The International conference “DRIVING CHANGE: EMPOWERING SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH GREEN GOVERNANCE” took place on November 16, 2023 in Tallinn, Estonia, with delegates from 24 cities and 10 countries.

As the European Green Capital 2023, the City of Tallinn has made green governance a top priority.

 

 

“Today, you have an excellent opportunity to discuss this topic with the green governance frontrunners in the Baltic Sea Region, learn from each other and get inspiration. No matter whether your city is big or small, green governance is feasible everywhere. We will hear today about the cities' ambitions in implementing their green governance concepts. These stories will show us how cities are approaching the challenges of shifting to a circular future while making sure that our economy is climate-neutral and our living environment is toxic-free, which are also the ambitions of the European Green Deal”

- Deputy Mayor of Tallinn Mr. Tiit Terik as he welcomed all the delegates

 

 

The Green Governance conference aimed to unite cities from the Baltic Sea Region and beyond, fostering the exchange of best practices and discussions on the challenges of transitioning to green governance.

With green public procurement as a central theme, the conference recognized its vital role in implementing green governance and promoting sustainable consumption and production. Local governments possess significant potential to achieve sustainability goals through their procurement processes, particularly by ensuring they are not just climate-neutral but also circular and free from harmful toxins.

 

The International conference “DRIVING CHANGE: EMPOWERING SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH GREEN GOVERNANCE” took place on November 16, 2023 in Tallinn, Estonia, with delegates from 24 cities and 10 countries.

 

 

„Green public procurement must become a norm and common practice. So that we don’t have to talk about green or circular or low carbon procurement anymore. We can talk about green procurement, and it is natural that these include also integrated environmental and why not social aspects,”

- Keynote speaker Evelin Piirsalu from Stockholm Environment Institute Tallinn Centre.

 

 

During the event, the first-ever NonHazCity Award for tox-free, circular and climate-neutral buildings and building processes at municipalities was launched. Nominations can be submitted here: https://thinkbefore.eu/en/nonhazcitybuildingaward/

The event aimed to bring together local authorities, business actors and all the other individuals who were interested in green governance topics. It provided valuable networking opportunities for Green Cities, facilitating collaboration and mutual learning.

The recording of the conference can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WJVATAzc3w

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This event was organised by the City of Tallinn, Stockholm Environment Institute Tallinn Centre and Baltic Environmental Forum Estonia and it´s part of the Tallinn Greentech Week programme.