Climate-smart rural life

CSO: Estonian Fund for Nature
Area: Citizen Engagement
Location: Northern Tartu County, Jõgeva County, Järva County, and Lääne-Viru County

Type of project

This project focuses on raising awareness and fostering local climate action in rural Central Estonia, particularly in Northern Tartu County, Jõgeva County, Järva County, and Lääne-Viru County. It promotes climate-friendly agriculture by encouraging carbon sequestration in land use and enhancing climate resilience. The initiative targets rural communities, especially youth, through education, environmental initiatives, and international knowledge exchange.

The project bridges climate science with practical agricultural solutions, ensuring that scientific knowledge is effectively communicated and applied in rural communities. By integrating research-based insights with local expertise, it fosters informed decision-making and scalable, climate-resilient farming practices.

Target (Disengaged) 

The project engages disengaged audiences by tailoring communication strategies to their preferences and using relatable stories from local farmers to spark interest in climate solutions. It also removes participation barriers by offering childcare for young families and collaborating with trusted local contacts, ensuring that rural residents feel included and motivated to take action.

Science-based

The project ensures a science-based approach by using the latest climate research to develop awareness materials and campaigns. It leverages the expertise of ELF and its scientific network, builds on existing educational resources like kliimamuutused.ee and the Climate School for Decision-Makers, and tailors content to the target audience to enhance engagement and motivation.

Gender

The project promotes gender and social diversity by ensuring balanced participation across all activities, enhancing equal opportunities and community impact. Recognizing that climate initiatives in Estonia are largely led by women while agriculture is dominated by older men, the project actively engages young and diverse participants through collaborations with organizations like Northern Roots and the Estonian Young Farmers’ Association.

Planned activities

• Building Networks & Engaging Key Stakeholders: Establishing connections with regenerative and organic farmers in the target region to serve as role models and expand the community of practitioners. Engaging large-scale farmers and landowners to participate in the climate incubator alongside young local participants.
• Awareness Campaign: Running a campaign focused on climate-friendly agricultural solutions at the local level, featuring expert articles, real-life farmer stories, and international case studies. Collaborating with media outlets and TV programs to showcase climate-conscious farming practices.
• Film & Discussion Evenings: Hosting three community events featuring documentary screenings on climate solutions in agriculture, followed by discussions with local climate-friendly farmers.
  Building Local Networks: Establish connections with regenerative and organic farmers in the target region to engage them as role models and mentors for expanding sustainable farming practices.
• Awareness Campaign: A public campaign highlighting climate-friendly agricultural solutions, featuring expert articles, success stories, and media collaborations.
• Film and Discussion Evenings: Three events in local community centers, featuring films and discussions with local sustainable farmers.
• Climate School: A two-day program focusing on climate science and practical learning through farm visits, including a virtual session with a representative from the Global South.
• Climate Incubator: A mentoring program supporting three to five innovative ideas that promote sustainable agriculture, fostering collaboration between young farmers and large landowners.
• Expert Support and Workshops: Continuous mentoring and workshops with climate, agriculture, and communication experts to develop and implement solutions.

Action model

• The project focuses on engaging rural communities by using relatable, real-life examples from local farmers to communicate climate solutions in agriculture. By building local networks, fostering dialogue through storytelling, and supporting hands-on learning, it ensures that climate action is grounded in both scientific knowledge and practical experience. This approach empowers individuals to adopt and advocate for sustainable practices, creating long-term ripple effects in rural areas traditionally less engaged in climate discussions.