Current Trends of Public Partipication in the Enviromental Decision Making Process in Georgia

Abstract

Georgia announced its independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union. At present Georgia is an Independent Republic that follows democratic principles for development. It means that, the governmental, business and non-governmental sectors are involved in decision making process. Georgia, as a part of the Soviet Union, does not practice the tradition for public participation in the country. The intensification of the environmental situation in Georgia needs an active and direct public participation. Public participation promotes the finding of a sustainable solution to the problem, but it is still associated with a certain level of risk and cost for the authorities. Public participation in the decision making process can be defined as a main tool for developing the democracy in Georgia. The public participation in the decision-making process, especially in the field of the environment, is not the traditional approach for the newly independent Georgian society. The article spots current trends of the public participation in the environmental decision making process on the different levels, stages and defines obstacles that slow down development of an effective public participation in the environmental decision making in Georgia.