Community Forum was held within the framework of the program "Reducing the Risk of Climate Driven Disasters in Georgia"

The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture's Eiec organized a community discussion as part of the program "Reducing the Risk of Disasters Caused by Climate Change in Georgia." Solomon Pavliashvili, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, and Nick Beresford, Permanent Representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Georgia, opened the meeting.

Mayors and representatives from community and educational groups from the ten target municipalities (Lagodekhi, Telavi, Akhmeta, Sighnaghi, Gori, Samtredia, Abasha, Senaki, Khobi, and Kobuleti) participated in the community forum.

"At the forum, representatives of municipalities were provided with information on how to contribute to reducing the risk of climate driven disasters . It is important that the project expands the hydrometeorological and agrometeorological monitoring network and will deploy 140 stations, which will improve timely information on the expected natural disasters, "-said Solomon Pavliashvili.

“Implementation of the program has crucial importance. We work with local partners, listen to their positions and learn from them. The programme is implemented in the eleven river basins and ensures the resilience of more than 100 vulnerable communities of Georgia towards the risks of climate-induced disasters, protects their lives and contributes to economic growth” – mentioned Mr. Beresford.

In the concluding forum participants discussed the threats and risks caused by climate change, the importance of information access in agriculture, municipal response plans, and community-based disaster risk management strategies, practices, and challenges. 

At the forum winners of two contests ‘’Learn in a Safe Environment’’ and ‘’Create a Safe Community’’ received funding for climate projects.

The programme ‘’Reducing Risks of Climate-Driven Disasters in Georgia’’, is funded by the Georgian Government, Green Climate Fund (GCF), Government of Switzerland and Sweden, and is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).