The new legislation aims to consolidate regulations concerning greenhouse gas emissions reduction, carbon removal, and climate change adaptation into a single comprehensive framework in Latvia. Its primary goal is to contribute to mitigating climate change and its adverse impacts while progressing towards climate neutrality.
To achieve this objective, forthcoming restrictions are anticipated in the coming years, impacting virtually all residents.
Raimonds Čudars, the Climate and Energy Minister representing New Unity, stated, “Latvia has set an ambitious target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 17% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. While this target is ambitious for Latvia, it is relatively modest when viewed in the European context. This reduction target will have implications for several key sectors, including transportation, agriculture, land use, forestry, and energy. The draft legislation outlines the distribution of responsibilities among these sectors to attain these goals.”
For instance, the emissions trading system will be expanded in the near future, encompassing not only energy companies but also the transport and building sectors. Consequently, greater efforts will be made to encourage individuals to transition away from fossil fuels and promote energy-efficient practices in their homes.
Čudars emphasized the need to identify the most effective and cost-efficient measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with a focus on sector-specific strategies and active industry involvement.
However, “Green Liberty” (Zaļā brīvība), an advocacy group that participated in the initial evaluation of the draft legislation, has raised concerns. The organization’s leader, Jānis Brizga, questions whether the burden of emissions reduction will be equitably distributed, as a small portion of the population is responsible for the majority of emissions.
Brizga also called for wider public involvement, including the inclusion of scientific expertise through the establishment of a government-led science council, a practice adopted by many other countries.
Linda Zuze, a climate policy expert, pointed out that some aspects of the Climate Law were left to the discretion of politicians without oversight from independent experts. She also emphasized the need for a fairer distribution of responsibility for climate change, considering that it is primarily caused by a minority of society but affects everyone.
Experts have also criticized the short timeframe for soliciting public opinions on the draft legislation. Kristīne Zonberga, the director of the Latvian Civic Alliance, expressed concerns about whether the public consultation process is merely a formality. She stressed the importance of genuine public involvement, especially from key stakeholder groups whose perspectives are crucial for clarifying potential changes and informing the public about them.