World Car Free Day: Georgia Joins Global Campaign

Organized by  the UN in Georgia and the Georgian Alliance for Safe Roads with the support of  Tbilisi City Hall and the EU Delegation in Georgia the event aimed to promote zero-emission mobility.

“Getting to a zero-emissions future sounds hard and is. But it is up to us to create permanent change to make our cities more livable and benefit pedestrians, cyclists, and other people who do not drive cars,” said UN Resident Coordinator in Georgia, Sabine Machl.

Air pollution is a hidden killer. Breathing polluted air has been linked to the major health concerns of our time, such as cancer, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. An estimated 7 million people die worldwide and 11,000 in Georgia every year due to air pollution. According to the World Health Organization, Georgia ranks 70th among 194 countries by the indicator of mortality.

“We have a huge challenge on our hands. Air pollution levels across Georgia consistently break legal limits,” said Eka Laliashvili, Executive Director of the Georgian Alliance for Safe Roads.

The Georgian capital of Tbilisi is among 2,700 towns and cities from nearly 60 countries that have joined European Mobility Week’s ‘clean and sustainable transport campaign’ today. This year’s campaign focuses on car-free streets, walking tours, and interactive workshops promoting ‘zero-emission mobility for all’.

Georgia has  joined this global action for the third time; however, this year the event was not as large-scale as before due to the global pandemic and current regulations on social gatherings.