Programme agreement signed for Lithuania Environment

The programme agreement for the Lithuania Environment programme was signed on 11 February 2020.

Key information about the programme

  1. The programme is operated by: The Central Project Management Agency (CPMA LT).
  2. There is no Donor Programme Partner in this programme.
  3. The programme’s objective is: Improved environmental status in ecosystems and reduced adverse effects of pollution and other human activities.
  4. The programme funding amounts to €12 million (excluding co-financing) and is funded entirely by the Norway Grants.

Why is the programme needed?

The Programme “Environment, Energy, Climate Change” addresses relevant environmental, energy and climate change issues facing the Republic of Lithuania. The Programme objective is “Improved environmental status in ecosystems and reduced adverse effects of pollution and other human activities”. In this regard, the Programme seeks to improve areas of environment and ecosystems; renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy security; climate change mitigation and adaptation together with disaster prevention and preparedness. The Programme will encourage and support bilateral cooperation with donor project partners. In this manner, it will contribute to the overall objectives of the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism – to improve environmental status in ecosystems and reduce adverse effects of pollution and other human activities and to strengthen bilateral relations between the Donor and Beneficiary States.

What will the programme achieve and who are the beneficiaries?

The programme objective will be attained through the following five outcomes:

  • Enhanced capacity to assess, monitor and manage environmental status in ecosystem
  • Nuclear energy decommissioning system strengthened
  • Improved Energy Efficiency
  • Local authorities’ planning for adaptation to climate change supported
  • Early warning nuclear emergency system strengthened
Monitoring of marine litter:

One of the goals of the Programme for the Development of the Water Area 2017-2023 is to achieve compliance with 6 out of 11 qualitative “descriptors” defining good environmental status of the Baltic Sea, including the one which calls for “properties and quantities of marine litter not to cause harm to the coastal and marine environment. In order for Lithuania to establish policies for reducing the effects, more information is required, including improved capacities.

Monitoring and mapping of the ecological status of marine and inland waters:

To provide the environmental enforcement and compliance institutions with low-cost real-time data on status of marine and surface water bodies as well as the land use changes which inter alia would allow for quick response in cases of industrial accidents, the low probability flood events and other emergencies.

Management, re-use, recycling of hazardous waste:

The Programme provides an important opportunity to improve the identification and classification of hazardous materials and hazardous waste at industry level in Lithuania.

Climate change mitigation and adaptation are cross-cutting issues which can be addressed only if they were properly understood. Climate change in Lithuania manifests itself through ever increasing average temperatures, especially in winter months, and growing numbers of severe weather occurrences. The average air temperature in Lithuania in the period of 1991-2010 has risen by 0.7°C, as compared to the period of 1961-1990.

  • Climate change scenarios, effects, vulnerability and risk assessments, outlining the most vulnerable sectors and social groups for each municipality;
  • Prepared local adaptation plans of the most vulnerable municipalities;
  • To raise public awareness about importance of climate change adaptation measures.

The efficient use of energy resources and energy is one of Lithuania’s key long-term strategic objectives in the energy sector.

How will the programme strengthen bilateral relations?

The Donor and beneficiary countries share similar challenges in the environment, energy and climate change sectors, therefore strengthening bilateral relations between Lithuania and the Donor States is a very important objective of the Programme, which will be achieved through cooperation at a strategic level as well as through partnership projects.