Georgian Gov't Launches $70 mln Program to Avert Natural Disasters

Representants of the United Nations Development Program, Swiss and Georgian governments, and Green Climate Fund gathered today in Tbilisi to set motion to the Climate Change Adaptation Program, against natural disasters.

The Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze opened the event by noting that the climate adaptation program marks a transformational shift in Georgia’s approach to climate hazards. 

An opinion shared by Levan Davitashvili, Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia: “Instead of responding to disasters that have already happened, we will proactively analyse the risks and set up early warning systems to protect people and livelihoods.”

As Ambassador of Switzerland to Georgia Patric Franzen pointed out, Georgia’s mountain ecosystem is steadily being affected by the increasing intensity and geographical spread of changes in climate patterns. “Climate change and its effects do not recognize national frontiers” he added.

As an example of climate change’s destructive impacts in the country, Louisa Vinton, Head of UNDP in Georgia, remembers the floods of 2015 that killed 22 people in the capital. “These are images that you don’t easily forget. If we do not take action now, scientists estimate the disasters caused by climate change could cost Georgia as much as 12 billion dollars over the next 10 years” she said.

After taking stock of the critical environmental situation in Georgia, Mrs Vinton described the main components of the Climate Change Adaptation Program, funded by the Green Climate Fund (USD 27 million), the Swiss Government (USD 5 million) and the Government of Georgia (USD 38 million).

This program aims to enact policies, create systems, prepare communities and build infrastructure to prevent extreme weather events from turning into disasters. As Mrs Vinton said, “Prevention is the key concept here”.

As a result of the 70-million-dollar investment plan over the next 7 years, the program’s impact is expected to directly protect 1.7 million people over the Georgian territory.

By Sophie Pouzeratte

Photo Source: Sophie Pouzeratte