The community forum was held

A community forum was held by the LEPL Eiec of the Ministry of Environmental  Protection and Agriculture of Georgia with the funding of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Representatives of local self-government, non-governmental and community organisations, and regional universities from thirteen municipalities of Georgia took part in the community forum, which was held on December 19-20 in Kachreti. Event participants discussed climate threats and ways to deal with them locally. 

The community forum was held within the framework of a large-scale joint program aimed at protecting Georgia's population from climate disasters.  In Georgia's 11 major river basins, the $74 million effort began in 2019 and will last for seven years. Georgia's climate resilience will improve as a result of the initiative, and 1.7 million people will be better protected against floods, flash floods, high water, droughts, and other climate risks.

"The active  involvement  of municipalities and the local public is critical to realising the aims of this unprecedented national program," Georgia's Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia Solomon Pavliashvili stated. "Climate-driven disasters are a common threat to us all, and coping with them requires a systematic approach and our collective engagement."

"Many people believe that natural disaster protection is only the duty of the capital's core structures," said Louise Winton, UNDP Executive Director. "Of course, the central government's engagement is critical, but the role of the local population in disaster prevention and response is equally critical."

Community Forum participants were briefed on key components of the program, such as the use of satellite technology to identify high-risk areas for climate disasters; improving the forecasting of hydrometeorological hazards; establishing a national early warning system; educating the population and raising awareness; establishment of protective infrastructure and other structural measures to protect against climate disasters.

The program has already identified representatives from thirteen municipalities that participated in the community forum: in Lagodekhi, Sighnaghi, Akhmeta, Gori, Telavi, Abasha, Senaki, Samtredia, Khobi, Kobuleti, Ozurgeti, and Lanchkhuti. Because of the high risk of climate-driven disasters, these municipalities will be provided by the program first. A total of 100 communities in Georgia will benefit from the results of the program. 

The importance of communication, coordination, and cooperation between government agencies in reducing the risk of climate-driven disasters was especially emphasised during the forum. The LEPL of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, the LEPL "National Environment Agency", the National Security Council, the LEPL "Emergency Management Service" of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Road Department of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure participated in the forum.

Representatives of local non-governmental and community organisations and educational institutions also took part in the forum.

The speeches of the community forum participants and the discussion held at the forum clearly showed that the threat of climate disasters is a very important and painful issue for the population of Georgia, and climate resilience and disaster protection are one of the key priorities.