Environment and Energy

UNDP runs a programme to assist the Georgian government in fulfilling its environmental commitments. UNDP also promotes the use of local energy resources and the conservation of Georgia’s biodiversity.

Assistance to the Georgian government in meeting its global environmental obligations

UNDP supports the government in the preparation of national reports under the UN Conventions on Climate Change and Biodiversity.

As a party to the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol, Georgia has international commitments in the protection of the stratospheric ozone layer. With funding received from the Multi-Lateral Fund to the Montreal Protocol, UNDP is assisting the government with the gradual phasing out of the consumption of ozone-depleting substances. By 2009 Georgia had reduced the consumption of ozone-depleting substances to zero from 6 tonnes in 2006. 

Local renewable energy resources

In co-operation with the German Development Bank KfW, UNDP encourages the development and use of small hydro and geothermal resources in Georgia. UNDP implements model projects in the mountainous regions of the country to show the benefits of these initiatives and to attract local investors. 

Bio-diversity

In the Samtskhe-Javakheti region, UNDP is working with the Biological Farming Association “Elkana” to help conserve and restore the production of traditional crop and fruit species.

Throughout 2009, UNDP worked with the national Agency for Protected Areas. UNDP assistance was aimed at achieving sustainable financial management and, to this end, we examined different models of revenue generation, including private-public partnerships.

Assistance to the Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation (GOGC)

Through a $6.5million initiative, UNDP supports the Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation in its extended responsibilities for energy security in the gas and oil sector. The three-year project is helping the corporation to improve its internal structures and processes, to establish international standard-based quality and environmental management systems, and to increase the corporate management and technical capacities of the GOGC staff.

Trans-boundary initiatives

In Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, UNDP works to protect the water and related natural resources of the Kura-Aras river basin.  UNDP is also carrying out studies of the impact of Climate Change on the Caucasus region.