Third Living Lab Meeting in Tartu

On 25th of November the City of Tartu, with assistance from Tartu Regional Energy Agency (TREA), had already third Living Lab meeting within the framework of the 2ISECAP project. Suitably it took place in the Tartu Environmental Education Centre, what is an innovatively and sustainably built house.

This Living Lab event was the culmination of 2 previous Living Lab meetings. In spring 2022 City of Tartu and TREA meet up with University of Tartu and some other organization which took part writing in Tartu’s City Energy and Climate Plan (SECAP). All together it was discussed what topics from SECAP should be changed within the project 2ISECAP. Second meeting was in the beginning of summer with Department of Business Development of the City of Tartu. In this meeting it was discussed what are these topics we should discuss with Tartu entrepreneurs for implementation of SECAP, City of Tartu needs to engage entrepreneurs as they are the biggest CO2 emitters.

A total of 35 persons from different interest groups (universities, local municipalities of the region, businesses, packaging organizations, community associations, NGOs, etc.) participated in the last meeting on 25th of November.

During the meeting Deputy Mayor of the City of Tartu introduced sustainable development goals of the City. Special focus of the speech was set on an EU mission of 100 climate-neutral cities by 2030 and on the SECAP of the Tartu City.

The head of the Association of Municipalities of Tartu County introduced a recently drafted regional SECAP and pointed out the importance to align regional and city´s sustainability goals. Tartu City should be a role model for entire region here on the way to climate neutrality.

The project manager of the 2ISECAP project in the Tartu City Jaanus Tamm, made a presentation on how the circular economy helps the City of Tartu and Tartu County on the way of smooth energy transition.

Meeting ended with open discussion with stakeholders and making plans for future. Even though some organizations were doubtful, most of the participants found that Living Lab is needed and essential in implementation of sustainable environment actions.