RIGA, Oct 21 (LETA) - By the end of 2023, Daugavpils, Jelgava, Jekabpils, Jurmala, Rezekne, Riga, Valmiera and Ventspils will buy 145 environmentally-friendly buses for EUR 44.9 million, LETA learned from the Transport Ministry.

The ministry said that the European green course provides for climate neutrality to be achieved by 2050, reducing transport emissions by at least 55 percent until 2030. Latvia's largest challenge is the make the public transportation greener because transport vehicles create about one fourth of EU greenhouse gas emissions.

Latvia's eight largest cities will replace buses to contemporary, more convenient and environmentally-friendly buses, and the project is co-funded by the EU Cohesion fund. 

The ministry explains that in order to achieve European green goals, Latvia is developing sustainable transport infrastructure and strengthening the backbone of public transport.