Georgia: World Environment Day is celebrated annually on 5 June. The purpose of celebrating this day is to raise awareness of human responsibility towards nature, to promote the sustainable development of the environment and to actively involve society in the fight for the preservation and improvement of the environment.
The main theme of this year’s World Environment Day is “Only One Earth”.
In the face of global environmental challenges, the government is actively working on consistent policies to ensure a healthy environment:
- In order to improve national legislation and bring it in line with EU directives, the “Environmental Assessment Code” has been adopted.
- The Law on Atmospheric Air Protection has been harmonized with the EU legislation, on the basis of which the management of ambient air quality in the country will be gradually transferred to European practice.
- In order to improve the management of the forest sector, the Parliament of Georgia adopted the Law – “Forest Code”, which contains important grounds for the development and use of forest ecosystem services.
- The system of protected areas is successfully expanded: in 2016-2021, 9 new (5 protected areas, one national park, two protected landscapes and one multi-use area) were created, and 3 (national park) protected areas were expanded.
- Waste management plans have been developed and approved for all municipalities. In addition, technical regulations on specific types of waste management (battery and battery waste, waste oils, waste electrical and electronic equipment waste, tire waste) have been adopted, to which the manufacturer has an extended obligation.
- The updated National Defined Contribution (NDC) document, which declares the country’s commitments, has been approved, as well as the 2030 Climate Change Strategy.
- In the field of water resources management, reform is underway, within the framework of which a basin management system of water resources in accordance with the EU legislation is being introduced in Georgia.
