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EEA AND NORWAY GRANTS FUND FOR BILATERAL RELATIONS

INITIATIVE PROPOSAL

Title of the initiative: Cross–sector Action Plan of Green Tiger for 2040

Implementing entity (beneficiary state entity): Green Tiger Foundation (Sihtasutus Rohetiiger)

- Partner(s) (minimum one donor state entity): BJØRK Innovation AS, https://bjorkinnovation.org, main contact Marcus Lind Nerhoel, [email protected]

Bilateral priority area identified by the JCBF beyond the programs:  promotion of core European values, such as respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law

and the respect for human rights for all people, regardless of their racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, gender,

disability, age, sexual orientation or gender identity;

 E-governance (digitalization)

 eastern partnership

 equality and equal treatment

x competitive business environment, sustainable and adaptive governance (based on “Competitiveness Plan for 2020”

approved by the Government of Estonia)

Allocation (total sum): 122 000 EUR (A more detailed project budget description in the activity plan)

Short description of the initiative: (background, aim, participants, activity plan, budget outline, communication and dissemination) See annex 1

Activity plan:

Activity Time Location Cost Participants

Team formation 10.2024 Tallinn 2,000 EUR 30

Creation of the structure for the Action Plan 2040 1.10 - 30.11.2024

Tallinn, Oslo 10,000 EUR 30

Engagement events

1.11.2024 -

31.03.2025 Tallinn, Oslo 20,000 EUR 300

Content creation

1.11.2024 -

30.04.2025 Tallinn 80,000 EUR 20

Collaboration with the Norwegian team

1.10.2024 -

30.04.2025 Tallinn, Oslo 10,000 EUR 50

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Planned results1

Annex 1

Short description of the initiative: (background, aim, participants, activity plan, budget outline,

communication and dissemination)

Background:

Rohetiiger (Green Tiger) is an Estonian environmental initiative aimed at promoting sustainability and ecological awareness across various sectors of society. Its activities cover multiple areas.

Sustainable Business Practices: Rohetiiger collaborates with companies to help them implement sustainable and eco-friendly production methods, reduce waste, and support the circular economy.

Environmental Awareness and Education: The initiative raises awareness among individuals and organizations about environmental issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss. It offers educational programs and campaigns that emphasize the importance of sustainability.

Influencing Policy: Rohetiiger advocates for environmentally sustainable policies at both the national and local levels. In collaboration with decision-makers, it helps shape regulations and strategies that support sustainable development.

Community and Collaboration: Rohetiiger encourages collaboration between the public, private, and non-profit sectors to achieve systemic change. The goal is to create a network that leads the green transition in Estonia.

OUTPUT INDICATOR TARGET

Cross-sector action plan of Green Tiger for 2040

- About 120-page document and appendices

- short versions for politicians, the press, and interested parties

- Action plan 2040 with specific steps and descriptions of needed changes for 2025, 2030, 2040

- regulations and political decisions – proposals for the state

- recommendations for both private and public sectors

- dynamic model – evolving document

- investment needs and funding sources

- describe Estonia's economic space in 2040

- present a 15-year action plan for public and private sectors

- describe interconnections and dependencies of the five most important economic sectors;

- indicate how Estonia's economy will become climate-neutral by 2040

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Projects and Innovation: Rohetiiger initiates and supports projects focused on environmental protection, sustainable urban planning, and green innovations.

Overall, Rohetiiger is a leader of the green transition in Estonia, encouraging responsible attitudes towards nature and the development of a more sustainable economy.

To achieve its goals, one of Rohetiiger's actions is to develop a balanced economic model by 2040. The core principle is to agree on the principles of coexistence between the economy and the environment in a way that allows economic growth while preserving or even improving the natural environment.

To this end, Rohetiiger is creating roadmaps for the sectors with the highest carbon content— Energy, Construction, Transport, Land use and Industry & Circular economy. Roadmaps for Energy, Construction, and Transport have already been completed, while the roadmaps for Land use and Industry & Circular economy are under development (see Rohetiiger Publications). The roadmaps represent the business community's vision of a balanced economic model in each sector, looking ahead to 2040. By creating these roadmaps, businesses commit doing their part to reduce carbon emissions in their respective sectors.

The focus of this application is the preparation of Rohetiiger's cross-sectoral Action Plan 2040, which updates and consolidates the five roadmaps, establishes connections, and describes the economic environment in which society will live in Estonia in 2040.

From October 1, 2024, Rohetiiger will begin developing the Action Plan until 2040, which encompasses the five sectoral roadmaps. The cross-sectoral Action Plan 2040 will follow the model used for the development of the roadmaps. The editor-in-chief of the Action Plan is Rene Pärt, a member of the board of Port of Tallinn and editor-in-chief of the Transport roadmap.

The objectives of the Action Plan are:

 To describe the economic environment of Estonia in 2040  To outline a 15-year action plan for the public and private sectors year by year  To describe the interconnections and dependencies between the five key economic sectors

(energy, transport, construction, land use, and industry & circular economy)  To show how Estonia's economy can become climate neutral by 2040

The Action Plan 2040 will document the current situation and set targets for the Estonian economy for 2030 and 2040. The document will analyze various scenarios and be results-oriented.

The foundational principles of the Action Plan 2040 are:

 Minimal environmental impact – maximum added value  Collaboration and inclusion  Data- and science-based approach  Avoiding duplication with existing development plans and roadmaps  Valuing the circular economy  Identifying Estonia's competitive advantages

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Team:

1. Editor-in-chief: responsible for team composition, setting the vision and goals, organizing meetings and discussions in Estonia and Norway, consolidating and editing inputs, linking with previous roadmaps, and liaising with the Norwegian partner.

2. Five sector leaders: responsible for collecting and analyzing content in their respective areas, involving stakeholders (businesses, universities, professional associations, ministries), and coordinating work.

3. Analyst: responsible for analyzing and modeling data provided by sector leaders and linking with previous roadmaps.

4. State representative: a senior official from either the Ministry of Climate or Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communication who maintains the state's interest and ensures the roadmap's input reaches state policies and development documents.

5. Council: a body consisting of visionaries and top executives from the five sectors covered in the action plan, monitoring and advising on the completion of the action plan; the council includes 13 members.

6. Marcus Lind Nerhoel from BJØRK Innovation AS, Norway: innovating Norwegian and Swedish municipalities with sustainability projects. Main contact: Thor Moen, https://bjorkinnovation.org Helps engage people and knowledge from Norway and organizes expert discussions in Norway.

Budget:

 The total budget for the project is 150,000 euros.  Funds are allocated for team and expert salaries, organizing engagement events, and

communication.

122,000 euros will be used for the substantive preparation of the action plan, including the salaries of Estonian and Norwegian experts for seven months and organizing engagement events in Estonia and Norway. 28,000 euros is self-financing, covering communication and lobby after the completion of the substantive work.

Timeline:

The content of the Action Plan 2040 will be completed between October 2024 and April 2025. Starting in May 2025 publication, communication and lobbing of the action plan will take place.

Cooperation with a Norwegian partner:

In cooperation with the Norwegian partner, it is planned to find out whether similar road maps or action plans with a view to the future have been created in Norway as well, and what could be used as an example. The plan is to hold a round table of Norwegian and Estonian entrepreneurs in all five sectors to discuss different visions of the future and see if there is common ground. There will also be a larger meeting for entrepreneurs in Norway, where the prepared Action Plan 2040 for Estonia will be discussed and personal comments will be given. There will be close communication between the project manager and the Norwegian main contact.

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Budget explanation:

1. Team formation – 2000 EUR As of 1.10.2024, the editor-in-chief Rene Pärt will have been hired, whose first month's salary is 2,000 EUR. His task for October is to find experts for the working group, sign employment contracts with them, establish relations with donors, the ministry and the stakeholders on the Norwegian side.

2. Creation of the structure for the Action Plan 2040 – 10,000 EUR In November five sector leaders will have been hired and will receive their first salary of 1500 EUR per person. In addition to that the editor-in-chief's is employed with a salary of 2,000 EUR for the month of November. 500 euros have been estimated for the costs of meetings and work tools. By the end of November, the structure of the Action Plan 2040 has been completed, the tasks have been assigned, the project oversight council has been put together, and the mapping of interested parties has been completed. The first meeting with Norwegian cooperation partners has taken place. 3. Engagement events – 20,000 EUR During five months, larger and smaller engagement events will take place in Tallinn and Oslo. The estimate includes room rent, catering and the cost of equipment rental. The first event is the Balanced Economy Forum “Elephant in the Room” on 8th of November 2024, where Rene Pärt will introduce the process of the Action Plan 2024 and invite interested parties to participate. Approximate cost is 3000 EUR. On 19th of February 2025, a big progress overview and stakeholder engagement event will take place in Tallinn for all involved parties. The approximate number of participants is 200 people and the cost is 10,000 EUR. Six smaller sector-based focus groups will be held monthly over five months, with an approximate cost of 3000 EUR (6 x 500 EUR). Plan is to organize a knowledge exchange event in Oslo as well, approximate cost is 4000 EUR. 4. Content Creation – 80,000 EUR From 1.12.2024 to 30.04.2025, approximately 20 paid experts will be working on the content of the Action Plan 2040. This includes editor-in-chief (5 x 3000 EUR) 15000 EUR, five sector leaders (5 x 5 x 2000 EUR) 50000 EUR, an analyst (5 x 1000 EUR) 5000 EUR. In addition, specific experts and researchers from Estonia and Norway may be hired on an hourly basis. Budget estimate is 10,000 euros (100 eur/h x 100 hours). 5. Collaboration with the Norwegian team – 10,000 EUR This section includes travel expenses for representatives of the Norwegian and Estonian parties to participate in the meetings. The approximate estimate is 20 two-day trips to either Tallinn or Oslo during the duration of the project (one return flight 170 EUR, one overnight stay 100 EUR, local transport 50 EUR, daily allowance 50 EUR).