Lithuania commits to reduce the gap between urban and rural areas of drinking water and wastewater service coverage and quality. The commitment includes the development and renovation of drinking water supply and wastewater treatment infrastructure. Funding will be offered for: development of drinking water supply and wastewater collection infrastructure with a particular focus on areas with the population less than 2,000; renovation of networks, construction and renovation of drinking water improvement facilities; construction and renovation of wastewater treatment facilities; and sewage sludge processing. The commitment aims to increase accessibility of water supply services and wastewater treatment services to 90% of the population. It will also improve the status of the Baltic Sea and other surface waters by reducing point source pollution.
The commitment falls under focus area 2 of the Batumi Initiative to promote the internalisation of negative externalities and the sustainable use of natural capital.
Implementing partners include municipalities and water supply utilities.
The commitment is relevant to SDG target 6.4.
Lithuania commits to invest in its waste collection infrastructure in order to improve its National Waste Management System. This will lead to better development of municipal waste collection and treatment systems. The Lithuanian government also commits to provide financial incentives for scaling-up and modernizing local facilities that prepare waste for recycling, reuse and other recovery. In addition, Lithuania will ban food waste disposal to landfills and a establish a programme for the collection of food waste in residential areas and for catering services. The commitment aims to improve resource efficiency in waste management.
The commitment falls under focus areas 4 and 5 of the Batumi Intiative to shift consumer behaviours towards sustainable consumption patterns; develop clean physical capical for sustainable production patterns.
Implementning partners include municipalities.
The commitment is relevant to SDG targets 12.3 and 12.5.
Lithuania commits to increasing its forest coverage. The government has adopted The National forestry development programme for 2012-2020 (National Forest Programme). One of its objectives is to afforest poor and abandoned agricultural lands, as well as provide financial incentives for afforestation of private and state-owned lands. Current support for afforestation measures is provided from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 and the Lithuanian state budget. Lithuania commits to afforest 30,000 hectares, increasing forest coverage up to 34.2% of the country.
The commitment falls under focus area 2 of the Batumi Initiative to enhance ecosystems and ecosystem services as part of ecological infrastructure.
Implementing partner includes Ministry of Agriculture.
The commitment is relevant to SDG target 15.2.
Lithuania commits to further support energy efficiency in its housing sector. In 2013, Lithuania revamped its programme of renovation for multi-apartment buildings. The overall aim of the commitment is to increase the energy efficiency in the housing sector by providing long-term loan financing. Eligible expenditures cover the enhancement of the energy performance of buildings, including replacement or installation of the heating and hot water and ventilation and recuperation systems; thermal insulation of façade walls, glazing of balconies and loggias; replacement of doors and windows in all apartments’ insulation of basements; renovation of lifts and other engineering systems of common use. As a result of renovations, the building must reach at least Energy Efficiency Class “C”. The renovation of multi-apartment buildings stimulates the creation of new jobs, contributes to the reduction of CO2 emissions, improves the living standards of apartment owners and reduces energy bills. The commitment aims to improve living conditions, increase energy efficiency, and reduce fossil fuel and CO2 emissions.
Lithuania commits to enhance its protected areas by supporting the maintenance of protected areas, cultural and natural heritage sites. The commitment also includes the installation of outdoor information systems and modernization of visitor and nature education centres. It aims to improve the provisioning of information on environmental issues to the public and the infrastructure in environmental-recreational sites. Lithuania also commits to increase the attractiveness and economic viability of cultural heritages sites. These measures will result in higher environmental awareness, efficient protection and well-balanced use of natural and recreational resources, as well as improved access by the public into protected areas. In addition, the commitment will improve the image of Lithuania as an attractive tourist destination. It will increase public awareness of Lithuania’s environment, cultural and natural heritage resources, turning environmental-recreational sites into centres of social, educational and economic activities.
The commitment falls under focus areas 9 of the Batumi Initiative to promote public participation and education for sustainable development.