Have greenhouse gas emissions in Latvia decreased? Is the forest area in Latvia still growing? Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia has compiled five facts about the environment in Latvia, covering five United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs): clean water and sanitation; affordable and clean energy; climate action; life below water; and life on land.
The period from 18 September to 8 October marks European Sustainable Development Week 2026. This major initiative aims to promote international knowledge exchange and the sharing of good practices in sustainable development. The week has become a platform for Latvia and other European countries to showcase their efforts and achievements in advancing sustainability at both local and global levels.
Activities during the week are based on the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted in 2015. Its 17 SDGs set the main priorities for sustainable development worldwide (further information (in Latvian) on the goals in national context is available on the Cabinet of Ministers website). Five of these goals address environmental issues. The following five facts illustrate progress in Latvia towards each of them.
Fact 1: Latvia has the fourth highest share of renewable energy in the EU
Fact 2: Forest area continues to grow gradually
Fact 3: Water use higher than a year earlier
Fact 4: GHG emissions in Latvia show a substantial long-term decline
Fact 5: Algal blooms pose a major challenge for Baltic Sea countries
For more on the latest data on the five environment-related UN Sustainable Development Goals, visit the Official Statistics Portal.