Opportunities for Development of Circular Models and Technologies in Georgia

On 2nd July 2021, under the patronage of the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia and the Government of Sweden, Georgian Society of Nature Explorers “Orchis” organized in Georgian National Academy of Science a scientific seminar on the theme ‘Opportunities for Development of Circular Models and Technologies in Georgia’.

The seminar was attended by the President and the members of the Presidium of Georgian National Academy of Science, representatives of the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture, the Embassy of the Kingdom of Sweden / Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and media.

The scientific seminar was opened by the President of Georgian National Academy of Science Acad. Giorgi Kvesitadze. The Head of Development Cooperation/Deputy Head of Mission Mr. Erik Illes and the Chair of Georgian Society of Nature Explorers “Orchis” Dr. Mariam Kimeridze made their welcoming speeches.

The Deputy Minister of Environment Protection and Agriculture Acad. Solomon Pavliashvili made a speech on the opportunities to develop circular models and technologies in Georgia.

The member of the UN Advisory Board on Circular Economy, former Director of Operations in Environmental and Sustainability Department of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Dr. Dariusz Edward Prasek discussed the necessity for the accelerated transition to the circular models in Georgia as a modern material management policy.

The speeches about the opportunities for development of circular models and technologies in Georgia that were made on the scientific seminar raised a vivid interest among the participants. The representatives of the Government of Georgia and the National Academy of Science expressed their readiness to actively engage governmental authorities at all levels and academia in this process in order to foster systemic changes to accelerate of the transition to the circular economy. In addition, the representatives of the Presidium of Georgian Academy of Science proposed the ways how to deepen further cooperation with the Keep Georgia Tidy Project regarding the implementation of the circular economy program.

The seminar was initiated by the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture and GSNE “Orchis” to scale up awareness raising about the circular economy to facilitate the transition to the circularity and achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It could be realized thanks to the personal engagement and good will of Dr. Dariusz Prasek, International Expert in the Circular Economy and Acad. Solomon Pavliashvili, Deputy Minister of Environment Protection and Agriculture in the frames of the Circular Economy Mapping programme supported by the Government of Sweden.

The scientific seminar on the circular economy was organized by Georgian Society of Nature Explorers “Orchis” through funding of the Government of Sweden, with the support of Georgian National Academy of Science, Georgian Ministries of Environment Protection & Agriculture, Regional Development & Infrastructure, Economy & Sustainable Development, and Education & Science and the Parliament of Georgia, in cooperation with the Solid Waste Management Company of Georgia and Environmental Information & Education Centre.