Climate change often seems like a distant problem to us and we have little information about local actions to mitigate climate change.
It may be new information for many of us that Rustavi Municipality also has certain obligations regarding climate change mitigation.
In 2021, Georgia updated its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). To achieve the goals outlined in this document, Georgia’s 2030 Climate Change Strategy and 2021-2023 Action Plan were developed, which was the mechanism for achieving the national goals for climate change mitigation.
At this stage, the Action Plan has been updated, which outlines the planned activities for 2024-2025 in 7 sectors of the economy (energy generation and transmission, transport, buildings, industry, waste, agriculture, forestry).
In addition to issues concerning the whole country of Georgia, we find the following records specifically related to Rustavi:
Transport Sector – Action Plan Goal 2: By 2030, 15% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector compared to baseline scenario projections.
Task 2.3 – Promoting non-motorized mobility and public transport
Activity 2.3.3. Expansion of public transport network in Rustavi municipality
The activity involves:
- Increasing the municipal fleet by 20 buses for transporting passengers in the city and on the Rustavi-Tbilisi route;
- Improving the public transport route network;
- Needs assessment for the development of multimodal transport hubs in the municipality;
- Studying the conditions for introducing a unified ticket for passengers traveling between Tbilisi and Rustavi;
- Studying the optimal frequencies and volumes of public transport between Tbilisi and Rustavi, and optimal locations for stops of intercity public transport from Rustavi to The activity is linked to the following Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being); SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
All this should be achieved by the end of 2025. The responsible agency is Rustavi City Hall, and the partner agencies are: Tbilisi City Hall, Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure.
The required budget is 14 million GEL, however, at this stage, this amount is deficient.
Let us remind you that we advocated for solving the intercity transport problem between Rustavi and Tbilisi at the working meetings held on August 10 and October 9.
Task 2.4 – Implementation of evidence-based innovative initiatives in the transport sector
Activity 2.4.4. Digitization of roads adapted for non-motorized and public transport mobility, other roads, directions of movement on them, and installed road infrastructure
The activity involves entering and updating information about roads in Georgia, road infrastructure, and traffic on Google Maps.
Linked to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being); SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
By the 4th quarter of 2025, the roles of relevant agencies and deadlines for entering and updating information on Google Maps should be defined by normative act.
Among the responsible agencies, along with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia and other municipalities, the Rustavi Municipality is also included.
Activity 2.4.5. Improving mobility between Tbilisi and neighboring municipalities
The activity involves studying the following issues:
- Improving mobility between Tbilisi and neighboring municipalities.
- Assessing the establishment of a passenger rail system;
- Development of multimodal transport hubs at Tbilisi Central Railway Station and Tbilisi Airport;
- Feasibility of a new railway line between Tbilisi Airport and Rustavi.
Accordingly, the results of relevant studies (Tbilisi Sustainable Transport Plan Implementation Report) should be prepared and published by 2026.
The responsible agency is Tbilisi City Hall, however, Rustavi City Hall is one of the partner agencies.
The budget is 300,000 GEL, but at this stage, it is deficient.
Activity 2.4.6. – Study on the establishment of a passenger rail system between Tbilisi and surrounding municipalities
The results of relevant studies (Tbilisi Sustainable Transport Plan Monitoring Report) should be prepared and published by 2026.
Although Rustavi City Hall is not listed as a responsible or a partner agency here, the issue covers Rustavi Municipality as well.
Activity 2.4.8. – Arranging infrastructure for electric vehicles in Georgia, which involves preparing recommendations on optimal locations and deployment periods for electric vehicle charging stations across the country
Accordingly, the relevant study should be published by 2026.
For this activity, the responsible agency is the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, and the partner agencies are municipalities and the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure.
The required budget for this activity is 100,000 GEL and it is deficient.
Industry Sector – Goal 4: By 2030, promote the development of low-carbon approaches in the industry sector by encouraging climate-smart and energy-efficient technologies and services, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5% compared to baseline scenario projections.
Task 4.1 – Reducing the level of greenhouse gas emissions from industrial processes and energy consumption by industrial facilities through the introduction of modern technologies
Activity 4.1.1. – Promoting low greenhouse gas emission nitric acid production.
Since 2020, Georgia, in cooperation with the Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety of the Federal Republic of Germany, has joined an initiative to equip nitric acid-producing companies in member countries with technology that absorbs nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas.
“Rustavi Azoti” LLC, a nitric acid-producing plant, will be equipped with modern technology to reduce N2O emissions from their production cycle.
This activity is linked to the EU-Georgia Association Agreement (Directives 2008/50/EC and 2010/75/EU) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 3 and 9).
As a result of the activity, by the 4th quarter of 2025, the entire amount (100%) of nitric acid should be produced with the new equipment.
The responsible parties for this activity are “Rustavi Azoti” LLC and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture. The budget is 17,820,000 GEL, of which 8,910,000 GEL is covered by LLC “Rustavi Azoti”, and 8,910,000 GEL is covered by a grant from the German government.
To learn more details about this and other issues, you can view the 2024-2025 Action Plan of Georgia’s 2030 Climate Change Strategy at the link – https://eiec.gov.ge/En/Announcements/5155
We also inform you that a public discussion on Georgia’s Climate Change 2030 Strategy 2024-2025 Action Plan will be held on December 12 of this year, and comments and suggestions on the document can be submitted until December 8 to the following email addresses: Kakha.Lomashvili@mepa.gov.ge climatechange@mepa.gov.ge