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David Songulashvili Meets Israeli Minister of Environmental Protection Idit Silman
As part of his working visit to the State of Israel, the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Mr David Songulashvili, met with the Israeli Minister of Environmental Protection, Mrs Idit Silman.
During the meeting, the parties focused on the challenges posed by climate change, which are affecting the social, economic, and security sectors across all countries. In this context, international cooperation becomes increasingly significant.
Minister Songulashvili highlighted the reforms underway in Georgia aimed at strengthening environmental governance, enhancing climate resilience, and accelerating the transition to a sustainable, low-emission economy system.
“We are pursuing policies aligned with our national commitments—policies that strengthen air-quality management, expand protected areas, and modernise waste management,” stated the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia.
Mr Songulashvili underscored several areas for deepening environmental cooperation with Israel, particularly the rational management of water resources. He highlighted the reform of Georgia’s national water-resource management system, which is based on best international practices and presents valuable opportunities for policy exchange between the two countries, especially for cooperation among the relevant Agencies. The Minister also spoke about Georgia’s ongoing reforms to reduce waste, stating that, to mitigate the harmful impact of plastics, newly adopted regulations will enter into force on 1 January 2026, which prohibit the use of certain plastic items intended for contact with food.
“We are working to promote alternatives that offer more environmentally friendly solutions. Israeli experience is advanced in recycling technologies, waste-to-energy systems, and circular-economy policies,” Mr Songulashvili added.
The Minister also drew attention to Georgia’s protected-area management policy, noting that the country currently has 100 protected areas, covering 13% of its territory.
According to him, cooperation between Georgia’s Agency of Protected Areas and the Israeli Nature and Parks Authority (INPA) will help to develop sustainable tourism between the two countries.
Israeli Minister of Environmental Protection, Mr Idit Silman, thanked Mr Songulashvili for his visit and emphasised the importance of strengthening the close partnership between the two countries. She also mentioned that such cooperation supports the effective implementation of global environmental policies, especially in the face of climate-related challenges.
The Deputy Minister, Mr Lasha Dolidze, Georgia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the State of Israel, Mr Zaza Kandelaki, and Georgia’s Honorary Consul, Mr Meni Ben Ishai, attended the meeting, alongside Minister David Songulashvili.