The government of Georgia has publicly presented its inaugural long-term low-emission development strategy 2050, which was officially adopted on April 24, 2023. As mentioned in the information released by UNDP Georgia, the adoption of this most important document will contribute to updating the National Climate Action Plan for 2023-2025 and refining the road map of the climate-wise development of Georgia.
The low-emission development strategy fully complies with the main principles of the Paris Agreement and is adapted to the reality of Georgia. The document serves to identify opportunities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to describe the priority measures that should be implemented in various sectors of the economy, including energy, the construction sector, transport, industry, agriculture, waste management, land use, and forest management.
The Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia played a leading role in the development of the low-emission development strategy in close cooperation with key public agencies, civil society, and international partners. The strategy development process was supported by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) within their regional initiative, EU4Climate. Support from the European Union and UNDP provided the necessary resources, technical assistance, and international expertise needed to develop this critically important document.
“The Government of Georgia has made a firm commitment to properly deal with the challenges related to climate change and to take care of the climate-smart future of our country’s citizens. The long-term low-emission development strategy reflects our national vision of carbon-neutral development and the creation of a climate-smart economy. By adopting this strategy, we are taking another step on the way to preserving the environment and developing a sustainable economy,” – states the Minister of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Otar Shamugia.
“The European Union welcomes the adoption of Georgia’s long-term low-emission development strategy. We are proud to have supported the formation of the vision of a carbon-neutral economy and smart technological development, and we are ready to actively support its implementation,” said Pavel Herczynski, EU Ambassador to Georgia.
“The adoption of a long-term low-emission development strategy is an important step on the path of sustainable development of Georgia. We congratulate the Government of Georgia on this achievement and confirm our readiness to support the country’s efforts in achieving its national climate goals,” explains Nick Beresford, Permanent Representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Georgia.
By Mariam Gorkhelashvili
