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Latvia - so again!

Published 24th September 2009 - 3 comments - 1144 views -

     Nearly 100 world leaders participate in  Summit on Climate Change in New York on 22 September to mobilize political will and strengthen momentum for a fair, effective, and ambitious climate deal in Copenhagen this December. President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers too.

    Zatlers participated in a panel discussion on the subject of how to develop national economies so that they can reduce the volume of hothouse gas emissions and thus reduce global warming while, at the same time, preserving opportunities for sustainable growth. “Let’s be frank – countries must count on substantial initial costs in this area, but I am convinced that a reduction in hothouse gas emissions must not occur at the expense of economic development. On the contrary – technological changes must promote economic growth,” argued the President.

    Due to this statement of President Zatlers I have feeling that it is a great deal of populism as to do this we need to rely on scientists and finance technical development which mainly is venture. Latvia is heavily cutting costs of science, higher education. Head of Latvian University had said that our science development is still somewhere in level of 1990. Work of Parliament and Ministers are struggling with term "structural change" which is mainly used as just some change, some cut there and here. And I wonder how many of our "smart heads" know and understand meaning of sustainable development.

    In discussing the role of alternative energy sources, President Zatlers said that diversification of such sources is important not just from the perspective of energy security, but also in the sense that it promotes the development of sustainable, secure and profitable national economies. When it comes to natural resources, President Zatlers particularly pointed to Latvia’s experience in forest management – experience which Latvia is glad to share with other countries. “Our approach is surprisingly simple,” he said. “We must reduce the cutting and destruction of forests if we are to be successful in limiting climate change. We must plant forests and maintain them in a sustainable way.”
    And now I am surprised as much as I can be. We are limiting climate change by adopting new rule that allow us to import waste for burning as tyres are better then fossil materials. Initive of law change for company producing cement. It happened couple days before our President had this inspiring speech. Maybe there are some logic, but definately not from climate perserving viewpoint as we still produce CO2.

    Welcome to Latvia, its politics, decisions. Will come back more to this in hope to find inspiring and positive change, decisions that made in regard to climate change not pure business.

Category: Climate Politics, International Action, | Tags: business, politics,, parliament,, latvia,,



Comments

fidelius on 24th September 2009:

Hey Aija,
Good idea to critically assess the position our respective governments are holding towards COP15 and even more importantly, to compare the statements with actual decisions. notstupid.org gives users information on their countries climate record. And we can research that even more deeply as you started to do…

As to research and new technologies, I think a lot of climate friendly solutions are already available, and they’ll improve by being continiously applied. So lower science budgets are no excuse i think.

How are Baltic states doing in terms of energy production, consumption? Are they as fossil-dependent as the Rest of the former CCCP? Are they heading in a more towards renewables?

Dani on 25th September 2009:

The link you make between climate change and investments in education is scary I think… I would like to know which state does not cut spending on research and education these days.

Moreover, states increasingly rely on private corporations’ funding of projects, and big corporations are often not the most climate friendly.

Aija Vanaga on 26th September 2009:

to Dani

There is a link and wide enough. I could say that investments in school level and pre-school education especially influence what is future, what will be thought mindset of human beings. It is a round circle. We cut funds and there are no education possibilities for teachers or research in field. Nowadays I have the feeling that our kids have changed and school is boring, not catching at all and kills rest of motivation for learning. Due to this they will not be the ones that will want to learn and in this point no matter what to learn - eco frindly way of living? And then we came to ecological problems.

And in higher education and research in technical field that is one more round circle. To fight with eco-problems we already have, in my opinion countries should invest in research, get out the ways and then drop the part - need a margin for profit. This is my we somehow struggle as venture capital so far is major finance source for research. Business believe that it will be huge profit when discovered. And now we slowly came to economy, business and now I want to make a returen question - how many companies you know wth true CSR?

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