Climate change mitigation - Drivers and pressures (Lithuania)

Lithuania’s growing economy and energy demand are contributing to a gradual increase in GHG emissions. Between 2001 and 2007, these emissions grew by 22 %. In 2007, GHG emissions amounted to 25.5 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (CO₂ eq.), 6 million tonnes of which were CO₂ eq. in the European Union Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) and 19.5 million tonnes were CO₂ eq. in the non-EU ETS. As indicated by GHG inventory data under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in 2007 GHG emissions in Lithuania were down 53 % on the 1990 level. Yet during this period, GDP increased by 101 % at 2001 prices.

Between 1990 and 2000, a decline in industrial production in Lithuania led to a significant decrease in fuel consumption and, as a result, a reduction in GHG emissions (by 60% during 1990–1999). An assessment of agricultural GHG has indicated that only direct soil GHG emissions increased between 2006 and 2007 (+5 %). The remaining GHG emissions from agricultural processes decreased after the introduction of improved manure handling systems. In 2008, total Kyoto greenhouse gas emissions (tonnes of CO₂ eq. per capita) were 7.26, which was a reduction of almost 55 % compared to the base year (Fig. 1).

From 2005 onwards there was insignificant growth in total emissions. Changes in emissions varied, depending on the economic sector. For example, emissions in the industrial sector decreased compared to 2005, while they increased in the transport sector. In 2007, GDP grew by 19 % and emissions went up by 2 % compared with 2006 (Fig. 2).