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Energy efficiency policy and CO2 reduction in Latvia

Panel: Panel 1: Policy (incentives, normative measures, policy mixes to achive CO_2 reduction)

Authors:
Marite Chaikovska, Institute of Physical Energigetics
Namejs Zeltinsh, Institute of Physical Energigetics

Abstract

In accordance with Kyoto Protocol to the UN FCCC on 10 December 1997 Latvia would ensure that it’s aggregate greenhouse gases emissions rate will be reduced to 92% of their 1990 rate in time period 2008 to 2012. Alongside with decrease of energy consumption and decline of industry in the transformation period to the market economy amount of the emissions from energy sources has decreased considerably even without implementation of any special environmental protection measures (minimum level was in 1993). But stabilisation of Latvia’s economy and increase of state’s macro economically parameters (in 1995 – 1998) are made actual greenhouse gases problem. It is illustrated by latest Latvian Environmental Data Centre’s inventory of total emissions in Latvia (according to UN IPCC “Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories” Revised 1996 Version methodology). The latest annual CO2 emission inventory in Latvia by demand sectors is shown at Figure 1, but CO2 emissions by fuels is shown at Figure 2. There are shown CO2 emissions from total fuel combustion at Figures 1-2, because 96% – 98% of total emissions from all sources are made exactly from fuel combustion. As we can see, emissions do not exceed level allowed by Kyoto Protocol. Yet with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth (in 1997 by 6.5%) and increase of primary energy consumption in future (shown at Figure 3) it is expected the growth of CO2 emission’s level.