Environment and Energy - Articles

Ensuring that workers are guaranteed basic labor rights is still a serious challenge in Georgia. The source of these problems is the state’s policy of inaction, which, on the one hand, is the result of the country’s transformation of its historical formations, and on the other hand, the realization by each of the Georgian governments that ensuring secure working conditions creates a space for people to think and act freely.

Georgia's unique location at a strategically important crossroads makes it a country of key geopolitical interest to Russia, Turkey, USA and the EU. It is located in a region known for its volatility due to the existing ethnic, religious, political and military tensions after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Azerbaijan is a key actor in the South Caucasus, reshaping the borders of influence of regional and extra-regional powers. So far its leading role has been defined by the availability of hydrocarbon resources, which the country has successfully used to manoeuvre between the clashing interests of powerful players and thus managed not to become excessively dependent on any of them.

As the world goes through what some pundits have already called a new “energy revolution”, one of its most obvious and far-reaching consequences is the downward trend in oil and natural gas prices. Coupled with recent geopolitical developments, namely the so called “Iranian opening”, this development looks set to open up new opportunities for Armenia.

Armenia has already reported evidence of climate change, having documented a 1.1oC increase in the average summer temperature and a 10% reduction in average precipitation over the past 80 years.

On October 12-16, 2015 11 professionals from the Armenia and Georgia participated in the Energy Transition study-trip organized by HBS. The participants were able to meet and engage into active discussions with the representatives of German government, German parliament, business sector, NGOs and think thank organizations and understand how the energy-related decisions are made and at what extant each of those sectors affect on the final decisions.

On June 12, 2015, the South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation (HBF SC) organized the regional energy conference bringing together the representatives of academia, politicians, civil society, governmental organizations and international organizations, from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia to discuss the prospects of the sustainable energy systems in the South Caucasus Countries.