Solomon Pavliashvili participates in the Ministerial Meeting on Plastic Prevention.

Solomon Pavliashvili participates in the Ministerial Meeting on Plastic Prevention.

The Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr. Solomon Pavliashvili, attended the Ministerial meeting organized by the Canadian government and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in Ottawa. The Ministerial held within the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) aimed to develop an international legally binding agreement on plastic pollution (UNEP/PP/INC.4/3), including in the marine environment.

Ministers and other high-level representatives of countries such as the United States of America, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, France, and South Korea participated in the Ministerial meeting.

The Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for the European Green Deal and Vice-President of the European Commission for Interinstitutional Relations, Mr. Maroš Šefčovič also attended the Ministerial meeting.

According to the Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr. Solomon Pavliashvili, Georgia, as a candidate member state of the European Union, is actively working towards sustainable waste management and the prevention of plastic pollution.

" Effective negotiations are required to timely complete work on the final draft text of the legal instrument and deal with one of the most acute environmental crises, such as plastic pollution. Moreover, it will be significant to prioritize the reduction of plastic waste through measures such as extended producer responsibility, product design, and the promotion of sustainable alternatives to plastic to ensure the successful implementation of the agreement,

At the same time, it will be necessary to mobilize appropriate resources and provide timely, accessible, and appropriate mechanisms for access to adequate finances, including for countries with developing and transition economies", said Mr. Solomon Pavliashvili.

It is worth mentioning that the development of an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution stems from the historic resolution of the UN Environment Assembly regarding the elimination of environmental pollution caused by plastic (UNEA 5.2), one of the supporters and co-sponsors of which is Georgia. Georgia has also joined the High Ambition Coalition (HAC) to end plastic pollution, initiated by Norway and Rwanda.