Solomon Pavliashvili participates in Ministerial Conference on Plastic Prevention

Georgia: Solomon Pavliashvili, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, attended the Ministerial Meeting organized by the Canadian Government and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in Ottawa. 

The ministerial session, held under the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4), aimed to implement the development of a mandatory international legal instrument on the prevention of plastics, including in the marine environment.

Ministers of countries and high-level representatives, such as the United States of America, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, France, and South Korea, participated in the ministerial meeting. Executive Vice President of the European Commission Maros Shepchovich was present at the Ministerial.

As Deputy Minister of Environment and Agriculture Solomon Pavliashvili proudly stated, Georgia, as a candidate member state of the European Union, is vigorously and proactively working towards sustainable waste management, including the prevention of plastic pollution.

“To address one of the most pressing environmental crises, such as plastic pollution, it is imperative to foster effective negotiations to complete work on the final text of the legal instrument in a timely manner.” For the successful implementation of the agreement, he said it is crucial to prioritize reducing plastic waste by implementing measures such as expanded manufacturer commitments, product design, and encouraging sustainable alternatives to plastics.

At the same time, it will be necessary to mobilize adequate resources and access adequate finance in a timely, affordable, and appropriate manner, including for countries with developing and transition economies,” noted Solomon Pavliashvili.

It is worth noting that an international legal instrument is being developed from the resolution of the United Nations Environment Assembly on eliminating plastic pollution (UNEA 5.2); one of the supporting and co-sponsoring countries is Georgia. Georgia has joined the highly ambitious Norway-Rwanda Coalition (HAC) to end plastic pollution.v