Batumi’s Efficiency Action Plan Batumi, Georgia

22%

REdUCTION IN CO₂ EMIssIONs

Inhabitants 169,100

GdP per capita $3,852

Geographic area 200 km²

ThE ChAllENGE

High levels of economic growth and increase in tourism have not been matched by sustainable urban development measures in Batumi.

CO-BENEFITs

Economic

The introduction of more efficiency and energy-saving measures will result in savings for both commercial businesses and individuals.

Environmental

Improvements to the transport sector, added thermal insulation, and climate control systems will all contribute to the reduction of emissions.

Batumi’s efficiency action plan

The city of Batumi is in the midst of an energy efficiency push aimed at reducing local emissions by 20%.

Following a multi stage energy action plan focusing on efficiency improvements, Georgia’s third-largest city has reduced GHGs by over one-fifth in key emitting sectors throughout the city.

Batumi established a Sustainable Energy Action Plan, which involved constructing an inventory of emissions from the key sectors, defining measures for emissions reductions, and monitoring those reductions. These were compared against a business-as-usual scenario which allowed the city to estimate the amount of emissions avoided through the project.

The plan also includes local capacity building and awareness raising, aiming to enhance the knowledge of citizens about the rise of local CO₂ emissions.

Energy-saving bulbs, a methane extraction system for the town’s landfill, and solar panels for municipal buildings are some of the actions taken across the various sectors. Overall, the city estimates that the implemented activities have cut emissions by 22% compared to a business-as-usual scenario.

Batumi’s climate action plan. Batumi committed to making a 20% reduction in emissions through a focus on energy efficiency (photo by UNDP in Georgia).