Air pollution in Tbilisi Poverty and distributional consequences (English)

Reducing outdoor air pollution can be achieved by strengthening air quality monitoring and regulating traffic and industrial emissions. Advancing existing initiatives by exercising more control over car imports and speeding up the implementation of the technical inspection reform could substantially lower outdoor air pollution in Tbilisi. Incentivizing electric vehicle use and enforcing fuel standards could also reduce traffic-related emissions, while preparing Georgia for the green transition. Addressing industrial emissions is also crucial for reducing Tbilisi's outdoor air pollution. In January 2023, the government submitted a new Industrial Emissions Law to Parliament, aiming to prevent industrial spills into the environment and reduce waste generation. Enforcing regulations on filtration and emission control equipment in the industrial sector could be an effective way to curb industrial emissions further. Additionally, introducing carbon pricing, a policy instrument tackling greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, could markedly improve local air quality by reducing overall emissions.