zemeunvalsts.lv commentary
The more politicians use the word "green" in casual conversation, the less one wants to think that it refers to something truly "green"—let us say, a young pine stand—rather than regulations, restrictions, rules, funding, projects, reports, or percentages... If climate policy were not determined by politicians, behind whose true or false thoughts stand... whom? The landowner or the financier?
In this guide intended for entrepreneurs, the first quote (please see below) is striking, as it encapsulates everything that has been fed to the public in recent years because it sounds ostensibly appealing. Whether we will truly achieve "greenness" through a policy of "everything is bad" is likely not a question for Latvia's farmers and foresters. However, the fact that well-known companies can fall into the trap of obvious misinformation is surprising indeed.
“According to Latvia’s 2019 report to the European Commission on the conservation status of habitats and species of European interest, only 10% of habitats and 41% of species in Latvia that inhabit various ecosystems – forests, wetlands, waters – are in a favourable status. These data on the state of wildlife are certainly not considered satisfactory indicators. So far, the implementation of a circular economy has not been successful. For instance, in waste management, we are lagging behind the EU average. The myth – “Latvia is the greenest country in the world” – has hindered the development of environmental and climate issues. It is often used as an excuse or even greenwashing – we are green enough as it is! Consequently, when making decisions, one may turn a blind eye to the introduction of standards or new environmental regulations.”
“Through bank-financed projects, the influence of banks on the climate and environment is significantly greater than their individual performance. Therefore, we are expected to influence sustainable growth by financing economic activities that promote business transformation, while simultaneously refraining from providing funding for objectives that undermine climate policy.”
Alongside discussions on climate change, the concept of sustainability is widely used. Sustainable development, according to the UN definition, is explained as development that “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”