Latvia

The National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) is a ten-year integrated document <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/energy/topics/energy-strategy/national-energy-climate-plans_en" target="_self">mandated by the European Union</a> to each of its member states in order for the EU to meet its overall greenhouse gases emissions targets. Following feedback from an EU-wide assessment of draft NECP submissions, EU members are required to submit updated final NECPs for the period 2021-2030. The Energy and Climate Plan addresses all five dimensions of the EU Energy Union: decarbonisation, energy efficiency, energy security, internal energy markets and research, innovation and competitiveness.
The plan sets targets including on greenhouse emissions reduction, share of RES in energy consumption in transport, RES deployment such as wind power, share of advanced biofuels and biogas in energy consumption in transport and interconnection. The ‘polluter pays’ principle is a guiding framework for the measures and justifications of this plan. The updated submission introduces more ambitious emissions reduction targets and new EU funding instruments for deployment of the measures in the previous version. The plan introduces a target of 65% reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, including ETS.

This Regulation establishes:
<ol>
<li>the procedure for the establishment and maintenance of a national system for the preparation of an inventory of greenhouse gases;</li>
<li>the procedures for the establishment and maintenance of the national greenhouse gas forecasting system; and </li>
<li>the procedures for establishing and maintaining a national system for reporting on adaptation to climate change.</li>
</ol>

The Environmental Policy Guidelines for 2021-2027 (EPGs 2027) are a medium-term policy planning document for the environmental sector.
They have been developed in accordance with the priorities set out in the Latvia 2030, Latvian NDP for 2021-2027 and the strategic objectives of the European Green Course and provide for:
<ul>
<li>achieving the 2030 greenhouse gas reduction target and achieve climate neutrality by 2050;</li>
<li>improving adaptability, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change;</li>
<li>making progress towards a renewable growth model by decoupling economic growth from resource use and environmental depletion and acceleration of the transition to a circular economy;</li>
<li>aiming for zero pollution in the environment free of toxic substances, including air, water and soil, and thus also protecting the health and well-being of Europeans;</li>
<li>protecting, preserving and restoring biodiversity and increasing natural capital, in particular air, water, soil, and forest, freshwater, wetland and marine ecosystems; and</li>
<li>promoting environmental sustainability and reducing environmental and climate pressures related to production and consumption, in the fields of energy, industrial development, buildings and infrastructure, mobility and food systems.</li>
</ul>

<div>To benefit from the support of the Recovery and Resilience Facility set up by the EU in the aftermath of the COVID-19-induced economic crisis, Member States submit their recovery and resilience plans to the European Commission. Each plan sets out the reforms and investments to be implemented by end-2026 and Member States can receive financing up to a previously agreed allocation. Each plan should effectively address challenges identified in the European Semester, particularly the country-specific recommendations of 2019 and 2020 adopted by the Council. It should also advance the green and digital transitions and make Member States’ economies and societies more resilient. The Commission validates the plan after which it effectively enters in force and EU subsidies can start flowing towards the member state. The Commission validates the plan after which it effectively enters in force and EU subsidies can start flowing towards the member state. The European Commission has given a positive assessment to Latvia’s recovery and resilience plan, which will be financed by €1.8 billion in grants. 38% of the plan’s total allocation for reforms and investments supports climate objectives</div><ul><li>Overhaul of the Riga Metropolitan area transport: creating&nbsp;a multimodal public transport network with a single and coherent timetable, a single price and ticket system and investing in clean transport infrastructure, including railways, trams, electric buses and cycle lanes. €295 million</li><li>Energy efficiency in private and public buildings: financing a large-scale renovation initiative to increase the energy efficiency of residential buildings, public buildings and businesses. €248 million</li><li>Modern and green electricity networks: investing in the green and digital transformation of electricity grids to provide adequate electricity supply infrastructure for the Latvian economy and the deployment of electric cars. €80 million</li></ul>

The seven-year National Development Plans (NDP) include main policy objectives, outcome indicators and indicative financing for most sectors of the economy. Strategic planning complies with the Paris Agreement and the EU long-term climate ambition objectives. Environmental objectives and planning of actions are presented by the seven-year National Environmental Policy Guidelines 2021 – 2027, which are also related to the NDP. Latvia’s NDP 2021-2027 stresses the importance of the balanced use of natural capital considering biodiversity protection measures, carbon sequestration commitments and the latest scientific findings on the sustainable and efficient use of natural resources. Moreover, the NDP underlines that the society must reach a consensus during this planning period (2021- 2027) on Latvia’s protected natural values, how much area they cover, what regional growth potential is offered by natural capital, the effects on employment opportunities in rural areas, and just compensation for the protected areas.

In 2006, Latvia introduced it a Natural Resources Tax Law that contains provisions for a carbon tax on CO2 emissions. The tax is applied across many industrial sectors, including "power and heat generation, oil refineries, steel works and production of iron, aluminium, metals, cement, lime, glass, ceramics, pulp, paper, cardboard, acids, and bulk organic chemicals". Operators of stationary technological installation and aircraft operators who are included in the scheme for emission allowance trading within the European Union are exempted from paying the carbon tax. Other exemptions include electric vehicles and rapeseed oil (if it is used as a fuel source or if a biofuel is made solely from rapeseed oil).

Latvia National Inventory Report (NIR). 2025

Latvia Biennial Transparency Report. BTR1

Latvia National Inventory Report (NIR). 2024

Latvia's National Inventory Report submitted in 2023

Latvia National Communication. NC8; Biennial Report. BR5

Target 7% of energy used in transport to be from renewables by 2030

Target 50% of energy to be produced from renewable energy sources by 2030

Target ≥6 GHG emission intensity reduction in transport energy life-cycle

Target 6% reduction in non-ETS activities (compared to 2005)

Target 65% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030

Target 76% reduction ( including ZIZIMM sector) in GHG emissions by 2040

Target 38% reduction ( including ZIZIMM sector) in GHG emissions by 2030

Target 85% reduction in GHG emissions by 2040

Target 65% reduction (excluding ZIZIMM sector) in GHG emissions by 2030

Reducing GHG emission by 65 per cent compared to 1990.



Reduction of GHG in non-ETS activities by 6 per cent compared to 2005.



Total GHG emissions reduction at -38% in 2030 (+/- 5%), -76% in 2040 (+/- 5%)

GHG emissions from land use â‰¤1 047 ktCO2eq by 2030 and net zero by 2040

-85% CO2 emissions excluding land use sector

-65% CO2 emissions excluding land use sector

Latvia

Documents

Targets (17)