Overview

The European Union and three UN agencies, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) join hands with the Environment Agency Austria (UBA) to improve air quality, therefore safeguarding the health of Georgia's citizens.

What We Do

The project aims to strengthen the country's ability to monitor and analyze air quality, with particular attention given to regulating industrial emissions. 

The key components of the project include:

• Strengthening Air Quality Monitoring Infrastructure: Improving the air quality monitoring network in existing air quality management zones, with a specific focus on areas such as Chiatura, affected by elevated levels of "toxic" dust containing manganese due to open-pit mining operations.
• Enhancing Modelling and Forecasting Capacities: Upgrading the modelling and forecasting capabilities of the National Environmental Agency (NEA) of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture (MEPA), ensuring the quality and validity of air quality measurements.
• Air Quality Health Modelling and Assessment: Improving knowledge and capacities of responsible national agencies - NEA and the National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC) - in air quality health modelling and assessment.
• Establishing a National Reference Laboratory: Supporting the Government of Georgia (GoG) in establishing and commissioning a national reference laboratory, while building national capacities in the operations and maintenance of analytical and inter-calibration equipment.
• Capacity Building and Knowledge Dissemination: Enhancing the knowledge and capacities of decision-makers and relevant stakeholders in air quality health aspects, including risk communication. Implement a gender equality and social inclusion framework in air quality management, incorporating a toolkit and checklist.
• Technical Regulations on BAT (Best Available Techniques): Elaborating and supporting the adoption of technical regulations on BAT, ensuring a comprehensive and effective regulatory framework.
• BAT Incentives Study: Conducting a study on BAT incentives, presenting concrete proposals and strategies for their promotion.
• Pilot Project on BAT: Implementing a pilot project on BAT, emphasizing private sector cost-sharing as a sustainable approach.
• Capacity Building for Regulation of Industrial Emissions: Building knowledge and capacity among MEPA and industry representatives regarding the regulation of industrial emissions and BAT compliance.