Lithuania
LITHUANIA
ADDRESS
OF THE MINISTER OF THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE
THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA
MR. ARUNAS KUNDROTAS
AT THE COMMISSION
OF THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
New York, 11 May 2006
Permanent Mission to the United Nations ? Nuolatine Misija Jungtinese Tautose
Mr. Chairman,
Distinguished Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
On this occasion I would like to express my congratulations for you as a Chairman
of the 14 th session of the Commission of the Sustainable Development.
Lithuania fully associates itself with the statement made by the distinguished Head
of the delegation of Austria on behalf of the European Union .
We believe that success of the implementation of the global sustainable
development goals in many cases lays in coherent and long - term national policies
with defined goals supported with the establishment of legal and regulatory
framework for the implementation as well as in the partnership with all the key
players. Periodical review of such policies gives a good background for keeping
them operational .
Our "Way Forward" is described in the Lithuanian Sustainable Development
Strategy where the goals related to the thematic clusters of CSD 14 are set up as
well, for example : to ensure the reduction of pollutants and greenhouse gas
emissions into the atmosphere per GDP unit by 50 % by 2020, to achieve the target
of energy production from local renewable and waste energy resources being not
less than 15% of primary energy balance by 2020, etc . Seeking rapid economic
growth and development, we should move forward in sustainable way considering
environmental and social aspects . Therefore one of the key issues in the National
Sustainable Development Strategy is to achieve the decoupling of economic
growth from environmental pollution .
The review of the implementation of the National Sustainable Development
Strategy, completed at the end of 2005, indicates progress and positive changes,
moving forward to the defined goals and especially achieving the decoupling of
economic growth from environmental pollution . The increase in the . total
greenhouse gas emissions from 16 .2 to 17 .5 million tones (8 %) in 2003-2004 is
more than twice less than the economic growth, which was 16 .2 % during the same
period. It is important that the amount of the main air pollutants emitted into the
atmosphere per GDP unit has decreased more than twice. The mentioned figures
indicate that the improvement of eco-efficiency has been achieved without
constraining economic growth .
Having in mind the recent positive changes, we still see there is a room for
improvement. As it is mentioned in the Secretary's General Report, Lithuania has
successfully upgraded building codes to enhance energy efficiency in construction
and housing sectors, however the total energy efficiency still remains a key issue
as Lithuania consumes almost twice more energy per GDP unit comparing with
industrialised countries . Therefore new policy measures, such as the Programme
for Apartment Building Modernisation recently approved by the Government, are
primarily targeted at the increase of energy efficiency .
We want to see better progress in increasing the use of renewable energy sources .
In addition, a special challenge for Lithuania in the nearest future arises following
the decommissioning of our nuclear power plant before the year 2010, which
currently produces about 70 % of the total electricity generated in Lithuania .
Therefore the measures targeted at the renewable energy sector as well as at
developing co-generation and increasing wind energy and biofuel production
would be the main driving forces for the progress in the sustainable energy
development area . The National Programme for the Increase of Energy
Consumption Efficiency approved by the Government just one week ago is the
example of our efforts to increase the use of renewable energy sources and to
ensure the efficiency of energy consumption in Lithuania .
Mr. Chairman,
I believe the barriers and constraints as well as the lessons learnt discussed during
14`h session of the Commission of the Sustainable Development will contribute to
the development of the action oriented initiatives to address sustainable energy,
industrial development, air pollution and climate change issues and to prepare for
the policy session. Inaction becomes too expensive.
Thank you for your attention .
ADDRESS
OF THE MINISTER OF THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE
THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA
MR. ARUNAS KUNDROTAS
AT THE COMMISSION
OF THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
New York, 11 May 2006
Permanent Mission to the United Nations ? Nuolatine Misija Jungtinese Tautose
Mr. Chairman,
Distinguished Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
On this occasion I would like to express my congratulations for you as a Chairman
of the 14 th session of the Commission of the Sustainable Development.
Lithuania fully associates itself with the statement made by the distinguished Head
of the delegation of Austria on behalf of the European Union .
We believe that success of the implementation of the global sustainable
development goals in many cases lays in coherent and long - term national policies
with defined goals supported with the establishment of legal and regulatory
framework for the implementation as well as in the partnership with all the key
players. Periodical review of such policies gives a good background for keeping
them operational .
Our "Way Forward" is described in the Lithuanian Sustainable Development
Strategy where the goals related to the thematic clusters of CSD 14 are set up as
well, for example : to ensure the reduction of pollutants and greenhouse gas
emissions into the atmosphere per GDP unit by 50 % by 2020, to achieve the target
of energy production from local renewable and waste energy resources being not
less than 15% of primary energy balance by 2020, etc . Seeking rapid economic
growth and development, we should move forward in sustainable way considering
environmental and social aspects . Therefore one of the key issues in the National
Sustainable Development Strategy is to achieve the decoupling of economic
growth from environmental pollution .
The review of the implementation of the National Sustainable Development
Strategy, completed at the end of 2005, indicates progress and positive changes,
moving forward to the defined goals and especially achieving the decoupling of
economic growth from environmental pollution . The increase in the . total
greenhouse gas emissions from 16 .2 to 17 .5 million tones (8 %) in 2003-2004 is
more than twice less than the economic growth, which was 16 .2 % during the same
period. It is important that the amount of the main air pollutants emitted into the
atmosphere per GDP unit has decreased more than twice. The mentioned figures
indicate that the improvement of eco-efficiency has been achieved without
constraining economic growth .
Having in mind the recent positive changes, we still see there is a room for
improvement. As it is mentioned in the Secretary's General Report, Lithuania has
successfully upgraded building codes to enhance energy efficiency in construction
and housing sectors, however the total energy efficiency still remains a key issue
as Lithuania consumes almost twice more energy per GDP unit comparing with
industrialised countries . Therefore new policy measures, such as the Programme
for Apartment Building Modernisation recently approved by the Government, are
primarily targeted at the increase of energy efficiency .
We want to see better progress in increasing the use of renewable energy sources .
In addition, a special challenge for Lithuania in the nearest future arises following
the decommissioning of our nuclear power plant before the year 2010, which
currently produces about 70 % of the total electricity generated in Lithuania .
Therefore the measures targeted at the renewable energy sector as well as at
developing co-generation and increasing wind energy and biofuel production
would be the main driving forces for the progress in the sustainable energy
development area . The National Programme for the Increase of Energy
Consumption Efficiency approved by the Government just one week ago is the
example of our efforts to increase the use of renewable energy sources and to
ensure the efficiency of energy consumption in Lithuania .
Mr. Chairman,
I believe the barriers and constraints as well as the lessons learnt discussed during
14`h session of the Commission of the Sustainable Development will contribute to
the development of the action oriented initiatives to address sustainable energy,
industrial development, air pollution and climate change issues and to prepare for
the policy session. Inaction becomes too expensive.
Thank you for your attention .
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