SPOTLOG seminar in Latvia!

The Vidzeme Planning Region invites municipal specialists and transport industry representatives to attend the seminar, “Challenges and Solutions in Transport Decarbonization,” taking place on November 22, 2024, at 11:00 AM at the Space Exploration Center in Cēsis.

The seminar is organized by the Vidzeme Planning Region as part of SPOTLOG, and is co-organized by the CommitClimate project and the Latvian Climate Neutrality Cluster 2050.

Several experts will take part, providing valuable knowledge and insights into transport decarbonization solutions.
Among them will be Armands Gūtmanis, head of the Latvian Climate Neutrality Cluster 2050, who will offer insights into funding opportunities for decarbonizing freight and municipal transport, and Aiga Barisa, Associate Professor at the Institute of Environmental Protection and Heat Systems of Riga Technical University, who will introduce the CommitClimate Simulator tool, adapted for assessing and modeling CO₂ emissions in municipalities.

Discussions and workshops will be led by Justs Dimants, economist and lead researcher at the Latvian Climate Neutrality Cluster 2050, who will help analyze factors impacting the transport sector and will engage the audience in discussions about infrastructure, tax policy, and European Union (EU) funding opportunities for supporting the sector.

The seminar will be valuable for both municipal specialists and transport industry representatives, offering practical knowledge and tools to achieve decarbonization goals. Municipal specialists will gain insights into creating environmentally-friendly transport infrastructure and utilizing available funding mechanisms at the local level to address climate challenges more effectively. Meanwhile, entrepreneurs and industry professionals will discover innovative solutions and the advantages of green technologies, which will help enhance competitiveness and compliance with EU regulations, while also promoting sustainable transport development.

In today's world, decarbonization has become a key priority, and companies must adapt to the green economy to meet consumers' growing demands for sustainable solutions. By investing in green technologies and innovative solutions, companies not only maintain but also enhance their competitiveness in the global market. The European Union has set ambitious climate goals, including a 17% reduction in emissions for Latvia by 2030 in sectors outside the Emissions Trading System (non-ETS). These non-ETS sectors include transport, agriculture, building heating, and other industries. In Latvia, the transport sector—primarily road transport—accounts for 37% of non-ETS emissions. Furthermore, half of all road transport emissions are generated by freight and municipal vehicles, with these emissions continuing to rise. This increase, along with the need to comply with EU climate requirements, puts pressure on municipalities and businesses to find effective decarbonization solutions.