waste is mandatory in Estonia
  • The average Estonian produced 370 kilos of municipal waste in 2020 (-8.6% compared to 2019)
  • 20.21 million tonnes of waste was produced in Estonia in 2020 (-14.1% compared to 2019)
  • 361.1 thousand tons of waste is used for energy production by incineration in 2019
  • Municipal waste recycling rate is 30.8% in 2019
  • This figure used to be as low as only 2.4% in 2000

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SUSTAINABLE SCHOOLS IN ESTONIA

SUSTAINABLE SCHOOLS IN ESTONIA

  • Roheline Kool-> Internatiomal eco-school programme started in Estonia
  • Progressive curriculum-> first country to mandate sustainability in school curriculums
  • Garbage management-> Tallinn City Government has promised to give 3 sets of recycling bins to every school

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Eco-friendly packaging

Eco-friendly packaging

  • The good news: one-time use plastics banned since 2021
  • The classics: straws, bags, disposable plates etc..
  • Confusion about biodegradability — you can’t compost everything at home!
  • Less is more!
    • Package free living is a niche - hard but doable
    • Package free shops are appearing!
  • Fruits and vegetables are mostly packageless
  • Glass and plastic bottles are returnable

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Startups

Startups

  • Over 1000 startups and 7 unicorns.
  • Ringkarp, Bringpack and Ringo: food establishments
  • As global awareness rises more people will act

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What could be improved & suggesting real alternatives

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ENERGY: The most pressing issue

ENERGY: The most pressing issue

  • Oil shale: 75% of all electricity produced in Estonia
  • Greenhouse gas output, water consumption & pollution, surface disturbance, socioeconomic effects
  • Emits 10% to 20% more CO2 than petroleum
  • Solar panels & wind turbines -> high renewable energy taxes
  • Nuclear energy + : no CO2, less physical space, high power output
  • Nuclear energy - : possible catastrophes, non- renewable uranium, nuclear waste

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OTHER ISSUES AND SOLUTIONS

OTHER ISSUES AND SOLUTIONS

  • Lack of investments -> start financing more eco-friendly undertakings
  • Lack of motivation -> employ bonuses
  • Unsustainable architecture -> start rebuilding and re-insulating buildings

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CONCERNS ABOUT THE FUTURE

  • 76% of European youth worried about climate change
  • 56% - ‘humanity is doomed’
  • “Climate anxiety”
  • support groups

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  • Estonians less worried - 65%
  • top priorities: pollution and waste management
    • “Let’s do it!” and World Cleanup Day

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  • Southern Europeans more worried – more direct impact

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  • Estonians feel less responsible & capable of enacting change
  • 60% of Europeans vs 45% of Estonians have personally taken action
  • “there’s no rush”

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THE SCARY FUTURE…..

imagine that it’s 2050 and we didn’t do anything

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