News

 

 

EUCityCalc pilot cities: Riga

by | Sep 12, 2023 | News | 0 comments

Riga’s pursuit of climate neutrality







Riga, nestled on the shores of the Gulf of Riga along the Baltic Sea, is a vibrant cultural hub with a rich history. Situated strategically in Northern Europe, the city has long served as a crucial trading crossroads. At the heart of the city lies the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which boasts fascinating Art Nouveau architecture, with over a third of its buildings designed in this unique style.







Navigating challenges and embracing sustainability





Nowadays, many are the challenges that cities have to tackle to become future-proofed and Latvia makes no exception.

It comes as no surprise that the Russian invasion of Ukraine affected the energy market. Notably an 84.1% increase in energy resource prices in Latvia in October 2022 compared to the previous year. This surge in costs has compelled Riga to address its energy consumption issues. The primary challenge is shifting away from natural gas and adopting heat pumps, while also improving the energy efficiency of aging buildings. Transitioning to zero-emission heating sources is imperative in the pursuit of a sustainable future.

The transportation sector accounts for a significant portion of Riga’s emissions, contributing 42% of total CO2 emissions citywide. To combat this issue, active citizen engagement is key. Encouraging individuals to leave their cars at home and opt for bicycles or public transport is the first important step.

Finally, to create a more eco-friendly urban environment, Riga has recognized the importance of increasing its greenery. A key initiative involves planting more trees throughout the city. This endeavor not only enhances the city’s aesthetics but also contributes to improved air quality and overall well-being for its residents.


The EUCityCalc Project: scenarios for better policies


In a bid to navigate these challenges effectively, Riga’s municipality has chosen to participate in the EUCityCalc project. This innovative webtool allows all pilot cities to simulate low-carbon scenarios and formulate policies rooted in scientific data.

With the Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP) already submitted, the municipality is now crafting its Climate City Contract, a participatory planning document that aligns specific actions with the city’s climate and energy strategy. In this context, the Calculator will help Riga to evaluate if these actions are ambitious enough to reach climate neutrality.

Since the involvement of relevant stakeholders is essential to take all needs into account, Riga’s municipality has established a Climate Neutrality working group, initially comprising council employees and municipal institution experts, which has since expanded to include professionals and scientific institutions specializing in energy and climate-related matters. This dedicated group developed the SECAP and now is actively participating in EUCityCalc’s co-creation workshops.

By addressing energy efficiency, green initiatives, transportation emissions, and data-driven strategies, Riga strives to become a climate-neutral city, paving the way for a brighter and more sustainable future.


News & events

Advancing Climate Action in Latvia

Advancing Climate Action in Latvia

The Riga Energy Agency joined the NECP dialogue roundtable to make the city’ voice heard by the national government The National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) 2021-2030 serves as a comprehensive policy framework outlining Latvia's goals and strategies, including:...

Leveraging the EU City Calculator for Climate Strategy

Leveraging the EU City Calculator for Climate Strategy

The steps that cities should take to take fully advantage of the webtool With the specter of climate change looming large, more and more cities have embarked on a mission to redefine their future through sustainable development. Harnessing the power of data-driven...

Setting up and implementing EU City Calculator

Setting up and implementing EU City Calculator

Registrations for the second module of the EUCityCalc learning programme are now open! Have you successfully completed the first module Build data-based scenarios for cities climate neutrality? Then, it’s time to continue your learning journey and enrol in the second...

EUCityCalc EU-level Training

EUCityCalc EU-level Training

On 10 June, join us in Brussels to try the webtool and talk to the developers Are you a policymaker, a technician or a consultant involved in the climate transition of your city? Are you part of an NGO dealing with energy and climate issues? Then...

Experience the EU City Calculator in person!   

Experience the EU City Calculator in person!   

Join our in-person workshops in your country or in Brussels You registered for the EUCityCalc online training, but you'd like to have a live presentation on how to use the webtool? Then, join the upcoming in-person workshops that will take place in the six pilot...

Arrábida Territory commits to decarbonisation  

Arrábida Territory commits to decarbonisation  

The new Memorandum of Understanding for Carbon Neutrality paves the way for the implementation and monitoring of mitigation strategies On the 5th of April, the municipalities of Setúbal, Palmela, and Sesimbra - along with key local stakeholders - confirmed their...

EUCityCalc Final Conference in Valencia

EUCityCalc Final Conference in Valencia

On 25 June, celebrate with us the end of the project After three exciting years, the EUCityCalc project is wrapping up. Join us to celebrate its success and share insights at the EUCityCalc Final Conference on June 25th, Palau de l'Exposició, Valencia, Spain. Discover...

EUCityCalc Final Conference  

EUCityCalc Final Conference  

On 25-26 June, join us in Valencia to celebrate together the wrap-up of the project After 3  exciting years, the EUCityCalc project is coming to an end. To celebrate the great results and share the lessons learned, we are delighted to invite you to...

Improving local involvement in Czech Republic

Improving local involvement in Czech Republic

Semmo joined the NECP dialogue roundtable to make the Czech cities' voice heard by the national government The Czech Republic aims to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels, a reduction of 44 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. The...