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Latvia’s Transport Sector Aims to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 17% by 2023

Currently, the transport sector in Latvia occupies the dominant polluting role with 37% of all sectors. The goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Latvia is to reduce them by 17% by 2023, compared to 2005.

According to Andris Kulbergs, president of the Auto Association, although work is underway to achieve these goals, it is being delayed and without special “state effort”.

Of all the emissions caused by transport, road transport produces 71.7% of greenhouse gas emissions, of which 60.6% are emissions caused by passenger cars, and 27.1% are caused directly by heavy trucks. “In order for the work to achieve the set goals to proceed more smoothly, greater and more targeted state involvement would be necessary. Namely, if some support measures for electric cars have been introduced in the segment of light passenger cars, there are not even ideas for implementing solutions in the greening segment of heavy commercial vehicles,” emphasizes A. Kulbergs.

Statistics show that in 2022, there were 24,357 heavy commercial vehicles in the Latvian car fleet, of which 44% or 10,737 were with at least “Euro 5” or “Euro 6” emissions standard. It should be noted that the “Euro 5” emission standard became a requirement for all new approvals from September 1, 2009 and all new registrations from January 1, 2011, while the “Euro 6” emission standard became a requirement for all new approvals from 2014. September and for new registrations from September 2015.

“Currently, 56% of all heavy vehicles registered in Latvia are more than 13 years old. It should be taken into account that the majority of truck tractors carry out cargo transportation to foreign countries, therefore, if you judge by the number of trucks that basically move in the territory of Latvia, then only around 20% of trucks are with at least “Euro 5” or “Euro 6″ emission standard,” explains the president of the Auto Association.

At the national level, various support programs for the purchase of zero-emission vehicles and for the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure are currently implemented or are planned to be implemented, but they are aimed at all types of vehicles, except for heavy commercial vehicles. “Despite the absence of support programs, the state can promote the greening of heavy commercial transport by providing, for example, a greater differentiation of vehicle operating tax and road use fee between “Euro 6” cars and lower standard commercial cars, as well as stipulating that in public procurement of construction and road construction, freight transport is carried only with at least “Euro 6″ emission standard trucks, as well as introducing low emission zones in cities,” says A. Kulberg.

Newer trucks affect not only emissions, but also fuel efficiency, for example, Euro 4 trucks have an average fuel consumption of around 35 liters per 100 km, while Euro 6 trucks have an average fuel consumption of around 24 liters per 100 km. km. “The data shows that with a Euro 6 truck, we can save up to 68% of fuel and have a significant impact on reducing emissions. It should be noted that today’s “Euro 6” trucks also consume at least 15% less fuel than the first trucks with the “Euro 6″ emission standard,” explains the president of the Auto Association.

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2024-02-08 12:53:49
#stricter #regulation #needed #reduce #emissions #generated #road #transport #segment

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