In July 2003, the President of the Republic of Georgia approved the Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Programme (EDPRP). This programme is arguably the first serious instance of integration of environmental issues, including climate change, into national plans in Georgia.
The EDPRP seeks to ensure that the National Strategy for Sustainable Development (NSSD), when it is developed, will implement Georgia’s “treaty and convention commitments, economic, social and environmental interests”. The EDPRP also provides that “efforts will be made to bring the NSSD into compliance with EDPRP.” Thus, the EDPRP integrates MEAs and other economic and social agreements while also seeking to ensure that sustainable development projects and laws acknowledge and are consistent with Georgia’s priorities for economic development and poverty reduction.
In addition, measures anticipated under the EDPRP must implement environmental priorities (including those arising from MEAs). For example, the legislation for land use planning, which has yet to be drafted, will define the administrative levels of spatial development and establish detailed rules for adoption of territorial-spatial development plans, amendments, and control over these plans. The legislation will determine the public participation procedures, as well as addressing protection and conservation of biodiversity and sustainable management of terrestrial resources (forest, water, and minerals) during the planning of territorial-spatial development. Moreover, the EDPRP seeks to be consistent with the Kyoto Protocol, requiring that efforts be made to establish a Clean Development Mechanism. Regional and local programmes of water resource management will be worked out to ensure accessibility to clean water, especially for the poor. These programmes will regularise issues of clean water supply. Specific programmes for improving water quality in transboundary rivers and the Black and Caspian Seas will be worked out separately. Moreover, a plan will be developed to mitigate the effects of global climate change and rationalizate water resource management.
For more information, contact Mrs. Nino Gokhelashvili gmep@access.sanet.ge