CEESEU-DIGIT Project Wraps Up with International and Local Events

CEESEU-DIGIT, an EU-funded project led by University of Tartu, is approaching its end after 2,5 years of busy activity. Even though the project team is in its final months, there are still events and activities taking place on both international and local levels.

On May 7, project partner DOOR – Society for Sustainable Development Design hosted the “CEESEU-DIGIT: Pathways to Successful Energy and Climate Planning – Regional Leadership and Innovation in Central and Eastern Europe” international conference in Zagreb, Croatia. The event brought together international project partnership as well as local and regional authorities, policymakers, and civil society from across Central and Eastern Europe. The main focus of the conference was to discuss challenges and opportunities in planning a sustainable energy and climate future of local communities. Special attention was dedicated to the importance of capacity building, empowering vulnerable groups, and engaging stakeholders, as these are the key factors in ensuring just energy transition.

“For the University of Tartu, this project is a good opportunity to help create research-based tools that support green transition in Estonia and in Easter and Central Europe,” said Hanna Laius, CEESEU-DIGIT's project manager at University of Tartu.

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Additionally, CEESEU-DIGIT project has provided a framework for many capacity building events on a local level, with the recent seminar in Ida-Virumaa as a good example. On May 28, UT and Tartu Regional Energy Agency (TREA) organised an info session in Jõhvi on funding opportunities for climate and energy activities in the region. Elis Vollmer, Indrek Kuusk ja Hanna Laius (UT) and Marten Saareoks (TREA) facilitated a discussion on climate and energy issues in Ida-Virumaa, priorities of local governments, and capacity for a joint funding application.

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With a primary objective to build capacity in 6 carbon intensive regions in 6 countries for holistic and just regional Energy and Climate Action Plans (ECAPs) national targets supporting the Green Deal, the CEESEU-DIGIT project involved marginalized and vulnerable groups, especially energy-poor households. Additionally, it created a methodology that considers climate adaptation, social and landscape use as equally important aspects of ECAPs.CEESEU-DIGIT project received financial support of 1,84 million euros from EU’s Life Program.