In agriculture, it is becoming increasingly important not only what a farm does, but also how precisely it is able to use the resources available to it. Soil, water, fertilisers, fuel, plant protection products, machinery and labour are all resources whose efficiency of use directly affects both farm costs and its long-term sustainability. Today, farmers have access to an increasingly broad range of data and technologies – GPS systems, soil analyses, satellite imagery, sensor

From Climate Policy to a New Opportunity for Farmers Reducing carbon emissions and increasing carbon sequestration are increasingly becoming practical issues for business and agriculture. The European Union is developing a common approach to certifying carbon removals, companies are facing a growing need to understand their climate impact, while farmers and forest owners are increasingly being offered opportunities to create not only environmental but also economic value thro

In recent years, energy prices have become one of the most important factors affecting the competitiveness of agricultural holdings. Grain drying, milk cooling, ventilation systems, lighting, storage and other production processes require significant amounts of energy, meaning that fluctuations in electricity or fuel prices have a direct impact on production costs. Therefore, the issue of renewable energy in agriculture is no longer merely a matter of environmental policy. It

The European Union has set a target to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. To reach these goals, climate and energy policy are increasingly being linked to investments, infrastructure development, energy efficiency, and sustainable economic growth. In the EU's 2021–2027 programming period, climate, energy efficiency, and sustainable development have been assigned a significant role, whi

Europe's electric vehicle market continues to grow at a rapid pace, but alongside record-breaking sales comes a new challenge: what should be done with batteries that have reached the end of their service life? Experts warn that Europe will soon need to process more than one million end-of-life EV batteries while ensuring the availability of critical raw materials for the next generation of energy storage systems. Europe’s EV Boom Creates New Challenges In recent years, elect

The European Union is preparing for the next phase of emissions trading for buildings and road transport. At the same time, it is establishing one of the largest social policy instruments to support the achievement of its climate objectives. How does Latvia fit into this picture, and what do the plans of its neighbouring countries reveal? From 2028, the European Union will launch ETS2, the new emissions trading system for buildings and road transport. Its objective is to redu

Following the successful completion of the Riga and Zemgale regional semi-finals, we are continuing the competition across the remaining regions of Latvia. We are grateful for the great response during the first stage of the project and would like to remind everyone that participants from Kurzeme, Latgale, and Vidzeme who have already registered for the competition will automatically continue their participation — no new application is required. Please send the link to your p

With great joy and pride, we have successfully concluded the first #MansZemesPulss youth competition regional semi-finals in Riga and Zemgale, bringing together active, creative, and motivated young people from various schools. During the events, participants not only presented their ideas on sustainability and climate-related topics but also took part in creative activities while preparing for the competition final. Working in teams, young people developed new video concepts

The European Union is a global leader in climate policy. However, its ambitious emissions reduction targets also create significant challenges for industrial competitiveness. As carbon prices continue to rise across Europe, companies are facing increasing compliance costs, while many competitors in other regions of the world continue to operate under far less stringent carbon pricing regimes. This creates a risk that production, investment, and jobs may move outside the Europ

Through our collaboration with companies in Latvia's agricultural sector, we see that interest in carbon credits and the opportunities offered by carbon farming is steadily growing. Although many industry representatives are already familiar with the topic, questions remain about how the carbon credit system works, how carbon sequestration is measured and accounted for, and whether it can become a source of additional income for farms in the future. The European Commission ha

Armands Gūtmanis, CEO and founder of Amber Advisory Latvia Heated debates over whether European businesses and society can meet the emissions reduction targets already adopted are taking place not only in Latvia, but across the European Union. Unlike many other policy issues, the divide in this case does not run solely between groups of member states. It also cuts across industrial sectors and even between companies operating within the same industry. Some businesses have alr

Agriculture is one of the most important sectors of Latvia's economy, with its competitiveness directly influenced by resource prices, access to export markets, and international geopolitical developments. Grain farming represents a significant share of Latvia's agricultural production, and each year Latvian grain producers compete with farmers from other EU Member States in the European single market while also facing the effects of global supply chain disruptions and fluctu

Europe is currently experiencing a race to expand its electricity storage capacity, with battery technologies emerging as the key weapon in this challenge. As solar and wind energy generation continues to grow rapidly, it is becoming increasingly clear that without powerful energy storage systems, the green transition will simply not be able to deliver a stable and reliable electricity supply. From our collaboration with businesses, we see that companies in Latvia are increas

The #MansZemesPulss Zemgale Regional Semi-Finalists Have Been Announced! We are excited to announce the young people whose creative and inspiring videos have earned them a place in the #MansZemesPulss Zemgale Regional Semi-Final! 👏✨ The Kurzeme, Vidzeme, and Latgale regional semi-finalists will be announced. 📍 Zemgale Regional Semi-Final: 🗓 29 May🕒 3:00 PM (arrival from 2:30 PM)📍 Jelgava City Library, 26 Akadēmijas Street, Jelgava The following participants have advanced

The #MansZemesPulss Riga Regional Semi-Finalists Have Been Announced! We are excited to announce the young people whose creative and inspiring videos have earned them a place in the #MansZemesPulss Riga Regional Semi-Final! 📍 Riga Regional Semi-Final: 🗓 14 May🕒 3:00 PM (arrival from 2:30 PM)📍 Riga State Technical School, 1C Krišjāņa Valdemāra Street 🎬 The following participants have advanced to the semi-final: eleonorajur - Vai tu kādreiz esi aizdomājies, ka varbūt tavi

The sharp rise in fossil fuel prices in Germany and elsewhere around the world, triggered by the war with Iran, has significantly increased the cost advantage of electric vehicles over cars with internal combustion engines. According to data from the price comparison platform Verivox, in March 2026 charging a mid-range or premium electric vehicle at home was considerably cheaper—around two-thirds less expensive than refuelling a petrol car and more than half the cost of opera

Last week, on 2 April, we hosted the think tank discussion "Charging and Refuelling Infrastructure – How Can We Overcome the Barriers?", where we focused on the development of public and private charging infrastructure and the challenges facing its expansion. "The war in Iran serves as another reminder that the goal of energy independence remains the right one—perhaps even more so than ever before," emphasized Armands Gūtmanis, Head of the Sustainability Cluster, following th

Nationwide Video Competition for Young People Aged 14–20 – and we're looking for YOU! If you care about nature, sustainability, and the future, or you're passionate about creating videos, this is your opportunity to show that a green lifestyle can be stylish, creative, and inspiring! Competition Rules: Participate if you are between 14 and 20 years old and live anywhere in Latvia. Create a 1–2 minute video showcasing your environmentally friendly habits – recycle waste, save

During the implementation of the project, we have established strategic partnerships with new communication and support organizations to strengthen the project's visibility, raise public awareness, and ensure the sustainable delivery of project activities. Building partnerships is an essential part of the project's communication and implementation strategy, enabling us to reach target audiences more effectively and broaden the project's overall impact. As part of this phase,

In cooperation with the Latvian Farmers' Parliament (LOSP), we have launched the project "Informing Latvian Agricultural Professionals and Developing Guidelines for Achieving Sustainability Goals in Agriculture." The project is being implemented under the Environmental Protection and Climate Programme (EKII) open call for proposals, "Promoting Public Awareness of the Importance and Opportunities of Climate Neutrality and Climate Resilience." It will be carried out across all