Climate Change Youth Forum

On the occasion of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, a youth forum was held for students interested in environmental and agricultural topics.

Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Environmental Protection Agriculture of Georgia, Solomon Pavliashvili, and Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Georgia, Nils Christensen, inaugurated the session.

"It is crucial that young people with forward-thinking, audacious, and practical ideas come together at the Youth Forum today to talk about the need to develop professional skills in the areas of agriculture and environmental protection, provide opportunities for young people who lack employment opportunities, and carry out green, creative research projects. Additionally, we declared the winners of the "Climate History" essay contest today and presented them with certificates and prizes," stated Solomon Pavliashvili, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia.

The meeting was attended by young climate volunteers and climate ambassadors, as well as students from the Ecoleaders School, Forestry School, and Agroschool, and students holding the Green Scholarship. In panel discussions, the participants, together with specialists in the field, discussed the innovations, needs, and opportunities available to young people in the environmental and agricultural sectors.

The winners of the essay competition “Climate History” announced within the framework of the project were awarded at the forum. “We see the negative impact of climate change both in Georgia and globally; however, I am happy to be here with you today because such active involvement of young people in the field of climate change gives me hope that young people can be ambassadors and spread information in their communities and advocate for overcoming the threats caused by climate change and bring new visions and ideas. This is what is extremely important for us,” stated Nils Christensen, Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Georgia.

The Environmental Information and Education Centre organised the meeting as part of the "Climate Change Disaster Risk Reduction in Georgia" project of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which is carried out with support from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the governments of Sweden, Switzerland, and Georgia.