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Environmental information systems
The Lithuania country profile provides a concise overview of key trends across three dimensions: environment and climate; socio-economic change; and system change (energy, mobility and food) in the country. It highlights the main developments and challenges in these areas, including measures to support progress towards sustainability in Lithuania. An assessment for each of the three dimensions was prepared by national experts from the European Environment Information and Observation Network (Eionet) in Lithuania, based on 20 established indicators from the EEA or Eurostat.
Despite the challenges, Lithuania is stepping up as a solid participant in the green transformation process, demonstrating progress in the areas of climate, energy, biodiversity and sustainability. Since 1990, the country’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have dropped by more than 62%, and its emissions per capita have been well below the EU average. While sectors like transport and agriculture remain key emitters, Lithuania is actively shifting to renewables, aiming for 100% green electricity by 2030. The share of renewables in gross electricity consumption jumped from 26.5% in 2022 to 36.2% in 2023, with offshore wind energy set to play a major role by 2030.
Forests cover nearly a third of the national territory, and protected areas now span 18.5% of it, with new Natura 2000 areas added recently. Still, biodiversity is under pressure from land use changes and invasive species, prompting initiatives like wetland restoration, nature-based forestry and biodiversity-friendly farming. The land under organic farming reached over 250 000 ha in 2024, with plans to expand organic farmland to comprise 16% of total farmland by 2030.
Lithuania is also modernising its waste and circular economy systems. Municipal waste generation has decreased since 2021, and waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) collection nearly doubled between 2018 and 2021. The country is investing in recycling, phasing out harmful subsidies and ramping up eco-taxes and green finance. Citizens are also on board: over two thirds of urban dwellers are ready to shift towards sustainable consumption. Green initiatives and joint efforts can shorten Lithuania’s path to a clean, inclusive and self-sufficient future.
Key trends and assessments
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Summary assessment
Lithuania has made major progress in reducing GHG emissions, outpacing the EU average, and is transitioning towards renewable energy targets. However, challenges still lie in sectors outside the emissions trading system, namely transport, agriculture and construction (specifically with regard to ageing building stock). In the past decade, forest area has grown and the average age of stands has risen. The extent of protected areas has reached almost 18% of the national territory; however, the conservation status of natural habitats and endangered species has seen minimal improvement, primarily due to agricultural and other pollution, land use change, intensive forestry, the effects of outdated drainage systems, climate change and invasive alien species. To address this, efforts are intensifying to, for instance, transition forestry to closer-to-nature practices, restore wetland, support biodiversity-friendly farming and combat invasive species, while at the same time seeking the involvement and support of civil society for nature conservation. Despite 25 years of major investments in urban wastewater infrastructure, which has reduced the amount of pollutants discharged into surface waterbodies up to threefold, diffuse pollution has been identified as a long-term issue. Although Lithuania has not yet fully met reduction targets for particular air pollutants, air quality remains generally good and continues to show a tendency to improve; moreover, a broad set of financial and regulatory measures are being implemented and adopted to support emission reductions across key sectors. Despite challenges, Lithuania is progressing in waste management, achieving a decrease in municipal waste generation since 2021 and an increase in WEEE collection since 2010. These positive trends, along with planned investments in recycling infrastructure and circular economy monitoring, will contribute to achieving resource efficiency targets and aligning closely with EU sustainability goals.
The eco-industry is expected to employ a significant portion of the workforce as Lithuania continues to implement green policies and investments. For example, the number of employees in water supply, sewage, waste management and remediation activities increased by 4.4% in 2023 .
Lithuania has made significant progress in integrating environmental taxes into its fiscal policy and enhancing environmental protection expenditure. Carbon taxes and taxes on landfills have been successfully implemented, promoting recycling. An eco-tax on plastic packaging and single-use plastic has contributed to reducing plastic waste and fostering circularity; taxation policies also promote sustainable land use and forestry practices. Looking ahead, Lithuania plans to expand eco-taxes to the transport and agriculture sectors. While the national energy and climate plan estimates a need for EUR 14 billion in green investments, the green finance action plan for 2023–2026 will play a key role in structuring financial mechanisms and leveraging public and private funds to support this transition. The Green Finance Institute was established to foster the development of sustainable financial instruments.
As of 2022, Lithuania had abolished 6 out of 15 prioritised environmentally harmful subsidies. Challenges persist in balancing the phase-out of these subsidies with mitigating impacts on businesses and citizens. However, Lithuania plans to eliminate all fossil fuel tax reliefs and produce 100% of its energy from clean sources by 2050, in the process investing approximately EUR 25 billion in green initiatives by 2030.
Over the past decade, Lithuania has made significant strides in reducing its consumption footprint. Solar and wind power generation surged by 70% in the first half of 2024 alone. A 2021 survey revealed that 71% of urban Lithuanians were willing to change their consumption habits for the sake of sustainability. The national energy independence strategy sets a target of 100% renewable energy in electricity consumption by 2030. The main challenges include securing funding and building new energy infrastructure.
Between 2014 and 2022, Lithuania’s Eco-Innovation Index score experienced a significant rise from 66.24 to 103.75. This progress is underscored by Lithuania achieving the highest growth rate on the European innovation scoreboard between 2023 and 2024, with an increase of 3.7 percentage points. To further bolster eco-innovation, EUR 10 million in EU investment funds were allocated to support industrial small and medium-sized enterprises.
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The food system
From 1990 to 2022, Lithuania’s GHG emissions decreased by about 71%. The agricultural sector is the second largest contributor of GHG emissions, accounting for 22% of the total in 2022.
The area of agricultural land certified for organic production in 2024 was 250 626 ha. In its national strategic documents, Lithuania has committed to doubling the area of organic farms by 2030 so that the area amounts to 16% of the total agricultural land. In addition to the EU organic logo, products from Lithuanian organic farms also receive the ‘organic agriculture’ label, which is used for all certified organic products that are packaged or pre-packaged in compliance with organic production requirements and supplied to the Lithuanian market.
The Lithuanian strategic plan for agricultural and rural development for 2023–2027 promotes the development of organic farming, supporting farms to transition to organic practices through eco-schemes and supporting existing organic farms through both eco-schemes (e.g. for the horticulture, berry-growing, herbs and spices) and the rural development intervention (e.g. for cereals and perennial grasses).
An additional eco-scheme aims to ensure higher standards of animal welfare. Support is granted for livestock units conditional on improved welfare standards and/or health promotion measures, such as allowing cattle to benefit from open grazing. An eco-scheme dedicated to sustainable fruit and vegetable cultivation under the national food quality scheme promotes the usage of environmentally friendly practices. Fruits and vegetables cultivated in line with the scheme receive a Kokybė (quality) label; it enables consumers to make choices based on a product’s quality and impact on the environment. The national food quality scheme also includes requirements for higher animal welfare standards and sustainable animal husbandry. Lithuania has developed a programme to provide high-quality food products to preschool and school institutions. The number of institutions taking part in this programme increased from 7 in 2019 to 70 in 2024, and the number of children receiving organic and quality-labelled food products increased from 997 to 12 109 in the same period. In 2023, preschool institutions purchased about 448 t of organic products and 160 t of quality-labelled products, meaning that sustainable and high-quality food products are being strongly prioritised.
The strategic plan focuses on the promotion of short food supply chains in order to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. EU funding is open to farmers, manufacturers, cooperatives and other short-chain stakeholders seeking to set up shops and mobile sales outlets, develop marketing and, most importantly, sell the agricultural and food products they have grown or produced and processed on the local market. This funding contributes to the development of short food supply chains by supporting events where consumers can meet farmers and see the quality of the food. These changes not only make it possible to enjoy fresher and better-quality food, but also strengthen the country’s economy and reduce environmental pollution.
The energy system
Lithuania is undergoing a major energy transformation, driven by EU climate goals, national policies and a rising awareness of sustainability. Decades of consistent energy policy have enabled Lithuania to eliminate its dependency on Russia for energy. After the onset of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, Lithuania became the first EU Member State to cease importing electricity, gas and oil from Russia without supply disruptions. Key efforts in this regard include an oil terminal and refinery, a liquefied natural gas terminal, the Gas Interconnection Poland–Lithuania linking northern gas markets to the EU and electricity interconnectors with neighbouring countries. In February 2025, the Baltic states disconnected from the post-Soviet power supply system, synchronising with continental European networks.
Since the closure of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, Lithuania has been importing about two thirds of its electricity. The national goal is to achieve electricity self-sufficiency by 2030 and transition to 100% renewable electricity, up from 20% in 2020. This will support the decarbonisation of sectors like industry and transport. In housing, heat pumps are becoming the primary heating source for new buildings, often paired with rooftop solar panels. Prosumers now add 10–15 MW of solar capacity weekly, and households invest in EVs to utilise excess solar power.
The rollout of smart meters is raising energy consumption awareness, enabling demand-side management and supporting dynamic electricity pricing. Over 50% of energy meters in Lithuania were smart meters by 2024, with 100% expected by the end of 2025. Legal updates have also empowered local energy cooperatives to produce, consume and trade renewable energy, fostering decentralisation.
Lithuania’s renewable energy capacity reached 3.5 GW in 2024, primarily driven by wind and solar photovoltaic power, with plans for 1.4 GW of offshore wind power to be generated in the Baltic Sea by 2030. Lithuania is pioneering power-to-X technologies, including renewable hydrogen production for industrial and transport decarbonisation. Projects like the Nordic–Baltic Hydrogen Corridor are essential for integrating hydrogen into the energy system.
Economic incentives are driving the transition, with EU and national subsidies supporting renewable energy, energy storage and heat pumps. The prosumer scheme, boosted by the 2022 energy price surge, has led to 130 000 households becoming electricity producers, with this number projected to reach 300 000 by 2030. Heat pump installations currently average 25 000 annually and are set to dominate heating and cooling in homes and services.
The extension of the emissions trading system to buildings and transport further incentivises energy efficiency. Political measures prioritise large renewable projects like offshore wind and decentralised energy solutions. Biofuel use in district heating contributes to decarbonisation efforts.
Lithuania’s energy transformation is marked by societal engagement, innovation, economic incentives and ambitious policies. Ensuring public acceptance and energy affordability will be critical for sustainable and inclusive development.
The mobility system
Lithuania is starting its transformation of the transport sector. The key objectives of the national energy and climate plan for 2021–2030 for this sector are reducing GHG emissions by 14% compared with 2005, increasing the share of RESs to 15%, having at least 20% of the transport fleet be clean EVs, powering all public transport with alternative fuels and electrifying 40% of the railway lines.
The transport sector is undergoing an unprecedented green transformation supported by a record level of EU funds (over EUR 600 million), allocated for promoting the acquisition of passenger cars and heavy-duty and public vehicles powered by alternative fuels, the development of charging/filling infrastructure for alternative fuels and the construction of bicycle paths.
According to November 2024 data, approximately 28 000 light-duty EVs were registered in total that year, six times more than in 2020. Measures like subsidies for purchasing battery EVs, permission to use bus lanes, parking and low-emission zone exemptions, registration/road tax exemptions and value added tax deductions not only contribute to the rapid growth of EVs but also change citizens’ driving behaviours and habits. The number of public EV charging points has increased sixfold compared with 2020 and reached 1 800 in 2024. The target set in the Law on Alternative Fuels is to reach 60 000 charging points (at least 6 000 of them public) by 2030.
To meet key objectives for public road transport, for example ensuring the greater use of alternative fuels by 2029 (up from their 13% share in 2023) and increasing the use of public road transport by at least 20% by 2030, various measures have been implemented. These include providing financial incentives for the purchase of zero-emission buses and the creation of the necessary charging/refuelling infrastructure; promoting the production/retrofitting of public road transport; and implementing sustainable urban mobility plans, including the coordination of timetables for passenger trains and public road transport and the coordination of EV sharing and bicycle rental.
The electrification of the Vilnius–Klaipėda railway line is under way; completion will see the share of electrified railway tracks reach 35%. With the completion of the electrified Rail Baltica railway line by 2030, this share will rise to 40%. In addition, 15 new electric / battery electric trains will start operating in 2026–2027.
Due to the modernisation of the Nemunas River in 2023, 200 km is now suitable for passenger and cargo ships, connecting the Port of Klaipėda with the central part of the country by inland waterway transport.
Major development of the onshore power supply infrastructure for ships at berth in roll-on /roll-off passenger terminals (2026) and container and cruise terminals (2028) is planned, enabling the reduction of GHG emissions by up to 33%. By 2026, new electric and hydrogen-powered waste collection vessels will operate at the Port of Klaipėda, eliminating approximately 171.6 t CO2 annually. Two hybrid pilot boats will replace diesel-powered models by 2026, reducing fuel consumption by 30%. Lithuania plans to replace 11 vehicles with electric, hybrid and hydrogen models by 2028. The production and supply of green hydrogen at the Port of Klaipėda will begin in 2026, including a public hydrogen refuelling station, a hydrogen bunkering station for ships and storage tanks.
In 2024, the long-term strategy for the development of bicycle transport was approved. Over the past five years, 450 km of infrastructure for bicycle traffic has been built, enabling changes in consumer behaviour in favour of climate-friendly transport.
In 2023, guidance on the designation of low-emission zones was prepared, identifying 13 cities that must ensure a transition to clean vehicle fleets for low-emission zones. Kaunas was the first municipality to designate a low-emission zone, in four more cities such zones came into effect from January 1, 2025, in others - by the end of 2025.
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