Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia

Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (RBEC) got acquainted with the results of the projects implemented in Kakheti to prevent crops flooding and other disasters caused by climate change.

Ms. Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (RBEC) together with the Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Mr.  Solomon Pavliashvili  got familiar with the current report of the project "’ Reducing the risk of climate-driven disasters in Georgia’’

Under the framework of the project "Learn in a Safe Environment", the meeting was also held with the students, who won the school competition. The students from the public school of the village Tsinandali presented their environmental initiatives, aiming to raise awareness of climate change and promote environmental education. 

Mrs. Mirjana Spoljaric Egger and Mr. Solomon Pavliashvili inspected the shore- braces and ongoing cleaning works undertaken on the rivers  Khodashniskhevi and Telaviskhevi.

"It is very important, that the UNDP Assistant Administrator has arrived and got familiar with the ongoing activities undertaken on the rivers Khodashaniskhevi and Telaviskhevi. Preventive measures are taken to prevent flooding, which can cause great damage to the region. We saw the interest rate (how high could it be ) in the environmental education field among young students from the village Tsinandali school. We also got familiar with the already implemented activities, "said Mr. Solomon Pavliashvili.
 
"We are very proud, that the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has been cooperating with Georgia for 30 years. We will continue to support the Government on its path to European integration and in achieving sustainable development goals. Strengthening of the institutions, protecting the environment, and setting focus on the climate change impact-related issues are important for a democratic transformation of the country," said Mrs. Mirjana Spoljaric Egger.
 
The program  ‘’Reducing the risk of climate-driven disasters in Georgia’’ is a joint effort of the Government of Georgia and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and aims to adapt to climate change and reduce disaster risk.
The program is financially supported by the Green Climate Fund and the Governments of Georgia, Sweden, and Switzerland. Under the program, modern mechanisms for adapting to climate change, including hydrometeorological observation and early warning systems should be introduced in the country.
Major works will be carried out in 11 large river basins of Georgia, where the risk of disasters is particularly high. Moreover, public awareness of climate change will be increased in the country.

The event was attended by Mrs. Danielle Meuwly, Regional Director for South Caucasus chez Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Mrs. Mzia Giorgobiani, Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure, Mr. Irakli Shioshvili, State Representative in the Kakheti Region, and Mrs. Tamar Aladashvili, Head of the Environmental Information and Educational Center.