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

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Otar Shamugia: "Georgia has taken significant steps to develop civil safety and disaster risk management systems, both at the central and local levels".

The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr Otar Shamugia, presented the 2023 report to the Parliament, where he addressed issues regarding preventing severe consequences of frequent natural events, in the background of global climate change.

‘’In light of climate change, the special focus is put on assessing natural risks, forecasting weather, and predicting natural processes. In this regard, the state has taken significant steps in the past few years, as highlighted in the European Commission enlargement report published last year, emphasizing that Georgia has taken crucial measures toward developing civil safety and disaster risk management systems at the central and local levels.
The modern meteorological radar units are operating in Western and Eastern Georgia. There are 240 hydro-meteorological observation stations throughout the country, and their number will increase to three hundred by the end of the year, and 40 more stations will be added by 2025, which will significantly improve the weather forecasting system," said Mr Otar Shamugia.

According to the Minister, 18 landslide-prone sites are currently being monitored, with the number expected to increase to 30 by the end of 2024.
The assessment of current threats in all glacial valleys of Georgia has begun with the cooperation /involvement of Swiss, highly qualified experts based on the conducted research, relevant recommendations, and decisions will be prepared with their involvement.
The preparation of maps for different types of natural hazards covering the entire territory of Georgia is nearing completion.

The implementation of information and communication technologies (ICT) is being planned. Consequently, modern technology will allow the dissemination of weather predictions and warnings about upcoming disasters.

"Geologists of the National Environmental Agency are actively working towards assessing geological hazards and preventing natural events throughout the country. In the last five years, the Agency's geologists evaluated 8,608 families, and 2,711 families were relocated to a geologically stable place," the Minister said.