The National Research Program Implementation and Monitoring Commissions, based on the results of the evaluation by international experts, made a decision in 2024 to grant funding to 5 national research programs, including the project “Decision-Making Support System for Achieving Climate Neutrality Goals” (VPP-KEM).
The project aims to create a unified national decision-making support tool for achieving Latvia’s climate neutrality goal, as well as to improve the quality of education and supplement the existing knowledge base, promoting a sustainable approach to the implementation of climate policy.
At the end of 2024, researchers involved in the project visited the Ministry of Climate and Energy to present a test version of the Latvian GHG emissions system dynamics model, which was carefully developed over the course of a year.
The model is particularly important because it allows:
- Analyze various solutions for reducing carbon emissions Compare paths to climate neutrality
- Assess the impact on national growth
- The model will support policymakers in making data-based decisions on sustainable development.
This is the second version of the model, but after listening to the recommendations and ideas of the Ministry of Climate and Energy, significant improvements have been planned so that it can respond to the needs of industry experts and policymakers.
To achieve the set goals, various activities were implemented in 2024:
- 3 modeling seminars 6 presentations at foreign and Latvian conferences
- 4 scientific publications prepared
- 5 meetings with the Implementation and Monitoring Commission remotely and in person
- 21 working group meetings
- 1 Scientists' Night
The project involves researchers from Riga Technical University, who work in collaboration with the University of Latvia, Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, and Riga Stradiņš University.
The goal of the project is to create a unified national decision support tool for achieving the goal of Latvia’s climate neutrality. The main focus is on the modeling of the impact of policy decisions in various sectors – energy, industrial processes, agriculture, ZIZIMM and waste management. The tasks of the project include analysis of climate policy obligations, assessment of climate instruments, identification of innovative technologies and collection of necessary data. The plan envisages evaluating how the EU and Latvia comply with climate commitments, evaluating climate change mitigation and adaptation tools, as well as identifying innovative technologies in all sectors of the economy.
