Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia

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Otar Shamugia and the Ambassador of Japan sign the Memorandum

The Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Cooperation was signed between the Governments of Georgia and Japan within the Paris Agreement of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The Memorandum was signed by the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Mr. Otar Shamugia and the Ambassador of Japan to Georgia, Mr. Imamura Akira.

Mr.  Shamugia expressed his gratitude and showed appreciation to the Ambassador for providing support to Georgia both in the agricultural and environmental protection fields over the years, and noted that the respective Memorandum will contribute to the deepening of cooperation between the two countries in the field of climate change.

"Climate change is one of the main challenges facing the world, including Georgia. Georgia, like other parties to the Paris Agreement, recognizes the need to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, making a commitment to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels. Bilateral cooperation with Japan will significantly help Georgia to achieve the aforementioned goal," Mr. Otar Shamugia stated.

As stated by the Japanese Ambassador to Georgia, Mr. Imamura Akira, the signing of the Memorandum between the two countries is the first step towards deepening cooperation in the field of climate change by developing decarbonizing and climate-friendly technologies, which will be followed by many other important activities. 

"Japan, like other countries, has made a commitment to achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2050. Today's memorandum will allow us to support Georgia in achieving our joint goal. We will be able to provide decarbonization technologies, products, systems etc. to Georgia through Japanese companies. 
The memorandum will help Georgian and Japanese companies to implement joint projects in various fields, including renewable energy - hydro and solar power plants, power generating equipment, devices, ways of generating energy from waste, and the most energy-efficient transport systems," said the Japanese Ambassador, Mr. Imamura Akira.

 The Ambassador thanked the Minister and the team of the Ministry for their active work and efforts which enabled the completion of all the necessary procedures and signing of the Memorandum in a short time.

It should be mentioned, that Article 6 is on the establishment of international compliance carbon markets governed by the rules of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, whereupon, countries can trade carbon credits, moreover, the respective agreement allows developed countries to purchase emissions from developing countries and use them, thus contributing to the fulfilment of their obligations. 

Georgia is very actively implementing emissions trading. In 2021, a bilateral agreement was signed between Georgia and the Swiss Confederation on emissions trading. At the beginning of 2022, Japan expressed its interest in cooperation with Georgia, and in June 2022, a final agreement was reached to launch the respective partnership.