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Solomon Pavliashvili makes opening remarks at the conference "Carbon Trade to Promote Green Economy in Georgia’’
The Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr. Solomon Pavliashvili made opening remarks at the conference "Carbon Trade to Promote Green Economy in Georgia’’. Mr. Pavliashvili expressed gratitude to the Governments of Switzerland, Japan and the United Nations Development Program for their support to Georgia.
"Protecting and taking care of the environment is a priority direction for the state. It should be mentioned, that within the framework of the Paris Agreement and EU-Georgia Association Agreement, Georgia has set ambitious plans to achieve climate change mitigation and green economy development. I believe, that access to carbon markets will help Georgia to implement its climate agenda, obligations set forth in the International Agreements, to move forward to building a climate-resilient society and develop climate-smart agriculture," said Mr.Solomon Pavliashvili.
“Swapping carbon credits is a win-win idea that limits carbon emissions and brings much-needed financing to countries like Georgia to help in their green transition. I am grateful to Switzerland and Japan for being the pioneers in Georgia under the leadership of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture and for leading Georgia on the carbon trading market. We now need to put this great idea into action." said Mr. Nick Beresford, UNDP Resident Representative in Georgia.
"I am glad that we have the opportunity to support Georgia in establishing a place in the Global Carbon Market", said the Ambassador of Japan to Georgia, Mr. Akira Imamura.
" Today's conference is crucial, as it addresses Georgia’s prospects in the Global Carbon Market. The bilateral agreement was signed between Georgia and the Swiss Confederation on emissions trading, whereupon, we are ready to support Georgia in taking necessary measures to mitigate climate change," said Mr. Urs Beer, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Switzerland to Georgia;
The participants of the conference discussed the advantages of carbon trading and Georgia's prospects to access the global carbon markets.
Carbon markets are international cooperation mechanisms that allow selling, buying or transferring emission reductions and removals between countries or commercial entities.
For the country or a private company to access the carbon market, its emission reductions and removals must be real and aligned with the Nationally Determined Contributions/NDCs to the Paris Agreement.
This year, Georgia signed an agreement with Switzerland and Japan on emissions trading.
It should be mentioned, that the financing obtained from carbon trading will help the country to fulfil its obligations toward climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The representatives of relevant state agencies, industrial associations, civil society, private sector, international organizations and interested parties attended the conference.