Management Aspects of the “Green Economy” in the Production of Construction Materials in Latvia Within the Requirements of the European Union in the Context of Reducing CO2 Emissions

Abstract

Requirements of CO2 emission reduction of international institutions is becoming higher in a construction sector and Latvian and EU authorities are underlining the importance of use of “greener” building materials, for example to increase the use of wooden structures. Researchers in many developed EU and non-EU countries are paying a lot of attention to a low-carbon target in a construction sector, in Latvia at the moment this subject just starting to be widely discussed. The aim of the present paper is to discuss a topicality of the question on reduction CO2 emissions in construction material production in EU and non-EU countries, and an actuality of this question application in Latvia considering construction development tendencies. Research methods applied in research: scientific publication analysis on several aspects of CO2 emission reduction in different countries and analysis of statistical data on construction development tendencies in Latvia. Statistical data are indicating that construction in Republic of Latvia has stable tendency to keep approximately the same level since 2018 with significantly bigger share for non-residential buildings. In 2021 Q2 a “green” building material – wooden production sub-sector – occupies a significant part from total Latvian export - 19,8 %, and provisionally continues to grow. Considering such situation and perspectives, it is recommended to Latvian authorities to begin a development of the policies planning documents at government level, defining objectives, roadmaps, regulations, and other documents in order to achieve goals in signed memorandum (April 2021) between Latvian Ministry of Economics and diverse local actors..