Energy tops the list of polluters in Georgia accounting for more than half of the national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Agriculture, industry and waste are holding the next three positions in the list with their contributions increasing gradually in recent years. Following the collapse of Soviet-legacy industries, Georgia currently produces three times less greenhouse gas emissions than in 1990. However, a slight increase has been observed in the last decade.

These findings are included in Georgia’s Second Biennial Update Report to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), prepared with the assistance from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and unveiled by the Government of Georgia today.

“Reporting to the UN Convention on Climate Change is an important national exercise,” said Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Nino Tandilashvili. “Georgia’s recent report reveals the trends in domestic emissions over a 25-year period, identifies the needs and gaps, and helps the country move towards a climate-resilient society.”

“2019 is a crucial year for the implementation of the Paris Agreement when all countries are updating their commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Deputy UNDP Head Anna Chernyshova. “UNDP will continue supporting Georgia in its efforts to set more ambitious goals and make further steps to greener and more sustainable economy.”

Georgia has been submitting biennial reports to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) since 2016, aiming to capture the major national trends in greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions and describe the mitigation measures undertaken in different sectors of economy.

The recent Report developed in 2017-2019 includes an updated GHGs Inventory and information on the implemented, ongoing and planned mitigation policies and measures. It also describes a national framework for measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) to track GHGs emissions, climate finance and the impact of mitigation actions.

Among the challenges faced by Georgia in climate action, the Report points out fragmented legislation and institutional framework, insufficient domestic finance and lack of quality research and climate-friendly technologies. As a solution, it suggests establishing of a Climate Change Committee to co-ordinate the climate-related activities.

Georgia’s Second Biennial Update Report is a joint effort of a wide range of stakeholders – government agencies, civil society, academic and educational institutions and international partners. Submitted in June 2019, the Report received a positive feedback from the UNFCCC Secretariat. The Report is available at UNDP website.

Media contact:

• Nana Chinchilakashvili, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, +995 599 502619, nana.chinchilakashvili@mepa.gov.ge
• Sophie Tchitchinadze, UNDP in Georgia, +995 599 196907, sophie.tchitchinadze@undp.org
• Ira Sulava, UNDP in Georgia, +995 599 579105, irine.sulava@UNDP.org