The West Estonian islands’ shared journey towards a climate-resilient future
Saaremaa, Hiiumaa, Muhu, Vormsi, Kihnu and Ruhnu are participating in Resilient Estonian Islands (REIS), a project supported by the European Union’s Pathways2Resilience (P2R) programme.
P2R helps regions respond more effectively to climate change. It forms part of the EU’s new policy framework designed to translate the European Green Deal into practical action and accelerate its implementation.
The project is led in Estonia by the Estonian Islands Energy Agency (EISEA). It aims to strengthen the islands’ ability to cope with the impacts of a changing climate and develop a shared climate resilience strategy, action plan and investment plan that reflect each island’s specific circumstances.
Life on the islands depends on reliable transport connections, energy and water supplies, essential services, resilient infrastructure, a thriving economy and healthy ecosystems. Climate change affects all these areas, and its impacts are interconnected. The project therefore takes a whole-system view of the islands, identifying solutions that reduce vulnerability and strengthen their long-term capacity to adapt.
How will we build climate resilience?
1. Understand our starting point
We will bring together knowledge about current and future climate risks, the islands’ vulnerabilities and strengths, and the connections between ecosystems, infrastructure, services, the economy and communities.
2. Develop a shared vision
We will develop a shared understanding of a climate-resilient future for the West Estonian islands and the systemic changes needed to achieve it. This jointly developed vision will provide the foundation for the climate resilience strategy, adaptation pathways and investment plan.
3. Develop pathways to climate resilience
We will assess potential solutions and connect them into long-term adaptation pathways. These will identify what needs to be done in the near term, what requires preparation for the future, and when changing conditions may make it necessary to move to another solution. This approach supports flexible decision-making and helps avoid long-term commitment to unsuitable solutions.
What will the project deliver for the West Estonian islands?
The project will produce a baseline assessment, climate resilience strategy, action plan and investment plan. P2R also provides for a monitoring, evaluation and learning framework to track the effects of activities and adapt the strategy as conditions change.
The project will help to:
- Pool the knowledge and resources of all six islands, while taking account of each island’s local needs and circumstances.
- Integrate climate resilience into everyday planning and investment decisions, including those concerning energy, transport, water, ecosystems, resource use and the continuity of essential local services.
- Improve cooperation between islands and across sectors, reducing duplication of effort.
- Strengthen local authorities’ knowledge and capacity, making consideration of climate risks a lasting part of decision-making.
- Translate long-term goals into specific investment needs and develop a portfolio of project concepts that can be further developed for EU and Estonian funding opportunities.
- Give the islands’ needs greater visibility in national and European cooperation, drawing on P2R expertise, tools and the experience of other European regions.
P2R gives the West Estonian islands an opportunity to move from individual climate and energy projects towards long-term management of climate resilience. Scientific evidence, local knowledge, informed planning, cooperation and investment will support a shared goal. Making climate resilience a routine part of work and decision-making will strengthen the region’s long-term capacity to adapt.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 101093942. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained herein.
Project coordinator at EISEA: Maris Jõgeva
Email: maris@eisea.org
