[NEWS] Latvian NGO calls for zero-emission measures

NGO calls on Latvian municipalities to implement support measures for infrastructure development

In Zemgale the non-governmental organization “Zero emission mobility support society” has prepared a letter to municipalities and local government organizations to draw attention to the infrastructure development measures in the National Energy and Climate Plan 2021-2030. This plan is in line with European Commission requirements and serves as a basis for the inclusion of measures in the National Development Plan and thereby for the European Union funding for 2021-2027 in the national operational program. 

Based on the available statistics, which show that the number of registered and daily used electric vehicles in Latvia is growing every year, the “Zero emission mobility support society” calls on municipalities to take measures to support the use of zero-emission transport, which is closely related to municipal infrastructure development. Measures that should be implemented: development of conventional capacity charging points in public parking lots, development of medium capacity charging points in public infrastructure, supporting the establishment of electrical installations in parking lots in multi-apartment residential buildings. The letter also calls for the planning and development of cycling and its infrastructure - developing and improving the availability of bicycle parking, constructing new and renovating existing cycle paths, and promoting low-power vehicle infrastructure such as scooters and motorcycles.

Existing support in Latvia, including the maintenance of a network of high-capacity charging points, ensures a steady increase in the number of light electric cars both new and used. In 2018 – 40%, 2019 – 48%, but in the first quarter of 2020 – 12%. Last year alone, 118 new and 99 used electric cars were registered, and there is a prediction that in 2030 the number of electric cars in Latvia will reach 36,500. Similar trends can be observed in the field of electric mopeds - in recent years, the number of electric mopeds in Latvia has increased sharply: 46 at the beginning of 2018, and already 252 in March 2020.

The Zemgale Planning Region has also received this letter calling for smart planning of infrastructure development, so the ZPR administration will work together with local governments to find solutions to incorporate these ideas into development programs and future plans in the fields of energy or transport, as it is important to increase the share of vehicles that are energy-efficient and powered by renewable resources.

The non-governmental organization “Zero emission mobility support society” is also an active ZPR stakeholder in the INTERREG EUROPE programme project e-MOPOLI, therefore these proposals mentioned in the letter have also been discussed in the regional stakeholder workshops held within the project. In coordination with local government plans, they can also be included in more detail in the Zemgale region e-mobility action plan.