At the Municipal Climate Conference, innovative tools for achieving climate and energy goals were discussed, along with support for municipalities
On October 22-23, 2024, the Municipal Climate Conference was held in Birštonas, organized by the LIFE IP EnerLIT project. The event brought together representatives from national ministries, municipalities, and regional development councils. During the conference, best practices for implementing green solutions in municipalities were shared, and various measures were presented to help municipalities achieve their climate goals.
One of the key highlights was the presentation of the updated National Energy and Climate Action Plan. This plan outlines specific measures for improving energy efficiency, expanding renewable energy, and mitigating climate change. It aims to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, increase energy efficiency, enhance energy security, and promote research, innovation, and competitiveness. "Municipalities are the implementers of this plan, as they have the opportunity to create local solutions that directly contribute to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Municipalities not only inform residents about where they can apply for state support for green solutions, but they also implement some measures themselves, while others are carried out by local businesses," emphasized Judita Liukaitytė-Kukienė, Senior Advisor of the Ministry of Environment's Climate Policy Group.
CO2 Calculator - An Innovative Tool for Municipalities
A key step for municipalities to understand their potential in mitigating climate change is to identify and assess the sources of GHG emissions and set targets to reduce them. During the conference, the CO2 calculator was introduced, which allows municipalities and cities to calculate GHG emissions across all sectors, such as energy, transport, industry, agriculture, waste management, land use, land-use change, and forestry. The calculator covers all major GHG types, including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). It uses mostly national emission factors, which are also used for preparing national GHG inventory reports for the European Commission and the United Nations. The calculator comes with a methodological guide and user manual, explaining the calculation methodology, necessary data sources, and other important information, such as criteria for climate-neutral municipalities, target indicators, and guidelines for tracking GHG changes.
Lazdijai District Municipality: A Model of Sustainable Mobility
The conference also focused on sharing successful practices for achieving climate goals. One of the notable examples was the initiative "Lazdijai veža" (Lazdijai Drives), implemented with the help of the LIFE Integrated Project "Energy Efficiency Improvement in Lithuania." This initiative demonstrated the benefits of sustainable mobility for the residents of Lazdijai District. With funding from the European Union LIFE program and the Lithuanian national budget, the project established essential electric mobility infrastructure, including two public 44 kW charging stations and three shared electric vehicles. A call center and a mobile app were also created to facilitate service requests. Representatives from Lazdijai municipality were pleased that, thanks to the project, residents can enjoy free electric transport, which has helped save money and make it easier to reach important destinations. Despite the service’s monthly costs of around 5,000 euros, Lazdijai plans to continue and expand the service by purchasing additional electric vehicles using their own funds.
The success of the project has inspired other municipalities in the Panevėžys region. The Rokiškis Municipality aims to become a leader in this initiative, planning to establish a call center and acquire four electric vehicles. The Pasvalys and Kupiškis municipalities are also planning to acquire three vehicles each, while the Biržai Municipality plans to start with two electric vehicles. Additionally, five municipalities plan to install charging stations and other necessary infrastructure for the project.
State Support for Municipalities
An important focus of the conference was the financial support available to municipalities. Some of the measures from the National Energy and Climate Action Plan have already been announced, including support from the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Environment for purchasing zero-emission vehicles, including electric and hydrogen-powered cars. The Environmental Project Management Agency (APVA) reminded municipalities that they can apply for funding to install electric vehicle charging stations and receive a 5,000 euro subsidy for acquiring new electric minibuses for free public transportation. Additionally, in December, APVA will invite municipalities to apply for 100% funding for the renovation of municipal buildings to at least a B energy efficiency class.
The conference highlighted the growing momentum for municipalities in Lithuania to implement green solutions and work toward achieving climate and energy goals, with the help of innovative tools and state support.