Making the world a greener place
Georgia joins 56 countries in pledge to protect the environment

Georgia is improving its protected areas, phasing out the use of ozone depleting substances and addressing challenges in air and water pollution and waste management.

This week Georgia’s Environment Minister Gigla Agulashvili and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Christian Friis Bach launched the third Environmental Performance Review of Georgia for national policymakers.

The Review was launched within the Eighth Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference, held in Georgia’s Black Sea resort town Batumi on June 8-10.

Georgia's Black Sea coastal city Batumi hosted an UN environmental meeting. Photo: Eighth Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference / Facebook

• The key message of the Review stated economic development in Georgia was still unsustainable and the environmental conditions continued to worsen despite the efforts of the Government of Georgia to improve the country's economic and environmental goals.

In general the Review covered main challenges facing Georgia related to the legal and policy framework, the financing of environmental expenditures, greening the economy, air protection, water and waste management and biodiversity conservation.

It also examined the efforts of Georgia to integrate environmental considerations in its policies in the agriculture, energy, industry, transport, forestry, tourism and health sectors.

The Review further provided a substantive and policy analysis of the country’s risk management measures regarding natural, technological or anthropogenic hazards.

Each topic concluded with a set of recommendations to improve environmental management in the country and integrate environmental considerations into economic sectors.

The review took stock of the progress made by Georgia in environmental management since the country was previously reviewed in 2010, for the second time.

Georgia: Shaping the future for the entire world

Georgia is taking important steps to become more environmentally conscious and contribute to global environmental development. The country has pledged to introduce the following initiatives and meet high standards:

• The fuel quality in Georgia will meet the EURO 5 standards in 2017;
• Creating the proper policy to improve the air quality - nine Georgian towns have already created an action plan for sustainable energy development;
• A new system will be introduced in the assessment of air quality modeling;
• Supporting a green economy - developing green transport and eco tourism;

Meanwhile, the third Environmental Performance Review of Georgia also addressed Georgia's air pollution and offered several recommendations.

"Since 2008 almost all emissions of air pollutants have been on the rise, except sulphur dioxide and total suspended particles,” said the review.

The international and local experts who attended the Eighth Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference in Batumi agreed the transport sector was by far the biggest cause of air polluter in Georgia.

"It accounts for 87 per cent of carbon monoxide, 70 percent of nitrogen dioxides, 50 percent of sulphur dioxide and 40 percent of volatile organic compound emissions in Georgia. The age, poor quality and large size of the vehicle fleet exacerbate the emission of air pollutants,” said UNECE Executive Secretary Christian Friis Bach.

 Executive Secretary of UNECE Christian Friis Bach. Photo by the Environment Ministry's press office

The Review said appropriate regulations and a mandatory annual testing of vehicles' safety, roadworthiness and exhaust emissions was needed. It also recommended the use of the most polluting vehicles be restricted in urban areas.

"On a positive note, Georgia has phased out the use of chlorofluorocarbons and halons. The country is in full compliance with control measures under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, and the main ozone depleting substances were phased out in 2010, two years in advance of the deadline under the Protocol,” said the review.

Improving fuel quality to reduce air pollution

Responding to the ongoing challenge of air pollution, Georgia's Government promised the fuel quality in the country will meet EURO 5 standards in 2017.

Furthermore, Georgia will introduce a labelling system to determine the quality of fuel imported into the country where high quality petrol and diesel will be marked, allowing customers to know what quality of fuel they use.

Eco-labelling is a voluntary method of environmental performance certification and labelling that informs customers about the best alternative fuels including ethanol, biodiesel, biogas and various fuel blends.

An Environment Ministry spokesperson said eco-labelling in Georgia will meet the European exhaust emissions standards for passenger cars. While the European Union (EU) uses the latest ‘Euro 6’ standard, Georgia will initially meet ‘Euro 5’ standards.

Companies that import fuels of this quality will be given a ‘green mark’ and regarded as environmentally friendly while lower quality fuel below ‘Euro 5’ standards will not be issued a ‘green mark’.

Britain’s Automobile Association Developments explained the ‘Euro 4’ and ‘Euro 5’ standards, which launched in January 2005 and September 2009 respectfully, concentrated on cleaning up emissions from diesel cars, especially reducing particulate matter and nitrogen oxides.

The system will be voluntary for all companies that import oil into Georgia.

Georgia's Minister of Environment Gigla Agulashvili. Photo by the Ministry's press office

Georgia's Minister of Environment Gigla Agulashvili said the initiative would increase the use of ecologically clean fuel in the local market, allow customers to know what quality of fuel they used and contribute to "healthy competition” between oil importer companies.

Oil companies interested in implementing the eco-labelling system and being regarded as "green” should apply to the Environment Ministry, who will then approve their labelling after the fuel undergoes laboratory testing.

Georgia: A cleaner and healthier environment by 2020

Georgia is creating proper policies to improve the air quality, said Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili.

"Nine Georgian towns have already created an action plan for sustainable energy development. The main aim of the action plan is to reduce CO2 emissions so we can enjoy a cleaner and healthier environment by 2020. We have also introduced proper legislative regulations,” said Kvirikashvili.

Furthermore, the PM said a new system will be introduced to assess air quality modeling. The monitoring system will be introduced first in capital Tbilisi, while step-by-step it will cover the whole territory of Georgia, "especially in the high-risk places”.

PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili at the Batumi gathering. Photo by the Environment Ministry's press office 

Meanwhile, Environment Minister Agulashvili said the construction sector also created problems for air quality in Georgia and the Government would soon regulate this industry as well.

The Minister also promised air stations will be created in Georgia to monitor the quality of air in all parts of the country. This will ensure the Government and the public have a true understanding of the conditions and quality of air in the country.

Leading on from this, Agulashvili announced several 'mobile laboratories' would be established that moved from town to town monitoring the air pollution.

A green economy with green transport

Georgia is finding ways to better use its natural resources and financial captital to turn the country into a green economy; an economy that seeks to reduce environmental risks and ecological scarcities, and aims for sustainable development without degrading the environment.

Within the green economy development initiative, the Government will introduce more environmentally-friendly transport in capital Tbilisi and later all over Georgia.

Specifically Georgia is receiving two grants totalling €34 million and will introduce about 150-200 new energy efficient buses to the public bus fleet in Tbilisi.

The new buses will be operated by compressed natural gas (CNG), meaning they are more energy efficient, produce reduced vehicle emissions and are cheaper to operate than diesel-equivalent buses.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will grant Georgia €27 million, while the Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership promised to grant €7 million to the country to purchase CNG-operated buses.

All new buses will be suitable for people with disabilities.

Upgrading Tbilisi’s public bus fleet was one of several projects in the pipeline to improve the sustainability of the country’s transport sector and reduce the effects of vehicle emissions.

"Today the Green Economy is regarded as one of the most important instruments for achieving sustainable development. It supports the use of national resources in a sustainable way, reduces negative impacts on the environment, creates new and green jobs and insures the well-being of our society,” said Georgia's Prime Minister.

"The Government of Georgia has created a special environment for green businesses, encourages the activities of small and medium-sized enterprises, supports the growth of renewable energy as well as green transport, green buildings and is supporting the development of eco-tourism,” he added.

Ministerial participants explained ‘greening the economy’, which fostered a healthy economy while ensuring environmental sustainability and social equity, was considered one of the most promising ways to achieve sustainable development.

Is Georgia's water safe to drink?

Despite Georgia being rich in water resources, access to safe drinking water was still a problem in almost all regions, stated the third Environmental Performance Review of Georgia.

"The water supply infrastructure is in poor condition, both in terms of infrastructure and sanitary control, and often breaks down, with water losses of some 40 to 60 percent,” said the Review.

Municipal wastewater remained a major polluter of surface waters, while almost three quarters of the urban population was served by collection systems and only a quarter of the collected wastewater was treated in Georgia.

"Currently most of the municipal wastewater treatment plants are inoperable. Exceptions include the Sachkhere and Batumi plants, operating since 2013 with biological treatment,” said the Review.

The document recommended authorities to assess the status of urban wastewater collection and treatment, prepare technical and investment programmes to implement existing wastewater treatment regulations and to allocate the necessary funds for that work.

"Municipal waste is only collected in urban areas, with rural areas still unserved. Even so, only 70 percent of municipal waste is collected by regular services and delivered to local disposal sites. Material recovery from municipal waste is not performed, except in the sorting plant at Rustavi city landfill. Separate collection has not yet been introduced in Georgia,” continued the review.

The Review called on the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection to continue implementation of the 2015 Waste Code through the adoption of by-laws on waste management, a national waste strategy and an action plan.

At the same time, the Review hailed the efforts made since the last revew in 2010 to improve the management of Georgia's Protected Areas.

"New Protected Areas have been established, increasing the total size of such areas from seven to 8.6 percent of Georgia’s territory. The initiation of the Emerald Network areas of special conservation interest was a step forward, however Georgia's Protected Areas still appear to be isolated and need to be connected,” said the Review.

Education for a better environment

Georgia has already started revising its national strategy for environmental education. The Government is also developing a national strategy and action plan for sustainable development of environmental education.

A costumed character show in the frame of the Europe’s Eight Environment Conference in Batumi, Georgia. Photo by the conference organisers

"Education is of crucial importance for sustainable development. Education, perception and behaviours adjusted to environment protection priorities should be established,” said Prime Minister Kvirikashvili.

"We must protect the rights of our citizens to live in a healthy environment. We must strengthen our institutes, improve the legislation and create mechanisms to assist the society in reception of environmental information and respective education,” he added.

Meanwhile, Environment Minister Gigla Agulashvili said the Government introduced an environmental component to learning in kindergartens to raise children's awareness of environmental issues.

"It is important our children know why and how to care about the environment. We hope to bring up the next educated generation who care about our nature and environment. We also created eco-clubs at schools and have given students access Georgia's Protected Areas during the summer period. We've done this to raise the awareness of all young people in Georgia, starting from kindergartens and going all the way through to the universities,” Agulashvili said.

The 8th Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference

All these things and other new initiatives were voiced at the Eight Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference, held in Batumi on June 8-10.

Hundreds of international officials attended the major United Nations (UN) environmental meeting. The Ministerial brought about 600 delegates from 56 countries responsible for environmental, defence and education issues.

Additionally, top representatives of the business sector and 55 international organisations teamed up in Batumi to launch the Batumi Initiative on Green Economy (BIG-E).

Eight Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference in Batumi, Georgia. Photo by the Environment Ministry's press office

At the UN conference delegates signed several deals including the Batumi Initiative on Green Economy, which was deemed as one of the most important deals of the event.

Within the Conference the Pan-European Strategic Framework for Greening the Economy in the Pan-European region was adopted and additional commitments were pledged to the Batumi Initiative on Green Economy.

Meanwhile another deal was signed about reducing air pollution and improving air quality. The delegates discussed the findings of the Towards Cleaner Air report and adopted the Batumi Action for Cleaner Air (2016–2021).

The third most important issue discussed at the Ministerial was the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) plan.

The delegates also adopted a Framework for the future implementation of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) in the UNECE region.

The Ministerial was typically held once every three to five years.

The first ministerial conference took place at Dobris Castle near Prague in 1991, while the last event took place in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana in 2011.