European Union Law Influence for the Legal Regulation Measures of Climate Change Implemented in Lithuania

Abstract

To investigate the impact of the EU climate policy on Lithuania’s national legal framework, its background, foundation, objectives, and main principles is primarily analysed. The following part of the thesis accordingly includes an examination of Lithuania’s legal framework by particularly focusing on the main measures, implemented to decarbonise its energy, transport, agriculture, and industry sectors, as well as on identifying the main challenges to be resolved on the national level. In this context, the development of climate policies in other States, and the main drivers aiming to fill implementation gaps are assessed by highlighting outcomes of non-compliance with positive obligations assumed by the supranational legislation on climate change mitigation. Even though the research has confirmed the first defended statement that supranational legislation has a significant impact on the EU climate policy, the study revealed that current Lithuanian legal framework on climate change mitigation is insufficient to comply with ambitious targets and objectives assumed by the supranational legislation due to essential implementation gaps within the national legal system. Although during the research successful approaches of the EU climate policy implementation were identified, there are significant challenges to timely achieve climate neutrality on both the EU and international level, which necessitates being urgently addressed to avoid the climate crisis. Nevertheless, it has been confirmed that both climate litigation and international organisations may significantly contribute to the implementation of an effective climate change policy.