Kersti Kaljulaid, Former President of Estonia, underscored the importance of the 28th United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP28) as a reaffirmation of the world’s commitment to protecting the planet from the effects of climate change.
In statements to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of COP28 in Dubai, Kaljulaid praised the new announcement and initiatives made during the climate conference, highlighting the importance of global unity in terms of achieving climate common goals and objectives.
Kristina explained that the United Arab Emirates has solar energy, while Estonia has wind energy, and both need short-term storage solutions to overcome periods when solar or wind energy declines, pointing out that this task can be easily achieved by storage.
She pointed out that Estonia does not rely on traditional hydroelectric energy storage, but has a 500-megawatt underground storage project, adding that this aspect opens up a cooperation opportunity with the UAE.
The former President of Estonia stressed that her country is participating in the COP28 climate conference to pave the way for a sustainable society, and to promote the exchange of ideas that will push towards achieving the ambitious goals set by the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, pointing out that Estonia is now producing a third of its electricity from renewable energy sources, and targets to obtain electricity from renewable sources by 100 percent by 2030.
Kaljulaid mentioned that Estonia is working to phase out the production of traditional energy by 2040, in addition to working to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050. She continued, "So far, net emissions in Estonia have decreased by 57 percent since 1990, and we will continue to work towards further reductions in the coming years."
She reaffirmed Estonia’s commitment to supporting people most vulnerable to climate change, as it funds green technology solutions and directs around €1.5 million annually to developing countries.
She said that Estonia will focus primarily in the years between 2023 and 2026 on raising awareness, promoting adaptation at the local level by supporting local climate and energy planning, preventing and mitigating flood risks by supporting common rainwater systems, developing meteorological, hydrological, and environmental monitoring systems, supporting the planning and implementation of urban greening plans, and restoring wetlands, lakes, and rivers.
Kaljulaid emphasised that Estonia has identified green transition as a new priority for expanding technological innovation, and that Estonia is leading the transition to a circular economy and green technologies with an adaptive mindset, and is showcasing pioneering projects in various sectors.
The Former President of Estonia explained that her country is also working to build future climate-resilient cities, pointing to the importance of digital infrastructure and nature-based solutions that support climate adaptation and form climate-resilient communities.
Regarding relations between the UAE and Estonia, Kaljulaid asserted, "There are many areas of cooperation with the UAE in multiple projects, which reflects the importance of the commercial partnership between the two countries."