Informational Meeting Held in Batumi Under World Bank’s “Bluening the Black Sea” (BBSEA) Program to Address Marine Pollution

 
As part of the World Bank’s “Bluing the Black Sea” (BBSEA) program, an informational meeting was held in Batumi through the partnership between Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia and the Regional Environmental Center for the Caucasus (RECC). The meeting focused on the challenges of marine pollution in the Black Sea and strategies for its reduction.

 

The main objective of the meeting was to present the findings of the study “Reducing Marine Plastic Pollution in Georgia”, conducted under the BBSEA program. The session also aimed to share knowledge, identify municipal priorities and challenges, and outline plans for the future.

 

In his opening remarks, Mr. Solomon Pavliashvili, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, expressed his gratitude to the World Bank for its support and the RECC for organizing the event. He emphasized the importance of effective plastic waste management in the country.

 

“The Government of Georgia, together with its partners, is actively engaged in addressing the issue of plastic pollution. The study clearly revealed that plastic waste pollution along the Black Sea coast, as well as in the country's rivers, is significantly high. We are ready to initiate discussions with the private sector to reduce plastic consumption. At the same time, we aim to offer the public environmentally friendly alternatives to replace plastic products. We must make every effort to clean up our environment from plastic waste and promote recycling — a key element of Georgia’s National Waste Management Plan and Circular Economy Strategy,” said Mr. Pavliashvili.

 

Mr. Klaus Sattler, Environmental Specialist at the World Bank, commended the Government of Georgia for its clear and proactive stance on the issue, calling it essential for reducing plastic pollution in the Black Sea.

 

“Protecting the Black Sea is a priority for Georgia. Meetings like this enable governments, international partners, and municipalities to develop actionable joint steps to reduce plastic pollution significantly,” stated Mr. Mirian Katamadze, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara.

 

During the meeting, research findings were presented, highlighting plastic pollution “hotspots” across Georgia, as well as trends and dynamics in waste-related contamination.

 

The event in Batumi was attended by representatives of Georgian municipalities, the non-governmental sector, international and local experts, and other stakeholders.