Submitted by Saba Iakobidze, Regional Ambassador in Georgia of the 22nd Eco-generation Program

Tbilisi, Georgia

 

First of all, what is sustainability? Sustainable refers to something that can be practiced for many years without putting the environment at risk and also gain benefit from it, which guarantees that future generations can use the same practices as we were. There are 17 sustainable development goals that are planned to be achieved by 2030. The global community are still working towards sustainable development goals, and my country Georgia is no exception.1 I will review below seven environmental SDGs related to the environment in Georgia: #6 clean water and sanitation, #7 affordable and clean energy, #11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, #12 Responsible Consumption and Production, #13 Climate Action, #14 Life Below Water and #15 Life on Land.

SDG #7 is called affordable and clean energy. From my personal perspective, Georgia is more advanced in this SDG than in others, that's my personal opinion, but I have my arguments. As I have mentioned in my previous reports, Georgia has a great potential for hydropower. There are many HPP projects in progress and planned to be implemented in the nearest future and the total budget is more than 1 billion USD. In 2017 there were built 4 new HPPs which together grossed out to 239 million USD their names are: Kokhi, Abuli, Digomi, Mtkvari cascade HPPs.2 There also was built 14.3 million USD HPP in Racha region;3 by all this Georgia has gained more energy independence which means that Georgia will have clean energy and no longer have to be dependent on other countries electricity. Georgia is also focusing on clean water and sanitation and diverts its budget to ensure there are strict rules and regulations to have access to clean water to drink, thus making Georgia country that follows SDG #6. Georgia is rich with mineral waters and springs; tap water can also be drunk without concern in the capital Tbilisi and other major cities, as far as standard complies with WHO standards for drinking water.4

Georgia may not be the most advanced country in SDG #11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities and #12 Responsible Consumption and Production, but in 2017 Georgia signed an association agreement with the European Union (EU), according to which Georgia must develop its plans considering joint goals and EU strategy about sustainable future and green environment. Georgia has clearly described this strategy in the Social-Economic Development Plan and several green projects have already been initiated.

Moving to SDG number: 13, 14, 15 we should mention that my country really focuses on Climate Action and Life Below Water and on Land. There are 84 species of fish and 12 of amphibians in Georgia.5 In my previous report I stated about the vast biodiversity of my country and that there are many protected areas in Georgia; notable protected areas are: Lagodekhi nature reserve which is the oldest protected area in Georgia created in 1912, also Borjomi-Kharagauli national park where one can find diverse flora and fauna, ranging from bears to mesmerising tall trees, but I think the most important reserve is Vashlovani nature reserve, which was created in 1935 to protect its forests and fauna.6 Vashlovani is known as ‘’Georgian Africa’’ because of its Sahara style terrain, there are so-called ‘mud volcanoes’ and there was a sighting of leopard once in there.7

Last, but not least, there is a new project commencing from the end of this year in Tbilisi, Georgia initiated by a local company – Sustainable Development Solutions Caucasus (SDSC). SDSC is going to bring from the UK professional study program in sustainability. The “IEMA Diploma in Sustainable Business Practice” from Make UK, United Kingdom will be taught for senior-level managers and governmental authorities, who are holding a leading position in their organization/company and are empowered to make necessary changes to sustainable future. SDSC will also be covering the Caucasus region and neighbouring countries.8 I think this is a very important initiative, which will make a positive educational change to my country and region.

Georgia may not be the most advanced country in the aspect of implementing the SDGs, but I can say that my country is still pretty advanced and slowly, but surely moving to the right direction; Georgian government is striving towards a more sustainable future of the whole world by reducing waste and CO2 emissions by switching to alternative energy and by protecting crucial part takers in ecosystem also known as endemic species. I hope that you will find this report engaging and that I have managed to raise your interest about sustainability in Georgia.

Supporting photos ⁹

[1] https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/envision2030.html – Access date: July 17, 2019

2 http://agenda.ge/en/news/2017/1882 – Access date: July 18, 2019

3 http://agenda.ge/en/news/2017/64 – Access date: July 18, 2019

4 https://www.gwp.ge/en/waterquality – Access date: July 19, 2019

5 https://www.iucn.org/content/georgia-%E2%80%93-haven-biodiversity – Access date: July 19, 2019

6 https://www.georgianholidays.com/sights/protected-areas/vashlovani-protected-area – Access date: July 20, 2019

7 https://georgiantour.com/vashlovani/ – Access date: July 20, 2019

8 http://sdsc.ge/ – Access date: July 21, 2019

9 https://www.bm.ge/en/article/georgia-goes-green-kutaisi-city-launches-factory-for-electric-cars---euronews/36468 – Access date: July 21, 2019