Georgia Reaffirms Commitment to European Environmental Standards in Meeting with UNEP Chief

In Geneva, Switzerland, during the Ministerial of the Intergovernmental Committee on Plastic Pollution, First Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Nino Tandilashvili, met with UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Inger Andersen.

At the meeting, Tandilashvili provided a comprehensive overview of the reforms Georgia has undertaken in recent years. These include significant improvements in environmental governance, the sustainable management of water resources, climate change mitigation, air quality enhancement, and modernized waste management systems.

“Georgia continues the process of integration with Europe and the introduction of European standards to improve the state of the environment and align national legislation with EU requirements,” said Tandilashvili. “This includes the implementation of all obligations under multilateral international agreements, reaffirming the Georgian government's unwavering commitment to international environmental responsibilities.”

Tandilashvili emphasized the importance of introducing the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system in waste management, a key pillar in the country’s sustainable development strategy. She also thanked Andersen for her personal advocacy in advancing the International Treaty on the Prevention of Plastic Pollution.