Promoting sustainable cities in Georgia

Context

Urban areas in Georgia contribute greatly to carbon emissions and are highly vulnerable to climate change impacts. While cities hold immense mitigation potential, they urgently require enhanced adaptation measures to enable a green and just transition.

The national Climate Change Council (CCC) of Georgia monitors and coordinates the implementation of the country’s climate strategy, but high centralisation and limited local capacities hinder municipalities from developing and financing integrated urban development projects for climate action. Moreover, participatory approaches crucial to ensuring the long-term social and economic benefits remain underutilised. Additional efforts are needed to localise Georgia’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Objective

In cooperation with the national government, Georgian cities have developed participatory, climate-oriented and urban-integrated investment projects that are ready for financing.

Approach

The project addresses urban challenges following the Urban Lab Approach, which includes:

• Integrating urban infrastructure projects in the fields of energy efficiency, mobility, waste management, and public space by supporting selected cities and cooperating with stakeholders, experts and local communities.
• Conducting real life laboratories to improve urban integration, citizen participation and inclusivity.
• Enhancing local level capacities for integrated planning and investment budgeting among local government staff and civil society.
• Supporting the elaboration of Neighbourhood Concepts (NCs) for integrated city planning in collaboration with the local community.

Last update: March 2025