CENN to Promote Environmental Protection and Green Growth

Caucasus Environmental NGO Network CENN is a regional development organization that has worked for over 25 years to protect the environment throughout the South Caucasus and promote sustainable development and green growth.

CENN’s work area covers climate change, sustainable natural resource management, promoting inclusive economic development, strengthening democracy and good governance, climate-resilient rural development, and empowering women, girls, and youth.

Since 1998, CENN has laid the foundation for about 300 development projects in the South Caucasus with international partners. The organization works closely with various sectors, including governments, businesses, academia, and educational and multilateral institutions, to facilitate participatory processes and strengthen dialogue at all stages of policy development and implementation.

Ana Petriashvili, Head of Communications for CENN, discusses the Organisation’s goals, values​​, and programmes.

What kind of projects and activities do you carry out to promote sustainable development and green growth?

Since its inception, CENN has been primarily focused on environmental activities. However, over the years, it has become increasingly clear that the modern world’s problems are interrelated and that there is no singled-out aspect of development. Therefore, even before the United Nations formulated the Sustainable Development Goals, CENN used a holistic approach to development, considering social and economic aspects of environmental activities.

To further strengthen this holistic approach, in 2021, we reassessed the organization’s strategy. We decided to expand our scope and start working on new strategic directions immediately addressing Sustainable Development Goals. Currently, with the help of international donors such as the European Union, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC), Swedish International Development Agency (Sida), German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), etc., we work on modern development initiatives in several areas – creation and strengthening of social services, development of civil society, strengthening of farmers on climate-smart agriculture, promotion of businesses in terms of introducing circular approaches, support of local entrepreneurs for rural development, diversification of the rural economy, multi-functional, sustainable use of forests, promotion of decentralization and empowerment of women, youth and vulnerable communities.

We believe that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals is not just the government’s responsibility; it is a joint commitment that must unite all sectors. To better advocate this approach, we issue a report at the end of each year, reviewing the activities we have implemented to achieve a specific Sustainable Development Goal. We believe this is a good example for other organizations to commit to increasing their role in achieving the SDGs and to report and communicate accordingly to the general public.

Tell us about the projects implemented to overcome the challenges related to climate change, environmental protection, and energy efficiency. What are the challenges facing the country in this direction?

Georgia has taken certain steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote renewable energy sources, and increase energy efficiency, in which CENN is actively involved. Breaking down every initiative completely would be difficult, but I would highlight some of the most important processes.

We implement the EU-supported “Georgian Climate Program,” which promotes increased civil society involvement in developing and implementing climate change policies. To make policymaking more transparent and collaborative, we have created a national climate platform and regional action groups. The project financed 20 innovative projects in four target regions of Georgia for climate change mitigation and adaptation, introduction of energy-efficient and renewable technologies, and development of climate change-resilient agriculture.

Regarding natural resource protection and energy efficiency, with financial support from ADC, CENN has been continuously involved in forest policy and management improvement initiatives since 2012. In 2016, it was within the framework of this cooperation that market research on heating resources took place in Georgia, which created a convincing picture for the state and international organizations about the energy pressure on forests. This reality has defined specific tasks for the stakeholders in the forest and energy sector, which include sustainable and rational management and control of forests, promotion of sustainable biomass production and consumption, production of energy-efficient technologies, etc.

Finally, I would like to touch on the circular economy, which is one of the leading areas for CENN. Since 2014, we have been actively working on introducing modern waste management standards and creating an appropriate business environment. In 2014-20, we laid the foundation for the first separation system in public space and created the first precedent of a modern waste management model in the country. In 2021, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway, we developed a national plastic waste prevention program for the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture based on the best international practices and approaches in plastic management. Currently, with the support of UNDP and GIZ, we are working with businesses to develop business models that will implement packaging return and reuse systems and help prevent single-use packaging.

In this direction, what obligations has Georgia undertaken under the Association Agreement? What should the private sector and the state do to overcome the challenges and implement international standards?

By the requirements of the European Union, Georgia has undertaken to mitigate the consequences of climate change, which means achieving climate neutrality by 2050, as well as meeting other requirements stipulated by the European Green Deal in a wide range of political areas.

In recent years, Georgia has taken important steps toward fulfilling international obligations in the field of climate change—the defined contribution document at the national level was updated, the 2030 climate strategy was approved, a long-term low-emission development strategy and the concept of a national energy and climate action plan were developed. Currently, the country is working on developing the Climate Law, which should bring climate-related legislation into a unified framework.

As for energy efficiency, the country has also made important commitments. Georgia, as a member of the Energy Union, must lay the foundation for important reforms in the energy sector to bring it into compliance with EU Directives. However, besides the legislative and regulatory framework, it is necessary to encourage energy-efficient technologies and prioritize renewable energy sources. In this process, of course, businesses and the state are assigned a big role in introducing financial incentive mechanisms, stimulating the demand for green technologies, encouraging the so-called green employment market – green jobs – and promoting knowledge transfer.

The same can be said for waste management – businesses and the state play the leading role here. The state should promote the creation of an ecosystem and investment environment where the processing sector will grow, and businesses can work in a circular model.

What would be your recommendation to the business sector and other stakeholders? How can we accelerate the EU integration process, and what role can they play in this process?

Now is the most important stage for Georgia, as it is on the way to joining the European Union. The status of a candidate country opens up great opportunities for us, but at the same time, it puts us in front of a great responsibility. We are now in a historical era when the European future of the country is being decided. In these processes, commitment to democratic principles, cooperation, knowledge sharing, and experience and support for local organizations and businesses is crucial. The European Union and its Member States lead the way regarding democracy, equality, and environmental and climate-related policies. Georgia’s European integration process and its European future are determined precisely by its harmony with the values mentioned above, and we should all work on this today.