Second Plenary Meeting on Circular Economy Mapping in Georgia

On 12th November 2021, in the frames of ‘To Map Circular Economy in Georgia’ Project funded by the Government of Sweden, Georgian Society of Nature Explorers “Orchis” (GSNE “Orchis”) organized the second Plenary Meeting on Circular Economy Mapping in Georgia in close cooperation with the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia to discuss the works performed by the Inter-Ministerial Coordination Board of the Government of Georgia (GoG) and the Circular Economy Mapping Task Group of GSNE “Orchis” since the first Plenary Meeting on 1st July 2021 and to present the results of the preliminary research. Specifically, the following were discussed during the meeting: (i) the importance of different sectors of the economy in the economic structure of the country according to macroeconomic and employment indicators; (ii) waste generation assessment methodology by sector and region, results of the preliminary waste assessment (interim results) and current level of recycling; (iii) circularity potential, related mainly to the ability to recycle waste (interim description); (iv) a future plan to complete the ongoing evaluation process; (v) new, additional study plan; and (vi) a preliminary analysis will be provided on the corrections to be made in terms of identifying promising approaches and completing the task of circular economy mapping.

The representatives of the Parliament of Georgia and the GoG (the Ministries of Environment Protection & Agriculture, Economy & Sustainable Development, and Regional Development & Infrastructure), the GoG’s Inter-Ministerial Coordination Board, the Embassy of the Kingdom of Sweden / Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), media and others attended the meeting.

The meeting was opened by the Deputy Minister of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia Acad. Solomon Pavliashvili. The Head of Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency/ Deputy Head of Mission Mr. Erik Iles and the Chair of Georgian Society of Nature Explorers “Orchis” Dr. Mariam Kimeridze made their welcoming speeches.

The keynote speakers of the Plenary Meeting were Dr. Dariusz Edward Prasek, Leader of the Circular Economy Mapping Programme, an International Expert in environmental, social and governance areas and circular economy, member of the United Nations Advisory Board on Circular Economy, former Director of Operations in Environmental and Sustainability Department of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Independent Expert on Development Financing at IDB Invest, and Dr. Medgar Chelidze, Key National Expert in Sustainable Development (Deputy Team Leader, GSNE “Orchis”).

The programme to Map Circular Economy in Georgia has been implemented through funding of the Government of Sweden to accelerate transition to the circularity via setting appropriate national quantitative circular economy policy targets and circular ambitions, identifying sector circular economy opportunities, mapping priority sectors for circular economy initiatives and sector-specific policy options, and developing recommendations for the Circular Economy Roadmap and Strategy of Georgia.

With the concerted efforts of the GoG, civil society organisations, academia and international partners, Georgia has initiated the development of the circular economy strategy and roadmap based on a comprehensive multidimensional approach that covers production, consumption, waste management, secondary raw materials, innovation, investments as well as ongoing initiatives in different sectors implemented by different players that are at different stages of the value chain or different stages of development.

The second Plenary Meeting was arranged in the frames of the project ‘To Map Circular Economy in Georgia’ commonly by GSNE “Orchis” and the MoEPA. The project ‘To Map Circular Economy in Georgia’ is being implemented by GSNE “Orchis”, through funding of the Government of Sweden, with the support of Georgian Ministries of Environmental Protection & Agriculture, Regional Development & Infrastructure, Economy & Sustainable Development, Finance, and Education & Science.