Measures

 MANAGEMENT

The Riga City Council is responsible for the quality of the environment, rational use of natural resources and the preservation of the biodiversity in its administrative territory. The optimisation of management is based on the following key principles: research, structure, implementing institutions, political support and financing. Environment protection and use of natural resources must be monitored. It is possible to implement the Environmental Strategy only by optimising the management of the environment in the City. Management should focus on the development of proposals for investment projects aimed at the development of infrastructure and 'action projects', including training, improvement of management, and the distribution and exchange of information.

It is necessary to develop an urban environment management model for Riga to avoid the overlapping of functions and situations where 'nobody is responsible' for certain aspects of the environment. The urban environment management model must be developed by the Environmental Department together with other City departments and units in close co-operation with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development. Within the framework of the Model, it is necessary to separate the decision-making and executive functions from control functions. The developed Model will serve as the basis for the re-organisation of environment management in Riga.

It is possible to improve the environment quality in the City by setting up a single Riga City Environment Quality Monitoring and Information System, based on sustainable development indicators. In order to set up a single Environment Quality Monitoring System, it is necessary to develop a Riga's Environmental Monitoring and Information System including the control of the condition of the urban natural elements and prediction of potential changes, the mechanism of environment data exchange and storing (organised administratively and legally justified) and providing regular information about the condition of the urban environment to City authorities and the public. On the whole, it will ensure the control over the implementation of the Environmental Strategy and the identification of new priorities in the development of the City on the basis of changes in environmental quality.