How has sustainability changed in Vilnius over the last 10 years?
In the last 10 years, Vilnius and its surroundings have been growing rapidly – both in terms of population and territorial development. Despite this, greenhouse gas emissions have decreased slightly. The city is undergoing various changes to move towards a more sustainable life. Many changes are taking place in the field of transport: renewal of public transport, installation of A-lanes, a network of main bicycle paths connecting the main urbanized areas has actually been created over the course of a decade. Changes are taking place in other areas as well: there is a focus on preserving existing greenery and extremely abundant planting of new ones – thousands of trees and bushes every year, house renovations are accelerating, changes in the heating industry. Our efforts have also been noticed on a European scale – we received the title of European Green Capital, we are among the participants of the mission of a hundred EU cities striving for climate neutrality. We are currently combining all initiatives and moving towards a more systematic approach to sustainability, reducing our impact on the environment, and better adapting to the challenges of climate change.
When and in which areas did the biggest breakthrough take place over a longer period of time – since independence?
rather, a big change has taken place in the field of transport – we have better quality public transport than ever before, European cycle paths. Heat management and waste sorting have also changed. But the biggest change has been in our minds – in our awareness of what is temporary and turns against us. I am talking about decisions that have dire consequences in the long term: pollution, loss of biodiversity, depletion of natural resources, climate change and the social aspects that are closely related to it. Our approach to sustainability, environmental protection, climate change and the need to adapt to climate change, social aspects as well as governance has changed. Although there is still a lot of work here.
Last year we saw a huge boom in solar power plants, what are the people of Vilnius most interested in this year?
smart people from Vilnius are interested in different things. However, we feel an increasing interest in changes in the city, a need for more inclusion and discussion – and we are trying to respond better to this. This growing awareness is encouraging. For example, surveys show that climate change and sustainability are more and more important for Vilnius residents, and there is indeed a growing awareness that the climate is changing and that it is necessary to contribute to it ourselves.
Changes were implemented in the Vilnius central heating system, what were the results?
Changes have really happened: from 2020 Vilnius heat networks is implementing a new long-term company strategy focused on the transition to clean and efficient energy, and by 2030 are committed to phasing out fossil fuels and increasing the share of renewable energy resources (RES) in heat production. Innovations are being introduced in heat production, for example, last September the construction of the most powerful absorption heat pump in the Baltic States, with a capacity of almost 9 MW, was started. The principle of its operation is based on the potential of waste heat – in the biofuel power plant, during the production of heat, smoke is removed through the chimney, which still contains additional heat that can heat the heating water, which is the heat for several ten apartment buildings.
Also, the record reconstruction of heat supply networks in the history of the company started this April. More than 8 km of pipelines are planned to be renovated during the summer. Reconstructions are necessary to maintain smooth heat supply and increase efficiency.
What actions are being taken to make Vilnius climate neutral?
Several important plans are currently being prepared: the climate agreement under the EU Cities Mission to achieve climate neutrality, the Green City Action Plan and the Climate Change Adaptation Plan. All of them are complexly important for the city to achieve climate neutrality. They will assess how and by what means the goals of climate neutrality will be achieved. However, there are two main areas that generate the most greenhouse gases – the transport and energy sectors, which together account for over 90 percent. city emissions. Therefore, the aim is to direct the measures here – to make the transport network more efficient and to reduce emissions in the energy sector.
Some of the measures are already being implemented, for example, a record renewal of public transport is expected, further work on improving the movement of pedestrians and cyclists, and the expansion of the network of charging stations for electric cars. There are also changes in the heating sector, but a lot of work will be required with the energy consumption of private homes. The municipality starts with itself – it uses more and more renewable energy in the buildings managed by the city.
Public transport in Vilnius is often free on public holidays, what is the effect of this initiative – are there fewer cars on the streets at that time?
More detailed research has not been carried out, but the team of JUDU (SĮ “Susiasiekimos paslogos”) records that there are more public transport passengers on those days. The facility is necessary, it gives the citizens the opportunity to conveniently go to mass gatherings, concerts, and holidays. Since it is often a very specific movement – a one-day celebration or something like that – there are instant increases in car traffic, traffic jams, and there is a shortage of parking spaces near the event before the event. In order to avoid this, we sometimes make it possible to use public transport for free. Of course, residents are also informed about this.
However, the number of cars changes due to more factors, for example, residents leave the city on weekends, there is a different instantaneous need to travel. Surveys and the experience of other countries show that not only the price of public transport determines whether people will choose public transport instead of a car. This choice is shaped by much more other factors – convenience of transport, reliability, speed, cleanliness and the like.
A frequent resident of Vilnius complains about the excess of electric scooters and bicycles on the city streets, because the infrastructure is very suitable for this at the moment. Perhaps you have calculated how many CO2 emissions have been reduced due to the convenience of using bicycles or how many cars have been reduced on the streets?
We have not made such calculations – again, we are assessing a more general change in the city. For example, the results of last year’s population survey show that the proportion of bicycle trips by means of transport has increased (more than 4 percent on average, compared to 1.5 percent in 2017). For now, transport emissions are certainly still high and more incentives to use more diverse modes of travel will be needed.
The renovation of Soviet apartment buildings is crucial for a more sustainable city, but it is often difficult for residents to agree on the current rules. What is the current situation and how do you plan to improve it?
This is a matter of national regulation, and the rule itself is not illogical – you have to pay for the renovation, so the majority of apartment owners in that apartment building must agree to it. On the part of the municipality, together with the “Renew the city” agency, we come with all the expert help on this path. Many stages of the process, especially administrative ones, are taken over by the agency. Some of the processes are fully compensated, the municipality also contributes to the environmental management of multi-apartment buildings where they are comprehensively renovated. This gives results – more and more apartment buildings are being renovated or are being prepared for renovation.
What sustainability goals are foreseen for the capital in the future?
Ambitious. And to be more specific – as I mentioned, the main goals are related to the quality of life, climate neutrality and adaptation to the effects of climate change.
Special project “Less oil”
