The European Green Course aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 by reducing transport emissions by at least 55% by 2030. Latvia's biggest challenge is greening the public transport sector because vehicles are one of the largest sources of CO 2, which accounts for about a quarter of the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in the European Union (EU).
"The measures implemented in Latvia to replace the older public transport vehicles with modern and environmentally friendly ones is a move towards reaching the Europe's green goals. In regional traffic it is carried out by the carriers, while in the cities where traffic is more intensive and public transport causes the largest environmental pollution, new buses are purchased with the support of EU funds. A reduced amount of GHG emissions and a cleaner environment are essential, while the benefits to the society are equally important: more convenient, faster and more comfortable travel, which is a good bases for changing our mobility habits. Amenities and lower costs are the criteria that we assess to make our choice in favour of public transport rather than a personal car, explains Ligita Austrupe, Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Transport.
Sustainable transport infrastructure is being developed in Latvia to achieve the common European green objectives and likewise other European countries, the rail is strengthened as the backbone of public transport. In order to ensure the mobility of citizens throughout the country, rail transport is complemented by regional public transport. Implementing the provision of regional public transport services, the Road Transport Administration has introduced requirements for the carriers regarding the technical requirements of the bus fleet, namely to replace the older buses with modern, more convenient and environmentally friendly buses.
Replacement of the older buses with modern ones, which are more convenient to the passengers and environmentally friendly, is implemented with the co-financing of the EU Cohesion Fund in the amount of EUR 44.9 million. By the end of next year, a total of 145 modern and environmentally friendly buses will be procured in eight Latvian cities (Daugavpils, Jelgava, Jekabpils, Jurmala, Rezekne, Riga, Valmiera and Ventspils). At present 74 buses have already been purchased in the cities, while another 71 buses will be purchased by the end of next year. Operation of the modern and environmentally friendly buses will be provided with electricity, compressed natural gas, dual fuel and electric motor systems (hybrids).
The benefits of new buses are not only passenger amenities and cleaner environment, but also lower operating costs for the fleet managers and improved working conditions for the bus drivers.
More information on EU funds and support areas for the 2014-2020 programming period on the Ministry of Transport homepage: https://www.sam.gov.lv/lv/2014-2020-planosanas-period-0
