Latvia
Mr. Chairman,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Latvia aligns itself with the statement made by Germany on behalf of the
European Union.
I would like to add some additional comments and namely regarding
climate change and energy.
Solving the global environmental problems is not easy. To attain
favourable results, co-ordinated action of countries all over the world is
necessary. The climate change mitigation policies and measures to limit
and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to increase carbon dioxide
removals in Latvia is gaining higher priority in line with the common
policy and concerns about climate change in the world and the European
Union.
Mr. Chairman,
The primary goal is to ensure global reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions. It can be achieved by implementing activities in the climate
change mitigation policy areas, such as:
1) increase the share of renewable energy sources in the energy balance;
2) increase efficient and rational use of energy resources;
3) develop an environmentally friendly transport system;
4) promote the implementation of the best available techniques,
environmentally friendly technologies and cleaner production;
5) promote the implementation of environmentally sound agricultural
methods that reduce direct greenhouse gas emissions;
6) increase CO2 removals in forestry;
7) establish an up-to-date municipal waste management system, ensuring
collection of biogas in municipal waste landfills.
As we all know, global climate change is a major challenge that human
kind is facing now and will face in the years to come. The main challenge
for the international society is now to assist the developing countries in
choosing the right path of development contributing to measures aiming
at stabilization and reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions in the
coming years.
Mr. Chairman,
Climate change is closely linked to energy supply issue. The rapid
development of global economy, including emerging economies, will
require more and more energy, including energy from fossil fuels. The
rise of oil and natural gas prices should stimulate development of
environmentally friendly and low emission technologies. Otherwise the
issue of energy safety will be an overriding priority for many countries,
one even more important than the need to stop, global warming.
Latvia considers that energy supply security is a precondition for further
development and economic growth of the world.
Speaking on the energy as one of crucial angles of sustainable
development, I would like to emphasize that nuclear energy does not
comply with the criteria of sustainable development because it is neither
safe nor reliable. It also doesn?t meet the criteria of economic viability as
it is not affordable without public subsidies. I fully support the statement
about the need to phase out harmful subsidies in order to reflect
environmental impacts of various energy sources.
In Latvia, almost half of its electricity consumption is provided by
renewable energy sources (48.4 % in 2005), with hydro power being the
key resource.
Moreover, Latvia recognizes the need for further increased share of
renewable energy in the future energy mix. Any new greenhouse gas
emission reduction targets after 2012 will require significant changes in
the energy sector. We need to ensure, that such changes will not influence
the energy safety at national, regional and global scale, in a negative way.
Mr.Chairman,
I also call upon countries to agree on the set of criteria which would
define sustainable energy and especially sustainable biofuels, which
should be subject to adequate risk, environmental and social impact
assessments. GMOs cannot be used for sustainable biofuel production.
Latvia believes that all countries should adopt and implement national
and regional energy policy targets in order to increase energy efficiency,
increase share of renewable energy in energy supply and its consumption
and assure access to sustainable energy.
To be able to implement those targets set by policy documents, it is
crucial to find innovative solutions which would lead to environmentally
sound and resource efficient technologies. Today we need to create an
enabling environment for investment in science, which is a key element
for sustainable development in future.
Thank you.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Latvia aligns itself with the statement made by Germany on behalf of the
European Union.
I would like to add some additional comments and namely regarding
climate change and energy.
Solving the global environmental problems is not easy. To attain
favourable results, co-ordinated action of countries all over the world is
necessary. The climate change mitigation policies and measures to limit
and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to increase carbon dioxide
removals in Latvia is gaining higher priority in line with the common
policy and concerns about climate change in the world and the European
Union.
Mr. Chairman,
The primary goal is to ensure global reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions. It can be achieved by implementing activities in the climate
change mitigation policy areas, such as:
1) increase the share of renewable energy sources in the energy balance;
2) increase efficient and rational use of energy resources;
3) develop an environmentally friendly transport system;
4) promote the implementation of the best available techniques,
environmentally friendly technologies and cleaner production;
5) promote the implementation of environmentally sound agricultural
methods that reduce direct greenhouse gas emissions;
6) increase CO2 removals in forestry;
7) establish an up-to-date municipal waste management system, ensuring
collection of biogas in municipal waste landfills.
As we all know, global climate change is a major challenge that human
kind is facing now and will face in the years to come. The main challenge
for the international society is now to assist the developing countries in
choosing the right path of development contributing to measures aiming
at stabilization and reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions in the
coming years.
Mr. Chairman,
Climate change is closely linked to energy supply issue. The rapid
development of global economy, including emerging economies, will
require more and more energy, including energy from fossil fuels. The
rise of oil and natural gas prices should stimulate development of
environmentally friendly and low emission technologies. Otherwise the
issue of energy safety will be an overriding priority for many countries,
one even more important than the need to stop, global warming.
Latvia considers that energy supply security is a precondition for further
development and economic growth of the world.
Speaking on the energy as one of crucial angles of sustainable
development, I would like to emphasize that nuclear energy does not
comply with the criteria of sustainable development because it is neither
safe nor reliable. It also doesn?t meet the criteria of economic viability as
it is not affordable without public subsidies. I fully support the statement
about the need to phase out harmful subsidies in order to reflect
environmental impacts of various energy sources.
In Latvia, almost half of its electricity consumption is provided by
renewable energy sources (48.4 % in 2005), with hydro power being the
key resource.
Moreover, Latvia recognizes the need for further increased share of
renewable energy in the future energy mix. Any new greenhouse gas
emission reduction targets after 2012 will require significant changes in
the energy sector. We need to ensure, that such changes will not influence
the energy safety at national, regional and global scale, in a negative way.
Mr.Chairman,
I also call upon countries to agree on the set of criteria which would
define sustainable energy and especially sustainable biofuels, which
should be subject to adequate risk, environmental and social impact
assessments. GMOs cannot be used for sustainable biofuel production.
Latvia believes that all countries should adopt and implement national
and regional energy policy targets in order to increase energy efficiency,
increase share of renewable energy in energy supply and its consumption
and assure access to sustainable energy.
To be able to implement those targets set by policy documents, it is
crucial to find innovative solutions which would lead to environmentally
sound and resource efficient technologies. Today we need to create an
enabling environment for investment in science, which is a key element
for sustainable development in future.
Thank you.
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