The Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania () oversees the environment and natural resources in Lithuania. Its mission is: To implement the principle of sustainable development; To set preconditions for rational utilization, protection and restoration of natural resources; To ensure provision of information about the state of environment and its forecasts to the public; To create conditions for the development of construction business and the provision of residents with housing; To ensure a proper environmental quality, taking into account the norms and standards of the European Union.
The Environment Protection Department, accountable to the Supreme Council – Reconstituent Seimas, was established to oversee environment protection and exploitation of natural resources after Lithuania restored its independence in 1990. In 1996, the department was reorganized into Ministry of Environmental Protection. In 1998, after the merger with Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, it was renamed to Ministry of Environment. Thus it became responsible for construction, territorial planning, and housing. The Ministry has numerous divisions and subordinate institutions responsible for protected areas, environment protection, geological survey, forestry, metrology, meteorology services, and marine research. The Ministry also runs the Tadas Ivanauskas Zoological Museum.
Ministers
Ministry of Environmental Protection Term Minister Party Cabinet Office Start date End date Time in office 1 Bronius Bradauskas (born 1944) Democratic Labour Party Šleževičius 31 March 1993 19 March 1996 2 Bronius Bradauskas (born 1944) Democratic Labour Party Stankevičius 19 March 1996 10 December 1996 Ministry of Environment Term Minister Party Cabinet Office Start date End date Time in office 3 Imantas Lazdinis (born 1944) Independent Vagnorius 10 December 1996 25 March 1998 4 Algis Čaplikas (born 1962) Independent 25 March 1998 5 March 1999 5 Danius Lygis (born 1948) Homeland Union 8 April 1999 10 June 1999 6 Danius Lygis (born 1948) Homeland Union Paksas 10 June 1999 11 November 1999 7 Danius Lygis (born 1948) Liberal Union Kubilius 11 November 1999 9 November 2000 8 Henrikas Žukauskas (born 1951) Homeland Union Paksas 9 November 2000 12 July 2001 9 Arūnas Kundrotas (born 1963) Social Democratic Party Brazauskas 12 July 2001 14 December 2004 10 Arūnas Kundrotas (born 1963) Social Democratic Party Brazauskas 14 December 2004 18 July 2006 11 Arūnas Kundrotas (born 1963) Social Democratic Party Kirkilas 18 July 2006 31 January 2008 12 Artūras Paulauskas (born 1963) New Union 31 January 2008 9 December 2008 13 Gediminas Kazlauskas (born 1959) Independent Kubilius 9 December 2008 13 December 2012 14 Valentinas Mazuronis (born 1953) Order and Justice Party Butkevičius 13 December 2012 15 June 2014 15 Kęstutis Trečiokas (born 1957) Order and Justice Party 17 July 2014 13 December 2016 16 Kęstutis Navickas (born 1970) Independent Skvernelis 13 December 2016 7 December 2018 17 Kęstutis Mažeika (born 1982) Farmers and Greens Union 4 April 2019 11 December 2020 18 Simonas Gentvilas (born 1984) Liberal Movement Šimonytė Paluckas 11 December 2020 12 December 2024 4 years, 1 day19Povilas PoderskisIndependent12 December 2024Incumbent
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