May 28-29, 2019 - Varese, Italy - LIFE REstore elaborated national GHG emission factors for managed peatlands in Latvia have been presented at European Commission Joint Research Centre's LULUCF Workshop 2019.

Latvian State Forest Institute SILAVA, LIFE REstore partner, scientist Aldis Butlers introduced LIFE REstore elaborated national GHG emission factors for managed peatlands tointernational experts of Joint Research Centre's Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry sector (LULUCF) workshop - see the presentation "Elaboration of country specific emission factors for organic soils in Latvia according to LIFE REstore project results".

The workshop addressed technical issues related to the reporting of GHG emissions and removals from the LULUCF sector in the context of submissions under the UNFCCC (Convention and Kyoto Protocol) and under EU legislation (Decision 529/2013/EU). The participants of the workshop included two national experts and/or scientists directly involved in the LULUCF sector within the National GHG Inventories from each country. Agenda of the workshop - HERE.

International climate change policy and the accounting of GHG emissions

The international climate change policy is based on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (the UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol to the Convention which is operating until 2020, and the Paris Agreement operating after 2020. In order to achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement the European Union has adopted the Regulation on the inclusion of greenhouse gas emissions and removals from land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) in the 2030 climate and energy framework in 2018*. According to the LULUCF Regulation GHG emissions from forest, cropland and grassland management must be accounted and included in the national GHG inventory from 2021, and the GHG emissions from managed wetlands – from 2026. That means the changes of GHG emissions from managed wetlands against the reference period (2005-2009) defined by the Regulation will affect Latvia’s fulfilment of emission reduction targets and might have financial consequences. In the case of Latvia the GHG emissions from managed wetlands, especially in conjunction with the peat extraction, will have an important role in fulfilling the commitments regarding total GHG emissions in LULUCF sector and the total amount of Latvia’s GHG emissions in 2030.

Today activities in management of wetlands are not included in climate change mitigation targets but from 2026 certain reference levels will be applied for managed wetlands. Countries not having elaborated national GHG emission factors apply internationally defined emission factors, which are set by the IPCC. The default IPCC emission factors are based on research done mostly in France and Germany where both climate and industrial pollution level differsfrom Latvia therefore the GHG emissions from managed organic soils in Latvia are overestimated significantly. The national GHG emission factors elaborated in LIFE REstore will contribute to a more precise estimation of GHG emissions and will allow to objectively evaluate the effectiveness of the climate change mitigation targeted actions.

*Regulation (EU) 2018/841 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on the inclusion of greenhouse gas emissions and removals from land use, land use change and forestry in the 2030 climate and energy framework, and amending Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 and Decision No 529/2013/EU.

Joint Research Centre of the European Commission

The Joint Research Centre (JRC) is the Commission's science and knowledge service. The JRC employs scentists to carry out research in order to provide independent scientific advice and support to European Union policy. Additional information:HERE.

Activities are implemented within the European Union LIFE program Climate Action sub-program Climate Change Mitigation priority area project “Sustainable and responsible management and re-use of degraded peatlands in Latvia” (LIFE REstore, LIFE14 CCM/LV/001103). The implementation of the project is coordinated by the Nature Conservation Agency of Latvia in cooperation with the Latvian State Forest Research Institute ‘’Silava’’, the Latvian Peat Association and the association ‘’Baltic Coasts’’. More information: restore.daba.gov.lv

For more information please contact Ms. Anda Zālmane, Nature Conservation Agency of Latvia, LIFE REstore public relations specialist,anda.zalmane@daba.gov.lv