University representatives discussed with the minister of climate how to involve researchers in drafting the Climate Act

On 9 October, Rector Toomas Asser, Vice Rector for Development Tõnu Esko and Vice Rector for Research Mari Moora met with Minister of Climate Kristen Michal and his Science Adviser Aveliina Helm in Tallinn to discuss opportunities for cooperation, funding for sustainability-related research projects and ensuring the involvement of university researchers in the development of the Climate Act. 

According to Vice Rector for Development Tõnu Esko, solving problems related to climate change requires cooperation between researchers from many disciplines. "The University of Tartu is the best competence centre in Estonia, with researchers who can advise on environmental, social, cultural and technological issues. We hope that cooperation with the Ministry of Climate will be close," said Esko. 

The university aims to ensure that researchers are involved in the steering groups on the Climate Act. To boost interdisciplinary cooperation, the UT Centre for Sustainable Development was launched last year, the experts of which have given feedback on the Estonian Green Transition Action Plan and initiated several interdisciplinary cooperation projects.  

University representatives gave the minister an overview of how green technologies are being developed together with businesses and local governments. For example, ongoing cooperation deals with assessing the environmental impact of offshore wind farms, developing hydrogen technologies and creating climate-neutral cities. However, there are still many more opportunities for cooperation in the administrative area of the Ministry of Climate. 

In addition, the Ministry of Climate's research and development funding plans and joint projects to bring additional funding from European programmes into Estonian research were discussed. One possibility is to cooperate on the development of biodiversity databases and to participate in European research partnerships. The ways of jointly raising the level of science education in Estonia and improving climate awareness in society at large were also explored. 

As the national organisation of transport is also in the responsibility of the minister of climate, the university representatives stressed the need to restore international transport links to and from Tartu as soon as possible.