This scientific paper discusses the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the effects of climate change. The proposed strategy is to reach net-zero emissions by transitioning to electric systems powered by low-carbon sources such as wind, solar, hydroelectric power, and nuclear energy. However, the paper also highlights the challenges of this transition, including high costs and lack of infrastructure. The paper emphasizes the need for continued research and investment in renewable energy technology and infrastructure to overcome these challenges and achieve a sustainable energy system. Additionally, the use of nuclear energy raises concerns, such as nuclear waste and proliferation, and should be considered with its benefits and drawbacks. The study assesses the feasibility of nuclear energy development in Latvia, a country in Northern Europe, and finds that Latvia is a suitable location for nuclear power facilities due to potential energy independence, low-carbon energy production, reliability, and economic benefits. The study also discusses methods of calculating electricity generation and consumption, such as measuring MWh produced by power plants, and balancing supply and demand within the country. Furthermore, the study assesses the safety of nuclear reactors, generated waste, and options for nuclear waste recycling. The transition to a carbon-free energy system is ongoing and complex, requiring multiple strategies to accelerate the transition. While the paper proposes that nuclear energy could be a practical means of supporting and backing up electricity generated by renewables, it should be noted that there are still challenges to be addressed. Some of the results presented in the paper are still based on studies, and the post-treatment of waste needs to be further clarified.

Carbon capture is among the most sustainable strategies to limit carbon dioxide emissions, which account for a large share of human impact on climate change and ecosystem destruction. This growing threat calls for novel solutions to reduce emissions on an industrial level. Carbon capture by amorphous solids is among the most reasonable options as it requires less energy when compared to other techniques and has comparatively lower development and maintenance costs. In this respect, the method of carbon dioxide adsorption by solids can be used in the long-term and on an industrial scale. Furthermore, certain sorbents are reusable, which makes their use for carbon capture economically justified and acquisition of natural resources full and sustainable. Clay minerals, which are a universally available and versatile material, are amidst such sorbents. These materials are capable of interlayer and surface adsorption of carbon dioxide. In addition, their modification allows to improve carbon dioxide adsorption capabilities even more. The aim of the review is to discuss the prospective of the most widely available clay minerals in the Baltic States for large-scale carbon dioxide emission reduction and to suggest suitable approaches for clay modification to improve carbon dioxide adsorption capacity.

The management of municipal solid waste presents significant challenges globally. This study investigates the potential of an integrated waste-to-energy system based on circulating fluidized bed gasification technology to address these challenges, while also contributing to renewable energy generation. Using a MATLAB-based simulation model, the study determines the optimal operational parameters for various units within the system, including waste processing, gasification, ash handling, syngas treatment, and emission control. The proposed waste-to-energy system demonstrates a remarkable energy efficiency of 70% under these optimal conditions, notably outperforming conventional waste-to-energy technologies. Sensitivity and uncertainty analyses reveal that waste composition, gasification temperature, and the oxygen-to-solid recovered fuel ratio are key determinants of the system’s output and performance. The system’s performance remained robust despite variations in these parameters, underscoring its potential as a reliable solution for waste management and energy generation. While the findings are promising, future research should focus on comprehensive lifecycle assessment and consider regional factors for practical implementation. This study contributes to the ongoing development of efficient waste-to-energy systems and highlights their potential in promising sustainable waste management and renewable energy production.

Biosphere reserves serve as critical areas for balancing conservation with sustainable development. This study investigates land-use and land-cover changes in the North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve (Latvia) from 1990 to 2018, employing scenario-based modeling to project future trends. Historical analyses reveal overall stability but highlight cyclical agricultural intensification and extensification, forest decline, and expansions in transitional woodland-shrub. Four scenarios—business-as-usual, sustainable development, climate adaptation and mitigation, and conservation-oriented—were evaluated for their ecological and socio-economic implications. Business-as-usual scenario continues historical trends of moderate urban growth and agricultural intensification, risking limited restoration gains. In contrast, sustainable development and climate adaptation and mitigation scenarios emphasize reforestation, biodiversity improvement, and climate resilience, aligning with the European Union 2030 Biodiversity Strategy. Conservation-oriented scenario prioritizes stabilization and minimizing anthropogenic pressures yet lacks proactive restoration measures. Statistical tests confirm that socio-economic factors, zoning, and landscape richness significantly drive land-use and land-cover changes, with most changes adhering to the North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve regulations. However, certain non-compliant changes, such as forest-to-agriculture conversions, highlight the need for stronger enforcement. While ecological impacts such as land-use transitions, biodiversity shifts, and conservation compliance were considered, socio-economic implications were primarily discussed in relation to zoning and land-use trends rather than through a standalone analysis. These scenario-based insights offer valuable guidance for adaptive land management in protected areas.

The importance of CO₂ removal from the atmosphere has long been an essential topic due to climate change. In this paper, the authors aim to demonstrate the suitability of the underground reservoirs for CO₂ storage based on their geological characteristics. The research addressed the potential of geological formations for fossil CO₂ storage in the Baltic States to support the goal of achieving carbon neutrality in the region. The geological, technical, and economic feasibility for CO₂ storage has been assessed in terms of carbon sequestration in geological structures and the legal framework for safe geological storage of fossil CO₂. Results indicate that prospective structural traps in the Baltic States, with reasonable capacity for CO₂ storage, occur only in Southwestern Latvia (onshore) and in the Baltic Sea (offshore), whilst other regions in the Baltics either do not meet basic geological requirements, or have no economically feasible capacity for CO₂ storage. Based on the examination of geological characteristics, the most fitting is the middle Cambrian reservoir in the Baltic sedimentary basin, and one of the most prospective structural traps is the geological structure of Dobele, with an estimated storage capacity of 150 Mt CO₂. This study revealed that the storage capacity of the middle Cambrian reservoir (up to 1000 Mt CO₂) within the borders of Southwestern Latvia is sufficient for carbon capture and safe storage for the whole Baltic region, and that geological structures in Latvia have the capacity to store all fossil CO₂ emissions produced by stationary sources in the Baltic States for several decades.