A new automatic station was added to the National Environment Agency’s air quality monitoring network in Tbilisi as part of the “Save Nature – Georgia” project implemented by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture and the International Development Cooperation Agency of the Kingdom of Sweden (Sida). The air quality monitoring network of the National Environmental Agency will be expanded by eight automatic and one mobile station by the end of 2023.

The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Otar Shamugia, addressed the participants, noting that the support of partner organizations is invaluable in expanding the atmospheric air monitoring network in the country.

“Improving air quality is one of the priority directions. This year, we had several important initiatives at the legislative level specifically we have adopted different regulations in the industrial sector, and road transport, which is a significant polluter in large cities.

We opened another modern ambient air quality monitoring station in Tbilisi with the support of the Swedish government, and by the end of the year, with their assistance, we will have eight more stations across the country. The mentioned project is progressing, and with the support of the European Union, the entire country will be covered by monitoring stations next year. We will open 27 similar stations across the country to ensure that we have reliable information on ambient air quality. I would thank our partners for their support and reiterate that we will continue to adopt appropriate measures to improve the air quality in the country”, - said the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Otar Shamugia.

“Today is a significant day regarding the air quality management in Georgia. Another automatic station was installed in Tbilisi, which allows improving the air quality monitoring system. It should be mentioned that the Government of Georgia has taken crucial steps to reduce air pollution in the transportation, construction, and agriculture sectors, which have been positively reflected in the EU report.

It is also worth noting that the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture and the National Environmental Agency made significant contributions to improving the monitoring system. For its part, the Swedish government will continue to assist Georgia to have an appropriate monitoring system”, - adaded the Head of Development Cooperation and Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Sweden in Georgia, Erik Illes.

The information received from the modern ambient air quality monitoring station allows us to plan new events and projects, which will contribute to further improvement of air quality. The mentioned data will be posted on the Agency’s portal www.air.gov.ge.