PeatTransform: Research and Innovation Based Solutions to Support the Peat Sector’s Transition to a Climate Neutral Economy, Promoting the Sustainable Use of Latvia’s Natural Resources

Project description

The PeatTransform project aims to establish a research platform and centre of excellence that enhances Latvia's research capacity, accelerates knowledge transfer, and fosters international collaboration in sustainable wetland management and climate-neutral transformation of the peat sector. The project covers GHG emission monitoring, peatland restoration, development of peat substitutes and carbon-storing products, socio-economic assessments, and policy support tools.

LBTU Social Sciences Research develops an integrated socio-economic and environmental assessment framework for Latvia's peat industry. The team will build models to simulate mid-term (2030) and long-term (2050) impacts of different peat sector strategies, including extraction, processing, local use, and export. The work analyses GHG emissions, environmental costs, and trade-offs between economic gains and climate impacts, while evaluating carbon and biodiversity credits as offset mechanisms. It concludes with policy recommendations to guide Latvia's peat sector towards sustainable, EU-aligned practices.