Georgia's first major carbon-neutral meeting will be held during the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's business forum on May 14-15 in the capital Tbilisi, according to the statement on the website of the bank on Wednesday.
'This year’s annual meeting in Georgia will be one of the first major carbon neutral events in the country. The bank seeks to minimize its environmental impact where possible. Particular emphasis this year is placed on recycling, such as water bottles and printed materials,' according to the Bank.
True to its aim of reducing environmental impact, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, EBRD, will buy carbon offsets from the EBRD-financed Enguri hydropower plant to compensate for the impact of its business forum and annual meeting.
'This year, the EBRD has secured the purchase of offsets from the Enguri plant. The refurbishment of Georgia’s largest power plant, which delivers more than 40 percent of the country’s electricity needs, involved the increase of operating capacity of its power generation units,' the statement revealed.
As a result, more electricity has been produced from renewable energy sources, and this has replaced electricity which would otherwise have to be produced from fossil fuels.
The EBRD has offset greenhouse gas emissions generated from its annual meetings in Istanbul in 2013 and Warsaw in 2014.
The bank has purchased around 50 bins to be used during the annual meeting and business forum in Tbilisi to ensure the waste produced during the meetings is being recycled, the statement read.
'The EBRD will donate all purchased bins to different schools in Georgia after the event to ensure sustainability and promote recycling beyond the organization of the annual meeting and business forum in Tbilisi, Georgia,' the bank underlined.
By Nuran Erkul
Anadolu Agency
nuran.erkul@aa.com.tr