Georgia

  • With a population of around 3.73 million (2018) , Georgia contributes 0.03% to the total global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and has a per capita footprint of 2.37t CO2e. Georgia’s GHG emissions decreased by 72% (nearly 13 Mio t CO2eq) between 1990 and 1995. The lowest value has been reported for 2001 with 9,6 Mio t CO2eq, since then emissions have increased to 17,8 Mio t CO2eq in 2017. This is also caused by a strong increase in GDP (+56% between 2010 and 2017), dominated by the service sector. The increased economic activity in connection to a decrease in population by 16%, the GDP per capita shows a remarkable increase of 86%, while GHG per GDP dropped by 39%.
    The energy sector has the highest emissions (excluding LULUCF) followed by agriculture, production and industry, and waste:

  • In 2020, Georgia updated its National Determined Contribution (NDC) with an increased ambition compared to the INDC 2015. According to the updated NDC, Georgia unconditionally commits to reduce its GHG emissions by 35% below the reference year of 1990. Furthermore, subject to international support and international effort on a 2 or 1.5-degree pathway, Georgia conditionally commits to reduce its GHG emissions by 50-57% below the reference year of 1990. The NC4 reports an increase in the mean annual ground air temperature in 1986-2015, compared to 1956-1985, – in the range of 0.25-0.58°C. The average increase in the territory of Georgia is 0.47°C. During the same period, the annual precipitation in western Georgia has mainly increased, while it decreased in some eastern regions. Average temperatures in Georgia have increased steadily since the 1960s and are projected to rise by more than the global average by the end of the 21st century. By the 2090s, the average temperature in Georgia is projected to increase between 1.4°C to 4.9°C above the 1986-2005 baseline, depending on the emission pathways from low to high concentrations. The frequency of heat waves is projected to increase significantly by the 2090s under higher emissions pathways, representing major risks to human health, livelihoods, and biodiversity.

  • Georgia is considered highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, facing threats that include increased frequency and severity of droughts (1), flooding (2), landslides (3).

    These are expected to have serious implications for agriculture in particular, which is central to the Georgian economy.

  • A changing climate will also significantly impact the coastal zone. The most vulnerable sectors are agriculture, forestry, tourism, health and cultural heritage.

     

  • In addition to an updated NDC, Georgia has developed a 2030 Climate Change Strategy and 2021-2023 Action Plan (CSAP). CSAP serves as an underlying strategy and short-term action plan for implementing the updated NDC. In addition, Georgia is finalizing its Long-term Low Emission Development Strategy, currently undergoing consultations within the Government of Georgia. In 2021 Georgia developed documents on climate mainstreaming in the energy, agriculture and health sectors.

Climate policy development and advancing cooperation with the EU in Georgia

The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia is responsible for the development and implementation of national climate change policy, as well as the co-ordination of international climate change negotiations. The EU and Georgia’s close relationship is based on the EU – Georgia Association Agreement (AA) including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), which entered into force in July 2016 and strives for political association and economic integration. Georgia is progressing in the legal approximation process for the environment and climate action under the AA.

      • 2014
        • Association Agreement with the EU
        • Socio-economic Development Strategy
          of Georgia
      • 2015
        • INDC 2016-2030
        • COP21 Paris Agreement
        • Pledge to Sustainable Developent Agenda 2030
        • Third National Communication to UNFCCC
      • 2016
        • First Voluntary National Review
        • Annual Governmental Work Plan (AGWP)
        • EU-Georgia AA entered into force
        • Biennial Update Report 1 (BUR)
      • 2017
        • Ratification of Paris Agreement
        • Full member of the European Energy
          Community
      • 2018
        • Georgia Climate Change Conference
      • 2019
        • EU4Climate launched
        • BUR2
        • National Renewable Energy Action Plan
          (NREAP) (2018-2030)
        • National Energy Efficiency Action Plan
          (NEEAP) (2018-2030)
      • 2020
        • National Energy and Climate Plan initiated (2021-2030)
        • Long Term Low Emission Strategy of Georgia (LT-LEDS) – initiated
      • 2021
        • Climate Change Strategy (2030) and Action Plan (2021-2023)
        • Updated NDC (2021-2030)
      • 2022
        • National Energy and Climate Plan (2021-2030) -under development
        • Long Term Low Emission Strategy of Georgia (LT-LEDS) – under development
      • 2023
        • Local NDC/Lt LEDs implementation plan is
          prepared

EU4Climate key policy interventions and expected impact

 

  • Georgia has already committed to low-emission development and one of the main objectives of the government is to improve the country’s preparedness and adaptive capacity by developing climate-resilient practices that reduce the vulnerability of highly exposed communities. The government regularly highlights this as a main priority. Georgia, as a developing country, with limited capacity, needs additional support to its national efforts through international financial, technological and capacity building support.

     

    On 23 June 2022, the European Council adopted conclusions on the membership applications from Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia and has decided to grant the status of candidate country to Ukraine and to the Republic of Moldova, also recognizing the European perspective of Georgia.

  • The EU4Climate Programme, funded by the European Union, aims to support the development and implementation of climate-related policies by the Eastern Partnership countries. The EU4Climate initiative supports Georgia in elaborating its long-term low emission development strategy and mainstreaming climate in the sectoral strategies. A robust domestic emissions monitoring, reporting and verification system will be established, to inform the government and the international community on the progress of its NDC implementation. Throughout the programme, the best international and EU practices will be applied.

Result areas and timeframe in Georgia

RESULT AREAS

2019

2020

2021

2022

 

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

NDC

Long-term LEDS

MRV System

EU Climate Acquis

Climate mainstreaming

Climate investment

Adaptation planning

Result areas and timeframe in Georgia

  • The implementation of EU4Climate activities started in Georgia in the second half of 2019 and laid the footing for systematic implementation of the requirements of the Paris Agreement and the commitments of Georgia under it.

Full country profile can be downloaded here.