PROGRAMME

Green Habito Conference 2024 “Green and Just Transition”

Wednesday, 27th November 2024

The arrival of Officials and Speakers in Tallinn

Thursday, 28th November 2024
Arrivals and sightseeing’s in Tallinn

  • The arrival of Delegates
  • On-site conference registration (in Hestia Hotel Hotel Europa – Paadi str 5, Tallinn)
  • 13.00 – 14.00 pm visiting Government institutions (Estonian Parliament and Estonian Representation of the European Commission) only if you registered. NB! Take your passport with you.
  • 14.00 – 16.00 Sightseeing tours in Tallinn for early arrivals (Guide Daina).
  • 17.00 – 17.10 Assamble of all delegates in front of Hestia Hotel Europe 
  • 17.10 – 17.30 Drive to Ulimiste Shopping Centre
  • 17.30 – 18.30 Dinner in LIDO (Ulimiste Shopping Centre by the airport)
  • 18.30 pm Departure from Tallinn to Narva (joint two buses, Ulimiste Shopping Centre parking) 
  • 21.00 – 22.00  (Narva Hotel, Inger Hotell and Meresuu Spa Hotell)
  • 22.00 – 23.00 Organising Committee meeting in Ingver Hotel.

DAY ONE. Friday, 29th November 2024
OFFICIAL CONFERENCE DAY at Narva College

09.00 – 10.00 Registration and coffee
10.00 – 11.15 Opening and keynote Speeches
Moderator of the Conference: Amb. Hatem Atallah
– Welcome and keynote speech by Piret Hartman, Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture (video)
– Welcome speech by  Nordic Council representative or Maria Gratschew, director of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ office in Estonia (online)
– Welcome and keynote speech by Helena Braun, Head of Political Team of the European Commission Representation in Estonia
– Keynote speech by Elva Rakel Jónsdóttir Managing Director of Festa- Center for Sustainability Experience (Iceland) – “Measuring global spillover effects on green transition, production and consumption”
– Keynote speech by Janne Rajala, president of “Green Habito” European Civil Society Network  (Finland) – “The role of Civil society organisations in the monitoring and implementation just transition and empowerment of communities in achievement of the SDGs”

11.15 – 13.00 1st Panel discussion with Invited guests and participation of public *

“Key challenges in a making green and fair transition happening: from policy to implementation”.

Climate change and environmental degradation are an existential threat to the European Union and to the world. To overcome these challenges, the European Green Deal is Europe’s new growth strategy, which will transform the Union into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy. The European Green Deal aims to make Europe climate neutral by 2050, boost the economy through green technology, create sustainable industry and transport, and cut pollution. Turning climate and environmental challenges into opportunities will make the transition just and inclusive for all. The European Commission helps EU Member States design and implement reforms that support the green transition and that contribute to achieving the goals of the European Green Deal. From this perspective, we will look at the implementation of the green transition agenda in the European Union and Nordic region as a whole and in the Member States in particular.

Moderator: Ms. Anneli Ohvril, Green Tiger Foundation (Estonia)

Experts:

  • Madis Tilga, Advisor on Green transition for Estonian Ministry of Climate 
  • Ivan Sergejev, Just transition process coordinator, Estonian Ministry of Finance
  • Frederic Roussel, Co-founder and Development, Partnerships, Innovation & Prospective Director of ACTED (France) 
  • Kaidi Tamm, Sustainable Development Programme Senior Expert, Stockholm Environment Institute Tallinn (Estonia, online)
  • Elva Rakel Jónsdóttir, Managing Director of Festa – Center for Sustainability Experience (Iceland)
  • Amb. Hatem Atallah, Tunisian Institute of Strategic Analysis (Tunisia)

13.00 – 14.00 Lunch 

14.00 – 15.45 2nd Panel discussion with Invited guests and participation of public *

“Sutainable tourism, Culture and green entrepreneurship”

We will focus on empowerment of green business model innovation and fostering a circular tourism considering the sustainability of ecosystem services using innovative technologies and promoting the preservation of natural resources and cultural heritage. Integrating Green and intercultural business model in the tourism sector with examples from Nordic-Baltic and Euro- Mediterranean regions.

Moderator: Michael G. Kavuklis, Coordinator in Chief of the Europe, Entrepreneurship & Sustainable Development Forum of Rhodes
Experts:

  • Piret Hartman, Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture 
  • Ásta Kristín Sigurjónsdóttir, CEO of Iceland Tourism Cluster
  • Liisa Kokkarinen, Head of Sustainable Development of Visit Finland 
  • Imbi Lepik-Martinson,  Sustainability Manager of Visit Estonia 
  • Anis Boufrikha, president of We love Sousse, ALF Tunisia
  • Mahmoud Ezzat, Director of Center for Strategic Studies, Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Egypt)
  • Kadri Jalonen, IVEK Tourism coordinator (Estonia)

15.30 – 16.15 Coffee Time

16.15 – 17.30 3rd Panel discussion with Invited guests and participation of public *

“Climate Change and Energy crises: Green Transition still achievable by 2050? – Transforming global consumption patterns and investing in clean energy”

As electricity prices surge on the back of dwindling gas supplies from Russia, calls are growing to bring relief to European households and businesses – some of which are being pushed to bankruptcy. The calls are being heard as EU energy ministers prepare to hold an extraordinary meeting to discuss the EU’s response to the crisis and to reaffirm in the green revolution agenda all the goals the EU has determined to achieve by 2050. Experts will provide their own perspective on existing crises and update EU energy and climate change policies. We will hear about some examples from the industrial world of how technology can help control this crisis and contribute to the protection of the environment. The Nordic & Baltic countries are experiencing an unprecedented energy crisis. The situation varies from country to country, but everywhere a new concern has risen among citizens and industry: Can we be sure to get uninterrupted supply of energy?

Moderator: Ingrid Nielsen, renewable energy expert, Estonian Fund for Nature

Experts:

  • Iva Ridjan Skov, Associate Professor, Sustainable Energy Planning Research Group of Aalborg University (Denmark, online) – “The current energy crisis and energy security in the EU”
  • Masha Lukyanchuk, World Energy Council (Belgium) – “Humanising Energy: a transformational vision for resilience, inclusivity, and sustainability in the face of the energy crisis” 
  • Malek Atallah, Business Representative and sustainability policy Expert (Wattnow-France) – “Poweing a gree future: how can technology help transform global energy consumption?”
  • Maksis Apinis, Energy transformation expert of “Green Liberty” Society” (Latvia) – “Latvia’s experience in overcoming the energy crises and transforming its energy sector” 
  • Kaire Kuldpere, Head of Environment and Sustainability, Utilitas energy group (Estonia, online) – “Implementation of carbon neutrality plan in energy company Utilitas”

17.30 – 17.45 Conference concluding remarks  day I (Amb. Hatem Attallah, moderator)

18.30 – 21.00 Official Reception and celebration of 35th Anniversary of SSCW (Dress code: black tie)

Saturday, 30th November, 2024 (Panel discussions, workshops, study visits and networking day) at Narva College

09.00 – 9.15 Report Back & Discuss agreements & ideas from Friday’s sessions
Recruit volunteers to serve on Drafting Group of Network statement

09.15 – 10.30 4th Panel discussion with Invited guests and participation of public *

“The role of civil society organisations and Local & Regional Governments as catalysts for change in the green and just transition”

Moderator:

  • Stefanos Vallianatos , Co-Founder of Fotoessa, Head of Greek Network of Anna Lindh Foundation (Greece) – “Greek experience in the field of culture and Creative Sectors driving the Green Transition”

Experts:

  • Åsa Ström Hildestrand, representative of Nordregio  “The Nordic View on Sustainability – Learnings from the Local Level” (A survey and toolbox on SDG action in Nordic municipalities in a time of political polarization)
  • Morten Hagevik Head of Culture and Sports, Porsgrunn Municipality (Norway) – “Green and Just Transition in sport, culture and education: Porsgrunn as a success story”
  • Mayri Tiido, Founder and CEO of Lowmerism (Estonia) – “Estonian Civil Society’s Contribution in Driving Green Transition with Businesses and Communities”
  • Karoliina Vaakanainen, Co-Chair Co-Chair Nuorten Agenda 2030, Finnish National Youth Council (Finland)  – “Finnish experience in catalyzing change in green transition and sustainable development in example of youth contributions”
  • Yassine Isbouia, expert in Youth and Civil Society issues in FOMEJE (Morocco) – “Achieving a green and just Transition: a case study from Morocco CSOs “

10.30 – 12.00 5th Panel discussion with Invited guests and participation of public *

“Mainstreaming human right approach to more climate change conscious and just transition: Nordic-Baltic/EuroMed climate change and sustainability policies to become the world’s most sustainable and integrated regions in 2030”.

The Nordic countries may well be at the forefront of efforts to achieve sustainable development and are successful in rankings for progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but there is still a need to work together to address several challenges, in particular those issues associated with human rights (Gender perspective and ecological sustainability – the Nordic countries have particularly unsustainable patterns of production and consumption – and with climate change and the biodiversity crisis.

Moderator: Ph.D Mette Brogden, The University of Arizona (USA)

  • Auður H. Ingólfsdóttir, Director of Climate and Circular Economy Department, Department for Climate and Circular Economy, The Environment Agency of Iceland (online) – “How do we encourage just and efficient green transition in Iceland”
  • Gunnhildur Magnusdottir, associate professor of Malmö University (online) – “Gendered norms and practices in Nordic and Baltic Climate Policy Institutions: implication for the Climate Transition”
  • Associate Professor Michael Søgaard Jørgensen, Aalborg University (Denmark) “How to obtain longer product life time: The role of the repair movement and national and international regulations”
  • „“Leading to just energy transition under guidance of UN SDGs. Experiences from CEE” – Elis Vollmer, head of the Centre of Renewable Energy of the Estonian University of Life Sciences
  • “Estonian experience in green and just transition: impact on civil society” – Kertu Laherand, Advocacy Expert on Fair Transition in Estonian Green Movement
  • “Climate change and green & just transition through human rights prisma in West Africa and Spain” – Rashid  Iddrisu, CEHDA (Spain)  
  •  Rudy Raes “ Philosophical approach of Human Rights: compassion and action”

12.00 – 12.15 Coffee break

12.15 – 13.15 6th Panel discussion with Invited guests and participation of public *

Examining and transforming of current consumption patterns by integrating sustainable lifestyle and tackling biodiversity loss

Moderator:  Hanah Lahe, Member of the Estonian Parliament, Climate activist

Experts:

  • Mathias Nikolai Berg, Leader of Grorud Venstre (Norway)
  • Alejandra Adventure, Compass Denmark (Denmark)
  • Stefan Orn Ingvarsson Olsen,  The National Youth Council of Iceland  (Iceland)
  • Daina Arfanova, representative of University of Cologne (Germany)
  • Artan Adra, BX-JEUNES (Belgium)

13.15 – 14.00 Lunch 

14.00 – 15.00 Workshops/ Working groups

  • “What circular economy means in every day life?” – Mirell Merirand, Trainer and founder of Tekstiiliringlus.
  • “Sustainability spillover effects of social, environment and economy: mapping global sustainable development in a systematic analysis” – German Morris, Peace Child Estonia.
  • “Debris and monstrocity – a practical and creative workshop about the local environment” – Susanne Kallanvaara and Linnéa Bengtsson, Burgarden Gymnasium.
  • “Exchange of best practices by partners and practising them for reach communities” – All partners representatives.

14.00 – 15.00 Working in groups:

  • I Group: development of joint statement on Green and Just Transitions (by integrating circular economy and reducing overconsumption) 
  • II Group: development of proposal for policy-makers  for a greater involvement of CSOs into achievement of SDGs;
  • III Group: development of joint initiatives / project plans between NGOs and other actors on local level to promote sustainable lifestyle and green innovative solutions for social transformation;

15.00 – 15.30 Presentation and networking of the results of workshops and working group (Presentation of joint statement draft and civil society project proposals for decision and policy makers on SDGs)

15.30 – 18.00 Study Visits and Networking (Enefit Green, Fortaco, Mining museum, Narva Art Residency, Narva College Tartu University, Vitatiim, The Pühtitsa Dormition Convent etc) across the region.

18.00 – 22.00 Free evening 

Sunday, 1st of December 2024 Conference results presentation and summary

09.00 – 09.10 Summary of the agreements – The conference Moderator & Working Group Rapporteurs

09.10– 10.30 Official Presentation and adoption of Conference Declaration on „Empowering Sustainable Change Through Success of Green and Just Transition“

10.30 – 11.30 Conclusions and follow-up activities for 2025

12.30 – 13.45 Official closing in Meresuu Spa Hotel and reception

13.45 – 15.00 Driving to Tallinn/ or visiting Narva Museum and Narva City

13.45 Departure to Tallinn, Bus to the airport

18.00 – 20.00 Annual meeting of the network board in Tallinn, Hestia Hotel Europa.

*[Conference Format Note:  In order for all delegates and panelists to tease out the best ideas and strategies from every one of the delegates coming to this Conference, we are using working groups concept –  World Café format.  This requires short (5-7 minute) presentations of key ideas and priorities by each of the 3-6 experts on the Panel discussion. Moderator could ask 1-2 questions to each panelist. Later on audiance could ask the question and/or continue conversation with Virtual participants (by joining direct conversation with all virtual participants) or delegates and spend up to 10 minutes listening / challenging / contributing / discussing responses to these ideas + other priorities and strategies advanced by the audience. Each expert has an opportunity to report back what they have learned from the participants and what concrete suggestions / recommendations they would offer the network statement. Each session has a moderator, experts, working group facilitators and Rapporteur.