Green Capital of Europe 2023 - Tallinn

Tallinn – European Green Capital 2023 kicks off with a series of events to share its expertise on sustainability and innovation.

Tallinn impressed the international jury with their systemic approach to green governance and interlinked strategic goals, which reflect the ambitions of the European Green Deal. As one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tallinn is characterized by a diverse and mosaic nature of its landscapes and communities, which also serve as habitats for rare species. During the Green Capital Year, Tallinn's main themes are biodiversity, sustainable governance, and climate and green innovation.

Experience Tallinn's sustainable way of life
You are welcome to visit and explore biodiverse, innovative and sustainable Tallinn during the European Green Capital year, but Visit Estonia encourages to venture further out:
Explore cycling options in Tallinn, sustainable travel options in Estonia and check a 7-day itinerary, browse the brochure on Tips for Green Meetings in Estonia and see how you can use the public transport like a local.

The Tallinn European Green Capital program offers environmental activities for all Tallinn residents and guests, including more than 60 events. During the opening weekend of the European Green Capital, 19-21 January, many important events will take place in the city.

Inviting companies from around the world to test their smart solutions in Tallinn

In addition, at the end of January Tallinn will launch the Test in Tallinn measure, to invite companies around the world to test their smart solutions on our streets. Cooperation between the city and local entrepreneurs in these areas has been the most effective – Tallinn already has self-driving vehicles like Clevon and Starship robots and AuveTech buses, the latter being probably the first self-driving free public transportation in Europe.

Greentech Week: promoting eco-innovation and cooperation between leading companies, investors and scientists
Eco innovation will be showcased during one of the green capital year's highlights the Greentech Week, in November which consists of a series of international events in Tallinn with the main emphasis on promoting eco-innovation and cooperation between leading companies, investors and scientists in green technology as well as increasing the dialogue between European cities and companies. The week holds the Cleantech Forum Europe, Greentech Expo, Green Tiger Conference, and the Smart City Convention.

Green Tracks: greening urban spaces
In addition to a full programme of events throughout, Tallinn will also contribute to changes in the urban space. The project Green Tracks (Rohejälg) involves activities that aims to improve the quality of green areas, bring more greenery to the city and improve the spatial quality in areas with high use, support the development of green networks within the city and experiment with new spatial solutions by reorganising the urban space and creating prototypes.

Among other things, the Town Hall Square will temporarily be turned into a pop-up park and the students at the Estonian Academy of Arts will be experimenting with climate-sensitive spatial solutions and creating prototypes for improved spatial objects like street furniture and traffic signs.

European Green Capital 2023: Key events

20.01 Sustainable cities conference "Fantastic Creatures: Making European Cities Safe, Inclusive, Resiliant and Sustainable"
21.01 European Green Capital 2023 Opening Ceremony
March: Green Dishes in Tallinn Restaurant Week
12.04 MELT innovation Forum
9.05 Biodiverse European Day
27.–28.05 Future Forum on the cities of the future
1–18.09 Tallinn's Urban space festival
2.–4.06 Tallinn's Old Town Days and the special green old town program
30 June–2 July Environmentally friendly Youth Song and Dance Festival
31 August–17 September World Clean Up Day regional campaign to clean the Baltic Sea
October: European Green Capital Award Ceremony
14–17 November Greentech week: Cleantech Forum Europe, Greentech Expo, Green Tiger Conference, and the Smart City Convention
November: Black Nights Film Festival's Tallinn European Green capital 2023 program
December: European Green Capital 2023 Closing Ceremony
Additional info: greentallinn.eu/en/events