Meeting on climate change and natural disasters

Within the framework of the ongoing project “Reducing the risks of climate change-driven disasters in Georgia”, the Environmental Information and Education Centre (EIEC) of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia (MEPA) has organized informational meetings in Senaki and Samtredia which are among ten municipalities selected for the project as the most vulnerable.

The meeting aimed to introduce the project and inform participants on the awareness-raising and infrastructural activities planned in Samtredia and Senaki municipalities which will facilitate enlargement of the early-warning system in the country, implementation of the national system for managing natural disaster risks and reduction of climate change-driven risk factors.

The efficiency of the activities conducted to reduce risk and damage caused by climate change-driven natural disasters is depended on the awareness and knowledge of the local community in which the local governance, educational institutions and people living around the vulnerable areas must be actively involved.

The meeting focused on seven climate change-driven hazards included in the project, namely: drought, hail, flood, landslide, downpour, wildfire and strong wind. The participants have been informed about the activities to react properly during natural disasters and the importance of local community involvement in the recovery phase.

The informational meetings were attended by representatives of the local self-governances, educational institutions, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders.

The program “Reducing the risk of climate-driven disasters in Georgia” is funded by the Georgian and Swedish Governments, the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and is implemented by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia with the assistance of the UN Development Program (UNDP). Educational and awareness-raising component of the project is completed by the Environmental Information and Education Centre of the Ministry.