Latvian National Development Plan 2007-2013

The Latvian National Development Plan is a national multi-sectoral plan of Latvia for the period 2007-2013. Its main objective is to facilitate a balanced and sustainable development of the country, as well as to ensure an increase in Latvia’s competitiveness.
The Plan aims to make agriculture, forestry and fisheries more productive and sustainable. To this end, it is planning to develop creation of higher added value, particularly in the forestry and agricultural sectors by efficient and sustainable use of available natural resources; to stimulate development of innovative types of business that do not require intensive use of natural and energy resources and to reduce pollution of the environment by promoting implementation of the best technical solutions and the latest technologies in manufacturing; to introduce eco-design principles in manufacturing and consumer education; to encourage recycling or repeated use of resources, as well as utilisation and recycling of waste products, including food-processing byproducts; to support implementation of environmental management systems and other voluntary and environment-protection tools in companies and institutions, as well as to continue integrating environmental aspects into sectoral policies; to develop a water management infrastructure in accordance with environmental requirements; to create a sustainable waste management system, including a supporting infrastructure for management of household waste, hazardous waste and radioactive waste on the national, regional and local level; to facilitate the preservation and reasonable use of biological diversity and protected areas; to encourage public participation in environmental protection and preservation by providing timely and true information to the population about environmental quality and natural resources; to facilitate the development of environmental education, as well as to foster education for sustainable development and to raise environmental awareness among the population; to support sustainable development of the natural environment for recreation purposes and to promote ecotourism; to raise public awareness about economical use of water and energy resources and sorting of household waste.
In order to increase the resilience of livelihoods to disasters, the Plan aims to facilitate evaluation, mitigation and monitoring of the risks to nature, including climate change and industrial risks.
In the field of energy, the Plan aims to promote use of renewable natural resources and alternative energy sources for heating and energy production, for example, by promoting the use of biomass in cogeneration; to maintain agricultural land for the production of agricultural products, as well as to increase the contribution of the agricultural sector in the production of the raw materials for heating fuel and transport fuel; to improve the quality of public utilities infrastructure by avoiding inefficient use of energy resources; and to develop a uniform support policy for increasing energy efficiency in systems of heating providers and to increase the efficiency of energy in buildings.
As to the field of mineral resources, the Plan seeks to ensure rational, environmentally friendly and sustainable use of deposits in the earth for developing the economy.
The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia is responsible for the implementation of the Plan, ensuring the conformity of the policy planning documents with the Plan, coordinating activities and appointing the responsible persons. The Ministry of Regional Development and Local Governments co-ordinates and monitors the implementation of the Plan, the development of the determined tasks and activities. On regular basis the Ministry informs the Cabinet of Ministers about the Plan’s implementation as well as ensures the wide involvement and awareness of the society in the process of its implementation.