NDC PAF Georgia – Cost-effective mitigation planning

Georgia has significantly increased its climate ambition under the draft NDC 3.0, committing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 47% below 1990 levels by 2030 and 50% by 2035. Meeting these enhanced targets requires stronger data systems, sector‑specific mitigation planning, and a pipeline of investment‑ready climate projects. Although Georgia has made progress, supported by UNDP and the GEF in updating its NDC and preparing its first Biennial Transparency Report (BTR), important gaps remain in emission factor development, the prioritization and costing of mitigation options, and the preparation of bankable project proposals.

Funded by the NDC Partnership’s Action Fund, the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre project team will support the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia (MEPA) in developing sector‑specific baseline emission factors, Marginal Abatement Cost Curves, a climate project pipeline and a technology needs and availability assessment.

In response to MEPA’s request, the proposed intervention is structured around six main outputs:

• Output 1 focuses on developing sector‑specific baseline emission factors across key sectors such as energy, transport, buildings, industry, waste, agriculture and LULUCF. These baseline intensities will provide the quantitative foundation needed for measuring emissions reductions and informing project planning.
• Output 2 aims to prepare Marginal Abatement Cost Curves (MACCs) that identify and rank the most cost‑effective mitigation measures. By comparing emission‑reduction potential with associated abatement costs, MACCs will help prioritize actions that deliver the highest impact at the lowest cost.
• Output 3 involves designing a climate project pipeline aligned with Georgia’s NDC 3.0 targets and the SDGs. This includes preliminary technical, economic, GESI assessments, financial modelling, technology needs considerations and data‑gap analysis, ensuring that proposed projects are feasible and strategically aligned.
• Output 4 focuses on conducting a technology needs and availability assessment for 6–8 priority technologies within the energy, transport, buildings and agriculture sectors. This includes analyzing barriers and enabling conditions needed for successful deployment.
• Outputs 5 and 6 center on stakeholder engagement and final reporting.

 This work is funded by the NDC Partnership Action Fund, a funding mechanism for countries to have greater access to technical and financial resources to respond to climate action needs.  

Since 2023, UNEP and the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre have supported developing countries in fast-tracking their NDC implementation and bridging gaps in support with funding from the NDC Partnership Action Fund.