Digital transformation Press release

Riga, 22 June 2020 - Environment Protection and Regional Development Minister Juris Pūce (AP!) will take part in a series of videoconferencing of environment ministers – meeting of ambitious climate states, meeting of the Green Growth Group (22 June) and 23 June in the informal videoconference of the Environment Ministers of the European Union (EU), in order to discuss how the new Action Plan on the circular economy, the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and climate policy can contribute to the recovery of the economy through environmentally friendly solutions.

Minister Pūce: "The implementation of the EU's common objectives to curb climate change must not be delayed in circumstances where the Covid-19 virus has caused shocks to many economies. . A green economy must be at the heart of strengthening economic growth, leading to new competitive sectors and new jobs s. We must continue to support EU initiatives and measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and moving towards climate action. . In particular, the use of digitalisation should continue to be promoted in the EU, which is also one of the ways of tackling climate neutrality.*"

Minister Juris Pūce, on behalf of Latvia, will support the strengthening of the EU climate neutrality target in the EU Climate Law * *, as well as expressing support for raising the 2030 greenhouse gas emission reduction target to 55% compared to 1990, while stressing the need to foresee and provide additional EU financial resources at EU level to meet the new targets. . The EU's growth strategy: Green * * can be very important as the EU's joint economic recovery plan.

The Minister will also support the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. . It includes a set of actions to tackle the biodiversity crisis by protecting and restoring natural value s. The Biodiversity Strategy addresses the five main causes of biodiversity loss (land and water use changes, resource overuse, climate change, pollution and invasive species) and highlights a reinforced governance framework, ensuring full implementation of EU legislation. . The Biodiversity Strategy and other Green Course initiatives will form the framework for the EU's green economic transformation, including the industrial, energy, circular economy and the transition to sustainable transition. U. The Minister welcomes the level of ambition of the Biodiversity Strategy, but the video conference will also discuss the need to consider available and additional financial opportunities to introduce the measures identified in the Strategy.

The informal meeting of EU Environment Ministers also plans to discuss the New Circular Economy Action Plan “Towards a cleaner and more competitive Europe”, which highlights initiatives that will cover all stages of the product life cycle and the various materials groups, ensuring that products produced are sustainable and sustainable and that society can fully participate in the circular economy and exploit the positive benefits of change. . The Action Plan for the circular economy is an important instrument for the development of the EU's green economy or green growth by creating an interlinked policy for a system with a greater role for carbon-intensive and sustainable development, a coherent policy for the management of chemicals, products and waste.

In a video conference, the Minister intends to highlight the fact that effective action in the field of circular economy following THE COVID-19 crisis should keep pace with the EU and Latvia's progress towards climate neutrality, as well as the preservation of biodiversity and ecosystems. . Similarly, the main actions of the Circular Economic Action Plan are to be supported by the EU to promote sustainable product development, as well as by providing more accessible product repair facilities.

* climate neutrality is a situation where economic activity and consumption do not have a negative impact on climate. Achieving climate neutrality is characterised by the balance of greenhouse gases (GHG), namely the reduction of all emissions and the offsetting of non-reduced emissions from plants (g. K. in forests) or underground capture and storage.

* * climate law needs to ensure that all EU policies and sectors contribute to the climate neutrality objective. . Under the Green course, the current climate policy legislation is also expected to be revised, as well as new legislation on the circular economy, building renewal, biodiversity, agriculture and innovation.

* * * Green is a new EU growth strategy to create a fair and prosperous society with a modern, resource efficient and competitive economy with (GHG) net emissions falling to zero in 2050.

* * * on January 28, the Cabinet adopted the Strategy for the achievement of Latvian climate neutrality by 2050, which sets out strategic directions for sustainable energy, comprehensive energy efficiency, increasing carbon dioxide removal, tax greening, resource efficiency and environmentally friendly transport. C. in areas.

Other information:
Public Relations Division
Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development
Tel. 67026533
e-mail: prese@varam.gov.lv