When a city's economic growth experiences a boom, the environment is subject to additional pressures and impairment, unless environmental protection requirements are abided by. The policies of Riga City Council on the development aspects have a major impact on the economic development of the city. The distribution of economic activity, the provision of infrastructure and the connecting transportation network for has been taken into account in the preparation of the Riga City Official Plan with the objective of promoting Riga's economic development. Riga's economic growth, moreover, cannot be separated from the city's social and environmental development. All three systems have to be in balance. The rapidly changing economic, social and environmental conditions required a further development and detailing of the Official Plan concerning matters related to the environment. The target of the City of Riga Environmental Strategy (2000-2010) is to create pre-conditions for the city's sustainable development by solving priority environmental problems and eliminating their causes.

The Action Programme of the Environmental Strategy (2002-2010) is the first step towards implementation of the Environmental Strategy. The Action Programme provides the background for the following: