Vilnius and Athens are among the most motorized cities in the world. Infrastructure and consumer spending are the main causes of such high private cars’ affluence. Conversely, metropolitan areas such as London, New York or Tokyo have motorization rates lower than the average in the country; excellent infrastructure and pro-public transport policies impose themselves despite […]
EU Forest Strategy Beefing Up

EU Forest Directors urged European Commission to release a Communication on New Forest Strategy without further delay. Lithuanian Presidency expressed its willingness to start discussions on this document as Working Party on Forestry immediately after its publication. Negotiations on a Legally Binding Agreement on Forests in Europe (LBA) Lithuanian Presidency made a presentation on the […]
Single European Sky might cut some emissions

The SES initiative (Single European Sky) main environmental trait is to abolish unnecessary extensions to the length of flights through the defragmentation of European airspace and the implementation of functional airspace blocks. Optimizing air traffic management will lead to lower emissions (estimated at a 10% decrease in CO2 emissions) and reduced fuel consumption in European […]
Climate Action. Public Debates Start Over in Eastern Europe

European Commissioner for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard is launching a series of public events to engage European citizens in the climate change debate and to encourage individual action to combat it. Over the next two months, Commissioner Hedegaard will hold a series of dialogues with citizens, companies and authorities in five countries in eastern and […]
Lithuanians Oppose Nuclear Plant Construction

Lithuanians oppose construction of a new nuclear plant, as results of the first ever referendum of the kind in Eastern Europe. 62.7 percent voted “No”, while 33.96 percent were in favor of the construction. The turnout was just over 51 percent, thus validating a referendum that requires a quorum of 50 percent. The […]
Vilnius, or Why Urban Civilisation Hides in the Forest

Vilnius is a blessing for your lungs. While I was researching for a short climate change-related article it bounced as a surprise that the Lithuanian capital enjoys the cleanest air among urban agglomerations in Europe. At the time I thought that the answer to such low levels of CO2, CO, NOx or heavy metals in […]