Government approves phasing out peat as source of energy

RIGA - The government on Thursday approved Latvia's territorial just transition plan, which provides for phasing out peat as a source of energy by 2030. 

According to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, the decision is related to Latvia's commitment to achieving climate neutrality by 2050. 

The ministry indicates that greenhouse gas emissions from paludified areas and peat extraction for energy and gardening make up around 13 percent of Latvia's total emissions. 

Latvia is one of six European Union (EU) member states that still extract and use peat for energy, producing CO2 emissions and affecting the environment. 

Latvia's historic peat extraction areas are 26,232 hectares large and they have to be recovered. 

The decision to end production of energy peat is expected to affect 1,875 jobs in Latvia, most of them in Latgale and Riga Region. The impact employment in Riga Region is likely to be milder thanks to higher economic activity and lower unemployment. 

The adoption of the territorial just transition plan will allow Latvia to receive EUR 184,237,327 from the EU's Just Transition Fund.