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“The Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Committee is already actively working on the draft law ‘On Water Resources Management’ and on waste management issues, which are two the most important key elements in the process of developing green economy .”
The public sector plays an important role in the development of green business. Creating a legal framework adapted to the needs and goals of the country and acting within it contributes to the proper development of the country’s economic, social and political sectors.
In an interview with The FINANCIAL, Maia Bitadze, talked about the projects implemented in the committee, the challenges in the country and the future plans that will support the development of green business in the country.
Q. What is the role of implementing a green business concept in the development of the country? Does it respond to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals?
A. The implementation of the concept of a green economy plays an important role in the development process of the country. As is known, the goal of a green economy is to improve human wellbeing and social equality by reducing environmental risks. At the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, states agreed to establish a green economy as an important tool for sustainable development, insofar as it is inclusive and enables economic growth, along with employment and poverty eradication by maintaining the functioning of the earth’s ecosystems. Thus, we can consider a green economy to be one of the vital mechanisms for achieving the goals of sustainable development.
Q. What is the role of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources in promoting green business?
A. The Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Committee actively works in the direction of promoting green business, However it is one of the main priorities of the Committee and is included in the Committee’s 2022-2024 action plan.
To promote the growth of a green and circular economy, the Committee aims to:
The Committee actively cooperates with the business and non-governmental sector to promote a green economy, which is manifested in the discussion of the challenges with the representatives of the relevant sector within the scope of the committee meetings. In addition, in order to ensure effective communication with the business sector, within the Committee we have created a working group with the business sector, on issues of environmental protection and natural resources management, which works on challenges in the process of carrying out ongoing reforms and introducing new regulations or applicable incentives in the field of environmental protection and natural resources.
Q. What legislative changes were made in 2021-2022 that contributed to the development of green business?
A. In 2021-2022, the Parliament of Georgia adopted important legislative changes that are contributed to the development of the green economy in the country. Among them are:
It is important to note the amendments made to the Law of Georgia “On Ambient Air Protection”, according to which, from 1 June, 2021, the operator of the activity is obliged, for the purpose of self-monitoring, which implies to carry out continuous determination of the actual amount of organised emissions of harmful substances from stationary sources of pollution into the atmosphere, using an instrumental method (self-monitoring of emissions).
Q. How do you regulate the harmful effects of business on the environment? What sanctions exist in this regard in the country?
A. In order to minimise the regulation of the harmful effects of business on the environment, the starting principles of the Committee’s law-making activities are the regulation of activities with possible significant impact on the environment in accordance with modern environmental standards and the establishment of appropriate responsibility measures in case of damage to the environment.
On the other hand, the adequate attitude of the business is also important and it is welcomed that the business thinks and expresses its readiness to conduct its activities in compliance with environmental requirements. This is an important factor for the development of the green economy.
Thus, the imposed fines are the framework that in turn encourages companies to use modern technologies in the production process and therefore, at the same time, to save the expanses they are facing in the long-term perspective , however modern technologies in addition to the fact that they are more environmental friendly they are as well more cost effective. This is a prerequisite for their integration in the modern and global space.
Q. What role does public-private partnership play in the development of green business?
A. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are becoming increasingly popular in public policy. It is expected that this partnership will improve public welfare, increase the efficiency of the spending of public finances, promote international cooperation and aid effectiveness.
A green economy is mainly based on six sectors: renewable energy, green buildings, sustainable transport, water management and waste management. PPPs aimed at reducing pollution, increasing energy and resource efficiency can be considered to be one of the important mechanisms for achieving green growth, especially in terms of green infrastructure development.
Q. What are the main challenges you see in terms of green business development in Georgia?
A. There is great potential for the development of a green economy in Georgia, especially in such fields as energy and agriculture, transport, tourism and the forestry sector.
Certain institutional foundations have been prepared for the formation of a green economy. In particular, during the last decade, the “Waste Management Code”, “Forest Code”, “Environmental Assessment Code”, “Environmental Liability Law”, etc. have been adopted, which fully take into account the legal requirements of the European Union.
Three national environmental action programmes of Georgia have also been adopted, where the environmental goals and priorities of Georgia are outlined, as well as the tasks necessary to improve the environment are defined. According to the 2021 Global Innovation Index report, which measures green economic activity, Georgia ranks 63 out of 130 countries.
The transition to a green economy is a complex process that depends on the overall level of economic development and its profound qualitative changes. Thus, it is logical that Georgia is facing challenges as our country is in the process of developing a green economy. The implementation of environmentally-safe methods is associated with considerable costs for businesses. For example, the measures to improve the atmospheric air condition in Rustavi envisage the reduction of industrial emissions, which in many cases, in addition to the installation of cleaning equipment in enterprises, also requires the upgrading of technology and change of whole production cycle, which is associated with extra expenses for them. That is why it is important to implement a consistent policy by the state, by taking into consideration business support and encouragement.
Q. What are the main projects you’ve implemented in terms of promoting green business in Georgia in 2021-2022?
A. The Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Committee, with the support of the Swedish Government and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Georgia, carried out a thematic inquiry on the topic: sustainable management of inert waste. On the basis of the mentioned thematic inquiry , legislative changes will be initiated by the Committee in the Waste Management Code of Georgia, if necessary, as well as in the spatial planning and construction legislation. The mentioned changes will improve the existing legal regulation, in particular the issues of sustainable management of inert waste will be clarified, including the rights and duties and responsibilities of central and local government agencies.
The Committee, with the support of the British Government and the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), together with the Parliament’s Sectoral Economy and Economic Policy Committee, launched a thematic inquiry on the topic titled “Opportunities and Challenges of Decarbonisation in Georgia”, which aims to identify the challenges for achieving the goals of the decarbonisation policy in Georgia.
According to the action plan of the committee in 2022, it is envisaged to start the development of a draft law on climate change. In order to effectively fulfil the obligations undertaken by Georgia at the international level, it is important to create an appropriate legal framework. The project determines the creation of the Parliamentary Council on Climate Change in the Parliament of Georgia, which will significantly increase the role of the Parliament in the formation of the climate change policy and the supervision of its implementation.
In addition, effective inter-agency cooperation is also important. Based on the goals of the development of a green economy, state agencies in the field of economy and environmental protection, closely cooperate and work together, including in the direction of education and capacity building.
In addition, it is welcomed that already at the municipal level, appropriate acts are being issued that promote the development of a green economy, including the conversion of biomass into energy.
There are also governmental programmes aimed at assisting businesses in the process of transition to environmentally-friendly technologies. For the same purpose, the state spares no effort in obtaining the support of donors.
All of the above-mentioned already collectively create the basis for introducing the principles of a green economy in Georgia.
Q. What are the future goals and plans of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources that will encourage and promote the developme
