Lithuanian GHG emissions (CO2eq.) by sector (excl. LULUCF) in 2020. Credit score: Sustainability (2024). DOI: 10.3390/su162210018
The world is experiencing extra frequent and intense warmth waves, floods, hurricanes, and wildfires as a consequence of rising greenhouse gasoline emissions. The vitality sector is among the largest contributors to local weather change, but it additionally performs an important function within the methods wanted to mitigate and adapt to its results, contributing to the achievement of bold local weather objectives.
On this world context, Lithuania is present process a major vitality transformation because it strikes towards a extra sustainable and impartial future.
By aligning its vitality insurance policies with the United Nations Sustainable Growth Objectives, the nation isn’t solely addressing its home challenges but in addition contributing to the broader combat towards local weather change. This decided effort to scale back greenhouse gasoline emissions, enhance vitality effectivity, and strengthen vitality safety demonstrates how even small nations could make a significant affect on world sustainability efforts.
“Simple actions are important. Even small changes can help reduce environmental impacts, while awareness of the current state of energy and climate policy can have a significant effect on how we adapt and try to act accordingly to achieve these shared goals,” says Kaunas College of Know-how (KTU) junior researcher Alexandra Maria Alonso Soto.
Progress surpasses EU common
The Sustainable Growth Objectives intention to finish poverty, defend the planet and obtain peace and prosperity by 2030. KTU researchers determined to deal with three of those objectives and examine how local weather change mitigation insurance policies are being utilized within the vitality sector.
“Affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities and communities, as well as climate action, were our focus,” says KTU Ph.D. pupil Alonso Soto.
To attain these objectives, Lithuania has needed to handle important vitality transitions, such because the closure of the Ignalina nuclear energy plant in 2009, which led to a significant transformation of the Lithuanian vitality sector. “After the plant stopped its operation, the country became dependent on energy imports of both electricity and natural gas, mostly from Russia,” says KTU researcher.
In response, Lithuania prioritized strengthening the nation’s vitality safety and vitality independence. Investments in high-voltage grid interconnections with neighboring nations and a rising deal with renewable vitality sources like wind and solar energy have been central to this technique.
By investing in renewable vitality and decreasing dependency on imported fuels, Lithuania isn’t solely enhancing vitality safety but in addition advancing the worldwide objectives of fresh vitality and local weather motion.
Latest progress has been notable. Lithuania not solely reached the European Union’s (EU) 2020 renewable vitality goal of 20% by 2014, however in 2022, the share of renewable vitality in complete vitality consumption grew virtually to 30%, exceeding the EU common.
As for 2023, in keeping with the Lithuanian Ministry of Power, 70% of all electrical energy produced within the nation got here from renewable vitality sources, underlining the dedication to scale back import dependency.
As soon as consciousness is settled, actions will comply with
Regardless of the precise path, there are nonetheless many challenges that stop Lithuania from reaching its sustainable vitality objectives. KTU researcher Alonso Soto mentions some: dependence on biomass and fossil fuels, restricted diversification of vitality sources, inadequate coverage alignment and implementation, and social and financial obstacles.
“Lithuania has made a great progress in increasing its renewable energy share, but biomass is a big contributor to air pollution and carbon emissions. While other renewable energy sources such as wind power are being developed, it is still in early stages compared to biomass,” she says.
By way of coverage alignment, whereas Lithuania adopted bold targets underneath the Nationwide Power Independence Methods and the Nationwide Power and Local weather Plan, there are nonetheless gaps within the coordination and implementation in addition to an absence of monitoring and analysis of those insurance policies.
In keeping with Alonso Soto, social acceptance of vitality insurance policies resembling constructing inventory renovation will also be a barrier as a consequence of public reluctance or lack of finances to implement the measures.
“Many Lithuanians, especially the elderly, cannot afford to renovate their homes, and some others still do not understand the benefits that such an upgrade would bring in terms of money savings, not to mention environmental impact,” explains Alonso Soto, a Ph.D. pupil at KTU Institute of Environmental Engineering.
In her opinion, reinforcing academic campaigns is the motion the federal government might take to extend public engagement and consciousness: “Citizens need to get involved, understand the policies, be aware of the benefits these could bring to their lives. Once the knowledge and awareness are settled within the population’s mindsets, actions will follow.”
The article, “Exploring the Interplay Between Energy Policies and Sustainable Development Goals Within Lithuania’s Energy Sector: A Critical Review,” was revealed in Sustainability Journal.
Extra data:
Alexandra Alonso Soto et al, Exploring the Interaction Between Power Insurance policies and Sustainable Growth Objectives Inside Lithuania’s Power Sector: A Crucial Evaluation, Sustainability (2024). DOI: 10.3390/su162210018
Offered by
Kaunas College of Know-how
Quotation:
Lithuanian vitality revolution: Sustainability remains to be a piece in course of (2025, January 30)
retrieved 30 January 2025
from https://techxplore.com/information/2025-01-lithuanian-energy-revolution-sustainability.html
This doc is topic to copyright. Other than any honest dealing for the aim of personal research or analysis, no
half could also be reproduced with out the written permission. The content material is offered for data functions solely.
Author : tech365
Publish date : 2025-01-31 02:34:08
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.