Georgian Deputy Environment Minister, UNDP official discuss waste management, green economy initiatives

Nino Tandilashvili, the Georgian Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture,  this week discussed waste management, reduction of single-use plastics and the implementation of the green economy in the country during a meeting with Douglas Webb, the United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative in Georgia.

Tandilashvili emphasised the importance of implementing the country's political documents and action plans aimed at environmental protection. She highlighted the need for support from various UN institutions to achieve effective waste management, circular economy, and reduced plastic use. The Deputy Minister also stressed the significance of raising public awareness and the necessity of involvement from donor organisations, the private sector, and local Government.

In his turn, Webb expressed willingness to share European “best practices” in environmental protection and waste management, tailored to the specific needs of Georgia.

The Ministry said it had been “actively” engaged in projects including disaster reduction due to climate change, air quality improvement, and the establishment of an environmental monitoring and reporting system, in collaboration with the UNDP.

The Georgian office of the organisation earlier today said the country's forest guards had enhanced their response to wildfires and had received firefighting tools, including first aid kits, portable water tanks, and a utility task vehicle.

The UNDP said the Aragvi Protected Landscape and the Pshav-Khevsureti National Park, encompassing up to 50,000 hectares of “invaluable” forests and cultural heritage in the Dusheti Municipality, faced recurrent threats of wildfires.

The organisation added it was working with the Dusheti Municipality to bolster the resilience of mountain communities and forest ecosystems against climate-induced hazards with funding from the Czech Government.