Air pollution levels in Georgia are considered unhealthy with annual average of fine particles PM2.5 exceeding the World Health Organization's air quality guideline by at least three times.
To support Georgia in further improving its air quality management system, a new EU-funded project, entitled ‘Air Quality for Better Citizen’s Health’ was launched on 19 April.
The four-year project, which aims to improve air quality in Georgia and safeguard people’s health, is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), WHO, UNECE, and Environment Agency Austria, in partnership with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, the National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health, and the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia.
The ambitious goals set for completion by the end of 2027 include strengthening Georgia's air quality monitoring network and enhancing national capacities in monitoring, modelling, and predicting air quality, along with its impact on public health. It also includes a component on gender equality and social inclusion in air quality management.
Furthermore, the project will assist Georgia in establishing a national reference laboratory and implementing efficient strategies to regulate industrial emissions and mitigate pollution in alignment with Best Available Techniques and international practice, including under the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution.