On Thursday, the 18th of September, Latvia plans to oppose the amendments to the European Climate Law (ECL) — proposed by the European Commission (EC) and the Danish EU Council Presidency — which would set a 2040 climate target to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 90% compared to 1990 levels, the Ministry of Climate and Energy (KEM) has announced.
Latvia does not support the EC proposal for a 90% reduction, arguing that national interests have not been sufficiently taken into account. Latvia appreciates the compromise text proposed by the Danish Presidency, which includes several Latvian suggestions, but stresses that support would only be possible if previously agreed provisions important to Latvia are fully preserved and other uncertainties are resolved.
Latvia especially emphasises the need to maintain the role of sustainable biomass in the renewable energy balance; recognise the high share of organic soils as a specific condition when implementing land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) targets; minimise risks to food production and supply security.
Climate and Energy Minister Kaspars Melnis (ZZS) noted that on Tuesday, the 16th of September, the government will review Latvia’s position on the EC proposal. “Latvia cannot agree to a 90% emissions reduction target because there are still many uncertainties,” Melnis said. He explained that one of Latvia’s priorities is to preserve the ‘green fuel’ status of wood chips and firewood, as more than 60% of heating fuel in Latvia comes from green biomass, which is crucial for energy security, independence, and affordability in the Baltic region.
“We expect a realistic and calculation-based assessment from the EC
on the feasibility of achieving the current ambitious 2030 emissions target (55%), which is high and does not consider the differing situations of Member States or the geopolitical challenges,” the minister added.
Latvia also stresses the importance of ensuring that the ECL takes into account the ability of individual Member States to cut GHG emissions and the impact on competitiveness and economic development, especially given the complex geopolitical situation. It is essential that references to geopolitics translate into real flexibility for countries whose ability to meet targets is hampered by the need to strengthen national defence, security, and energy independence.
KEM explained that work is ongoing to coordinate Latvia’s national position with other ministries, organisations, and stakeholders.
Overall, as a country rich in sustainable resources,
Latvia sees EU climate policy as potentially beneficial
because it reduces dependence on imported fossil fuels. However, Latvia has not yet received a clear EC proposal on how the 90% reduction target would be allocated among EU Member States and economic sectors, or how additional EU budget instruments would support this goal.
Latvia therefore advocates for a targeted yet flexible climate policy aligned with national interests — taking into account progress towards the 2030 goals, economic impacts, and other factors, and ensuring an adaptable approach to achieving the targets.
KEM representatives underline that not all EU Member States can be treated equally: Latvia has a large forestry sector covering over half of its territory; agriculture plays a key role in food production and exports. Therefore, Latvia calls for flexibility in implementing GHG reduction targets, less administrative burden in emissions accounting, and clearer rules on how EU budget instruments will be used for emissions reduction.
On the 2nd of July 2024, the EC published its proposal to cut EU GHG emissions by 90% by 2040 compared to 1990 levels. On the 8th of July, the Latvian government decided not to support the proposal until it is clear how this collective EU target would affect Latvia specifically. On the 10th and 11th of July, at an informal EU Environment Ministers’ meeting in Denmark, Melnis discussed the issue with EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra. Several rounds of talks with sectoral ministries have also taken place, and Latvian experts continue discussions with EC experts.
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