Preparation of a National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP)
The Government of Georgia is now commencing preparation of a National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP) which will identify priorities and set shot and long term goals for environmental management, regulatory policy and related institutional development. Preparatory work in developing a NEAP is funded by a grant from the WB’s Institutional Development Fund (IDF). Project completion is expected in November 1998 - publication of NEAP. Donor conference is palnned for January, 1998.
The Objectives in preparing a NEAP are:
- to evaluate and prioritize environmental issues in terms of human health impact and cost effectiveness
- to apply lessons learned in other countries about environmental policy and institutional arrangements for environmental management
- to introduce, where relevant, economic approaches (e.g. user charges) which reduce environmental pressure as well as create the ability to finance solutions to pollution problems
- to initiate public participation in formulating environmental strategies
General Tasks of preparing of NEAP will include:
- preparation of working papers on major environmental themes
- workshops and seminars for introducing policy and regulatory approaches used in other countries
- workshops for soliciting public views and to raise public awareness of environmental issues
- an institutional assessment of MoE to provide a plan for building up its capabilities
- related training and development of training materials
Management and Organization. Under of direction of Project Management Team, led by MoE, nine Working Groups on particular environmental issues are established:
- Regulatory Framework and Institutional Issues
- Public Health, Demographics and Social Issues
- Water Resource and Water Quality ManagementUrban Issues
- Air Quality, Waste Management, Urban Land Use
- Environmental Issues Related to Industry and Energy
- Agriculture and Rural Land Use
- Environmental Education and Public Information
- Biodiversity (to be funded separately under GEF grant)
- Forestry Management