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Environment & Sustainability Guide

Air quality, green spaces, and environmental policies in Latvia

Latvia demonstrates strong environmental performance with decoupled GHG emissions from economic growth since 2011 through biomass transition and energy efficiency improvements. However, the country faces challenges including declining forest carbon sequestration, water quality concerns with only one-third of surface waters in good ecological status, and heavy transport sector fossil fuel dependence. Rising temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns increasingly pressure ecosystems and agriculture.

Air Quality Index

Good

7.2/10(AQI: 48)

Improving trend

Latvia has achieved significant air quality improvements through stricter vehicle emission standards, reduced fuelwood use in heating, and lower sulphur content regulations. However, average population exposure to fine particles (PM2.5) remains above WHO's 2021 guideline of 5 µg/m³. Emissions of carbon monoxide and NOx per GDP unit remain relatively large due to an aging vehicle fleet.

Water Quality

Moderate

5.5/10

Only one-third of Latvia's surface waterbodies (rivers and lakes) maintain good or high ecological status. Primary pressures include nutrient pollution from diffuse agricultural sources and hydromorphological alterations such as straightening, barriers, and water level changes. Improving water quality remains challenging given climate change impacts and economic development pressures.

Latvia maintains drinking water safety standards through treatment, though surface water quality degradation from agricultural runoff and hydromorphological modifications presents ongoing concerns for ecosystem health.

Recycling System

Latvia has approved a waste prevention programme (2021-2028) targeting waste reduction and circular economy principles. Municipal waste increased from 726 kt in 2014 to 872 kt in 2022. The country aims to limit municipal waste to 450 kg per capita annually and reduce landfill disposal through improved waste management and resource recovery strategies.

municipal wastehazardous wasteconstruction waste

Green Spaces

Forests cover more than half of Latvia's territory, playing a crucial role in carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation. However, the Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector's carbon sequestration capacity declined markedly since 2008 due to increased logging, forest aging, and grassland conversion to croplands. The sector became a net carbon emitter since 2020.

Forest Coverage: 50.0%

Latvia's diverse landscape includes forests, waters, and meadows. Main habitat pressures include natural system modifications, ecosystem fragmentation from dam construction, hydrological regime changes, land reclamation, intensive forestry, pollution, and agricultural expansion.

Environmental Policies

Latvia has decoupled GHG emissions from economic growth since 2011 through gradual transition from fossil fuels to biomass for heat and power production and improved energy efficiency. The country reached 2020 Gothenburg Protocol objectives for SO₂, NOx, NMVOC, and NH₃ emissions. Latvia is integrating climate change mitigation and adaptation into environmentally related economic sectors with policies promoting sustainable agriculture and renewable energy transition.

Key Policies:

•Transition from fossil fuels to biomass for heat and power
•Stricter vehicle emission standards implementation
•Sustainable agriculture practices and soil health enhancement
•Renewable energy source expansion
•Waste prevention programme (2021-2028)
•Public transport expansion and cycling infrastructure improvement

Renewable Energy: Latvia is working toward notable progress in renewable energy transition, though the transport sector remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels as one of the largest GHG emission contributors. The country is investing in public transport systems and cycling infrastructure expansion.

Natural Disaster Risk

MODERATE

Latvia faces moderate natural disaster risk with primary threats from flooding and hydromorphological alterations affecting water systems. Climate change is increasing the frequency and unpredictability of extreme weather events, putting pressure on ecosystems, agriculture, and rural livelihoods. Rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns are key climate change impacts.

floodingextreme weather eventshydromorphological alterations

Climate Change Impacts: Over the past five years, Latvia has experienced growing impacts of climate change characterized by rising temperatures and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. These changes pressure ecosystems, agriculture, and rural livelihoods. Since 2005, GHG emissions from the agriculture sector increased by 22.5% (though still 55.2% below 1990 levels), reflecting climate-driven agricultural pressures. The COVID-19 pandemic and energy crisis led to emission declines in 2020 and 2022. Latvia's renewed national energy and climate plan projects agricultural sector GHG emissions will be only 21.5% higher than 2005 levels by 2030 with additional measures.

Sustainability Initiatives

Renewable Energy Transition

Latvia has decoupled GHG emissions and total energy supply from economic growth since 2011 through gradual switch from fossil fuels to biomass for heat and power production and improved energy efficiency. The country is investing in renewable energy expansion and public transport systems to reduce transport sector fossil fuel dependence.

Waste Management and Circular Economy

Latvia's 2021-2028 waste prevention programme targets waste reduction, rational use of waste as a resource based on circular economy principles, and reduction of landfill disposal. Municipal waste target is 450 kg per capita annually. Hazardous waste generation fluctuated from 150 kt (2020) to 79 kt (2022), largely dependent on contaminated site renovation projects.

Sustainable Agriculture and Soil Health

Latvia has implemented policies promoting sustainable agriculture practices and soil health enhancement to address climate change impacts on agriculture. The country's renewed national energy and climate plan projects agricultural GHG emissions reduction through additional measures, with emissions expected to be lower than current levels by 2030.

Environmental Economy Growth

Latvia's environmental economy sector demonstrated significant growth, with gross value added surging from less than 3% of GDP in 2021 to approaching 4% in 2022. This reflects increasing business investment in climate risk solutions, energy efficiency, and waste reduction initiatives.

Wildlife & Nature

European LynxRecovering

Grey WolfRecovering

Common Forest SpeciesCommon

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