Sustainability and Economic Policy
The field of sustainability and economic policy supports the design and implementation of evidence-based solutions that promote the green transition, social justice and balanced economic development. Our work helps shape decisions that support both human well-being and the long-term sustainability of the natural environment.
We bring together social, economic and natural science expertise to support the public sector, businesses and communities in making sustainable choices. Our projects offer applied solutions whose impact ranges from policy recommendations to community-based pilot projects. Through co-creation, we develop and test new sustainable solutions that can be implemented both in Estonia and internationally.
We participate in both national and international projects, funded, among others, by Horizon Europe, LIFE, Interreg and Erasmus+.
Key topics
- Green transition and just transition – decarbonisation of energy systems, reduction of energy poverty and development of energy communities.
- Sustainable economy and degrowth – well-being-centred development, efficient use of resources and alternatives to economic growth.
- Sustainable land use and biodiversity – supporting biodiversity in urban landscapes and agriculture, sustainable management of grasslands and forests.
- Sustainable skills and labour market changes – new competences for implementing the green transition and reshaping the labour market.
- Economic policy and impact assessments – assessment of the social and economic impacts of policies and investments; support for evidence-based decision-making and development of sustainable economic models.
We also contribute to raising broader awareness of sustainability and economic policy issues through education. We develop and offer open online courses (MOOCs) that help disseminate knowledge on sustainable development, the green transition and societal change. Our MOOCs have received quality labels and are used as learning materials by both students and practitioners.
Members of the thematic group
Thematic Lead
Anneli Saaroja
MA (Entrepreneurship and Technology Management)
Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies
The Centre for Applied Social Sciences (CASS)
Thematic Lead
Anneli holds a Master’s degree in Social Sciences from the University of Tartu, specialising in Entrepreneurship and Technology Management. She works on projects related to economic policy, entrepreneurial ecosystems, regional development, and socio-economic impact analysis. Her work includes policy analysis and applied research that supports public-sector decision-making and strategic planning. She is also involved various sustainability and green transition projects as a thematic lead. Anneli has extensive experience in applying both qualitative and quantitative research methods.
Allan Allik
MSc (Human Geography and Regional Planning)
Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies
The Centre for Applied Social Sciences (CASS)
Project Manager-Analyst
Lossi 36–303
Allan holds a Master's degree in Regional Planning and Human Geography from the University of Tartu. He has worked as a project manager and analyst on projects related to internal security, regional policy, spatial planning and local governnance. He has extensive experience with both qualitative and quantitative analysis methods, including geographic information systems (GIS).
Pille Gerhold
PhD
Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies
The Centre for Applied Social Sciences (CASS)
Project Manager
Lossi 36–419
Pille is a biologist with a Master’s degree in Plant Ecology from the University of Tartu and a PhD in Tropical Ecology from the University of Kaiserslautern, Germany. She has conducted research and engaged in academic teaching in Estonia, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Brazil, and Hawai‘i. Pille is an expert in biodiversity and nature-related topics, as well as quantitative data analysis. At CASS, she works on research-based education projects that incorporate green topics.
Indrek Kuusk
MA (Law)
Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies
The Centre for Applied Social Sciences (CASS)
Project Manager-Analyst, 0.64 p
Lossi 36–419
Indrek is a project manager and analyst. His work focuses on the financial tasks (e.g. sustainable finance, financing ECAPs). Currently, his projects are primarily related to green energy (energy efficiency, energy poverty, energy communities).
Kirke Sahku
Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies
The Centre for Applied Social Sciences (CASS)
Project Manager-Analyst
Lossi 36–329
Kirke participates in several international projects focusing on skills development, the labor market, and social inclusion. She is also involved in a domestic project dealing with green transition topics. Kirke has experience in public procurement analysis from her bachelor's studies in food and biotechnology. She is currently pursuing a master's degree in industrial ecology.
Hanna Laius
MSc (inimgeograafia ja regionaalplaneerimine)
Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies
The Centre for Applied Social Sciences (CASS)
Project Manager, 0.6 p
Lossi 36–419
Hanna is a project manager who is responsible for multiple international projects in sustainabillity, green communication and interpersonal violence. She has a MSc degree in Human Geography and Regional Planning and has several years of experience in project work.
Kaidi Nõmmela
PhD (Maritime)
Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences
Department of Geography
Chair of Human Geography
Research Fellow in Regional Governance, 0.25 p
Vanemuise 46
Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies
The Centre for Applied Social Sciences (CASS)
Project Manager-Analyst, 0.5 p
Lossi 36–329
+372 737 6373
Kaidi holds a PhD from the Faculty of Engineering at TalTech, specialising in maritime studies. She also holds a Master’s degree in Engineering Sciences in the field of maritime studies, as well as a Master’s degree in Social Sciences in International Relations and European-Asian Studies. Kaidi has long-term experience working in international projects and national studies, where she has served as a project manager, analyst, expert and contracting authority coordinator. Her main research and professional interests include sustainable maritime economy and maritime policy development, as well as economic and social geography and (marine) environmental and regional studies.
Dan Prits
Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies
The Centre for Applied Social Sciences (CASS)
Project Specialist, 0.66 p
Lossi 36–419
Dan is a cooperation specialist at UrbanLIFEcircles project. He is working primarily with different stakeholders to encourage biodiverse solutions in services and products offered by companies and public entities. Dan has worked the last 10 years with refugees, migrants and other vulnerable groups, as well as in social enterprise as project leader.
Merlyn Randla
Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies
The Centre for Applied Social Sciences (CASS)
Project Manager
Lossi 36–419
Merlyn holds a degree in energy application engineering and is currently pursuing two master's degrees: Innovation and Technology Management at the University of Tartu, and Business Engineering at Ghent University. She works on international projects that support the green transition capacity of local municipalities and analyse trends in European technology policy.
Uku Varblane
MA (Economics and Business Administration)
Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies
The Centre for Applied Social Sciences (CASS)
Project Manager-Analyst, 0.2 p
Uku holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Tartu, specializing in economic modelling and public economics, and is currently pursuing a PhD on the relationship between productivity and global value chains. His academic work also covers foreign investment, innovation and the green transition. He has completed additional studies at the University of Ljubljana, Jönköping University, Tbilisi State University and the University of Bari.
Mariia Chebotareva
PhD (Economics)
School of Economics and Business Administration
Chair of Finance and Accounting
Lecturer in Accounting and Finance, 0.5 p
Narva mnt 18–4023
Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies
The Centre for Applied Social Sciences (CASS)
Analyst, 0.5 p
Lossi 36–404
Mariia holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Tartu. Her main fields of research include public administration and finance, inter-municipal cooperation, sustainable urban and regional development. She conducts research applying a diversity of methods such as mathematical modelling and qualitative analysis.
CV in Research Information System
Research interests:
- public finance and accounting
- sustainability reporting and materiality assessment
- microeconomic theory
- inter-municipal cooperation and local self-governance
- sustainable urban development
Maie Kiisel
PhD (Media and Communication)
Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies
The Centre for Applied Social Sciences (CASS)
Analyst, 0.6 p
+372 516 9933 (3399)
Maie's research interests embrace the social system of actors, institutions and realms that shape the practice and outcomes of nature conservation in forestry, agriculture and cities. Her toolkit includes research methods from sociology, media and communication, ethnography. She employs skills in design thinking, system analysis and social change governance.
Eveli Neemre
MA (Philosophy)
Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies
The Centre for Applied Social Sciences (CASS)
Analyst
Eveli is a philosopher. She is currently pursuing a PhD in philosophy of science. At CASS, she works on topics to regenerative agriculture, farmer communities of practice, and promoting biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. Her strength is qualitative data analysis.
