On June 5, 2021, EU marks World Environment Day in Georgia

EU Ambassador to Georgia, Carl Hartzell has issued a following statement on World Environment Day

“Today is World Environment Day.

Today in the EU, environmental protection and the fight against climate change are fundamental objectives.  The EU is already a global leader in this field, but it is not enough, because as we know the planet will not wait for us to get our act together.

Therefore, we have set for ourselves the goal that in less than 30 years, EU countries and their citizens will cease to have a negative impact on the environment. We hope to meet these objectives by effectively tackling pollution, household and production waste, by adapting to sustainable energy sources and through many other measures.  This is what we call the EU Green Deal.

It is a brave and ambitious goal that we hope others will wish to join. We are therefore happy and proud to share our knowledge, expertise and experience with a close partner like Georgia. And we will continue to work closely with the Government, civil society and the private sector here, to push this agenda together.

But World Environment Day is not only about grand visions and projects, but about each and everyone of us – because we all need to participate, and stand together, as citizens and fellow human beings in order to succeed. And succeed we must!”

To further mark World Environment Day, over the coming days, the EU will share information about the European Green Deal its impact and role on Georgia and on EU support and projects in the field of environment in Georgia on its channels, including   www.facebook.com/europeanunioningeorgia

Additional information:

About the EU Green Deal

Climate change and environmental degradation are an existential threat to Europe and the world. To overcome these challenges, the European Union has developed the European Green Deal to transform the EU into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy, where

• there are no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050
• economic growth is not linked to resource use
• no person and no place left behind. 

The European Green Deal is a set of policy initiatives by the European Commission with the overarching aim to become the world’s first “climate-neutral bloc” by 2050. It has goals extending to many different sectors, including construction, biodiversity, energy, transport and food.  See more here: https://eu4georgia.ge/green-deal/

What Does the Green Deal Mean for Georgia?

With the Green Deal, the EU is establishing a model for how to upgrade the quality of infrastructure, products, and standards in climate neutral way, which will set an example and a blueprint to follow for all countries in the world, including Georgia.

The EU and Georgia already have close cooperation in the area of environment under the EU-Georgia Association Agreement (AA), where Georgia has committed to bring its legislation closer to the EU requirements and standards.  The EU is providing support in this area.

Among other areas, in Georgia the EU has supported the development of natural parks, improvement or air quality, unlocking opportunities for greener growth, improving waste management and water infrastructure, and setting mechanisms to better manage environmental risks and impacts. Numerous infrastructure investments have also been made with EU-funding in the sectors of Water Supply and Sanitation, Waste management and development of eco-friendly transports.

The EU has assisted Georgia in the development of strategic documents, such as the Marine Environment Strategy and Action Programme, as well as the by-laws based on the Law on Environmental Liability, which help establish an effective system of environmental liability and improving the marine environment of the Black Sea. All these achievements will improve Georgia’s environmental protection system to the ultimate benefit of Georgian nature and the health of Georgian citizens.

This cooperation will further continue in the framework of the EU Green Deal.

Additional Information on WED 2021

World Environment Day is the most renowned day for environmental action. First held in 1974, World Environment Day has been a platform for raising awareness on environmental issue such as marine pollution, human overpopulation, global warming, sustainable consumption and wildlife crime.  World Environment Day 2021 focuses on the ecosystem restoration and its theme is “Reimagine. Recreate. Restore.”

From forests to peatlands to coasts, we all depend on healthy ecosystems for our survival. Ecosystems are defined as the interaction between living organisms – plants, animals, people – with their surroundings. This includes nature, but also human-made systems such as cities or farms.

For too long, we have been exploiting and destroying our planet’s ecosystems. Every three seconds, the world loses enough forest to cover a football pitch and over the last century we have& destroyed half of our& wetlands. As much as 50 per cent of our coral reefs have already been lost and up to 90 per cent of coral reefs could be lost by 2050, even if global warming is limited to an increase of 1.5°C.

Ecosystem loss is depriving the world of carbon sinks, like forests and peatlands, at a time humanity can least afford it. Global greenhouse gas emissions have grown for three consecutive years and the planet is one pace for potentially catastrophic climate change. The emergence of COVID-19 has also shown just how disastrous the consequences of ecosystem loss can be. By shrinking the area of natural habitat for animals, we have created ideal conditions for pathogens – including coronaviruses – to spread.

Investing in ecosystems is investing in our future:  Restoring ecosystems carries substantial benefits for people. For every dollar invested in restoration, at least seven to thirty dollars in returns for society can be expected. Restoration also creates jobs in rural areas where they are most needed. Some countries have already invested in restoration as part of their strategies to bounce back from COVID-19. Others are turning to restoration to help them adapt to a climate that is already changing. Only with healthy ecosystems can we enhance people’s livelihoods, counteract climate change and stop the collapse of biodiversity.

For more information, please contact:

Tamriko Mikadze
Press and Information Officer,
Delegation of the European Union to Georgia;
Tamriko.Mikadze@eeas.europa.eu