Table 1 of experts and representatives interviewed

In a modern society it is generally accepted that the major cause for environmental problems is the current consumption pattern in industrialized countries, thus it is crucial to understand underlying processes and search for solutions in order to consciously progress towards sustainable consumption. In this paper the exclusive role of municipalities in promoting sustainable consumption is recognized. By analyzing the example of the situation of municipalities in Latvia, the reason for focusing on local level when dealing with sustainable consumption issues, as well as main obstacles and possibilities for municipalities' progress towards sustainability are revealed. Promotion of sustainable consumption cannot be based solely on eco-efficiency. Sufficiency strategy plays a crucial role. Since positive social environment for sufficiency dimension is vitally important, local level holds exclusively crucial role for its implementation - the potential of municipalities here is unbounded. Although local authorities already have many tools available, they are insufficiently discovered. Insufficiently exploited tools are property tax relief as support mechanism, establishment of advisory boards, green procurement, promotion of social entrepreneurship and collaborative consumption, as well as delegation of municipalities' functions to NGOs, thus encouraging nonmaterial wellbeing by strengthening social ties and community activities

Municipalities’ role in promoting sustainable consumption in Latvia

Mūsdienu sabiedrībā galvenais cēlonis vides problēmām ir pašreizējais patēriņa modelis industrializētajās valstīs, tādēļ ir ļoti būtiski izprast mūsdienu patēriņu veicinošos procesus un meklēt risinājumus, lai apzināti virzītos uz ilgtspējīgu patēriņu. Darba mērķis ir apzināt pašvaldību īpašo lomu ilgtspējīga patēriņa veicināšanā un tās īstenošanas veidus vietējā līmenī Latvijā. Virzība uz ilgtspējīgu patēriņu nevar tikt balstīta tikai uz ekoefektivitāti vien. Pietiekamības stratēģijai ir izšķiroša nozīme. Labvēlīgai sociālajai videi ļoti svarīga ir pietiekamības dimensija, kuras īstenošanā vietējam līmenim ir priekšrocības. Lai gan pašvaldībām jau ir pieejami daudz politisko rīku un instrumentu patēriņa ietekmēšanai vietējā līmenī, tie nav pietiekami apzināti. Atslēgas vārdi: ilgtspējīgs patēriņš, ilgtspējīga attīstība, pašvaldības, pārvalde, politiskie instrumenti, subsidiaritāte, LatvijaIn a modern society the major cause for environmental problems is the current consumption pattern in industrialized countries, thus it is crucial to understand underlying processes and search for solutions in order to consciously progress towards sustainable consumption. The purpose of this paper is to study the exclusive role of municipalities in promoting sustainable consumption and different opportunities of implementing it at a local level in Latvia. Promotion of sustainable consumption cannot be based solely on ecoefficiency. Sufficiency strategy plays a crucial role. Since positive social environment for sufficiency dimension is vitally important, local level holds exclusively crucial role for its implementation. Although local authorities already have many tools available for influencing local consumption, they are insufficiently discovered. Keywords: sustainable consumption, sustainable development, subsidiarity, governance, policy instruments, municipalities, Latvi

Citizens attitude towards possible measures of adaption to the sea coast erosion in Latvia

Viena no globālās klimata pasiltināšanās izpausmju sekām ir pastiprināta jūras krasta erozija. Latvijā šobrīd krasta erozijas problēmas kontekstā papildus klimata pārmaiņām nozīmīga ir arī cilvēku darbība piekrastes joslā. Latvijā ir nepieciešams valstiskā līmenī apsvērt iespējamos piemērošanās pasākumus šīs problēmas risināšanai. Bakalaura darba mērķis ir noskaidrot iedzīvotāju attieksmi pret iespējamiem piemērošanās pasākumiem jūras krasta erozijai Latvijā. Pētījumā tika apzināta krasta erozijas vistiešāk skarto iedzīvotāju kopējā nostāja pētāmajā jautājumā, izdarīti secinājumi un veikta rezultātu interpretācija, sasaistot tos ar literatūras apskatā atspoguļoto teorētisko informāciju. Atslēgas vārdi: krasta erozija, piemērošanās krasta erozijai, Latvijas piekraste, iedzīvotāju attieksme pret piemērošanosOne of the consequences of global climate change is intensified sea coast erosion. At present in Latvia in addition to climate change human activities in seashore are also important in context of coastal erosion. There is a need to consider possible measures of adaptation in national level to solve this issue. The aim of Bachelor’s work is to clarify citizens attitude towards possible measures of adaption to the sea coast erosion in Latvia. In result common position of coastal erosion most effected citizens were studied, conclusions and interpretation of results were made bonding them with theoretical information displayed in the review of literature. Key words: coastal erosion, adaption to the coastal erosion, seashore of Latvia, citizens attitude towards adaption

Vide un ilgtspējīga attīstība

Grāmata sagatavota un izdota ar Norvēģijas valdības divpusējā finanšu instrumenta projekta LV0044 "Vides zinātnes studiju satura attīstība un studiju materiālu izstrāde" atbalstu

Environment and Sustainable Development

The book has been prepared and published with the support of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism Project LV0044 "Development of environmental science study content and study materials