Latvia

Latvia drops eight places to 33rd in the current CCPI, and is an overall low performer.

The country receives a low rating in the GHG Emissions, Energy Use, and Climate Policy categories, but a high in Renewable Energy.

Latvia set 2050 as its long-term climate neutrality goal. The CCPI country experts note that this target does not include a clear pathway or action plan to achieve its goal. They also judge Latvia’s National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) as insufficient. The Plan fails to include a fossil fuel phase-out or sufficient roadmaps for reaching the country’s targets.

The new updated draft NECP will contain positive measures for transportation decarbonisation, and measures and investments for advancing electrification. However, it raises serious concerns regarding land, land-use change, and forestry (LULUCF), where achieving emissions reduction (and increased sequestration) planned to be reached via replacing old forests with young tree plantations, fertilising forests, and other potentially harmful activities.

Lack of investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency measures

On a positive note, legislative acts are promoting wind energy and there are programmes helping switch from gas heating.

Latvia mostly plays a passive role in international climate politics. At the EU level, Latvia had a regressive position towards the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and often requests longer implementation periods for climate policies.

The experts criticise the country’s lack of investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency measures. The updated NECP should be more ambitious and include concrete action plans for all sectors.

It is important to note that the declined performance of Latvia is influenced by new and updated data on the LULUCF sector.

Key Outcomes

CCPI experts

The following national experts agreed to be mentioned as contributors for this year’s CCPI:

• Maksis Apinis  (Green Liberty)