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Georgia Marks World Environment Day by Starting the Development of Its National Adaptation Plan (NAP)
As part of the World Environment Day celebrations, Georgia officially launched the development of its first National Adaptation Plan (NAP) to Climate Change. The event opened with welcome remarks by Mr David Songulashvili, Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, and Mrs Maia Bitadze, Chair of the Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Committee of the Parliament of Georgia.
In his remarks, Minister Songulashvili highlighted the growing impacts of climate change and emphasised the importance of strengthening the country’s adaptive capacity, improving climate risk assessment, and promoting long-term, sustainable development across all sectors.
“Climate change remains one of the most pressing global challenges, prompting an increasing number of countries to align their development policies with a new climate reality. As a country distinguished by its rich biodiversity, Georgia is committed to the sustainable management of natural resources and the conservation of ecosystems.
Accordingly, strengthening environmental governance is one of the Government of Georgia’s key priorities, encompassing both legislative and institutional reforms. Significant progress is being made in expanding protected areas, promoting the sustainable management of forests and water resources, and implementing climate change adaptation measures,” said Mr David Songulashvili.
The National Adaptation Plan will be developed under the project “Building Capacity to Advance the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Process in Georgia", implemented by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia and the Environmental Information and Education Centre, with financial support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
The National Adaptation Plan will serve as Georgia’s first comprehensive framework for the long-term planning, coordination, and integration of climate change adaptation measures into national and sectoral policies. As part of the process, a 10-year strategic vision for climate change adaptation and a five-year National Adaptation Action Plan will be developed. The project will also contribute to strengthening governance and coordination mechanisms, improving the analysis of climate-related data and information, developing an adaptation financing strategy, and enhancing monitoring and evaluation systems.
As part of the World Environment Day celebrations, a variety of educational and recreational activities will take place throughout the day at Dedaena Park in Tbilisi. The event will conclude with an awards ceremony recognising the winning teachers of the “Education for a Green Future” competition.
World Environment Day has been observed since 1972, following a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly. The initiative aims to raise public awareness of environmental issues and encourage active citizen engagement in environmental protection. The theme of World Environment Day 2026 is: “Inspired by Nature. For the Climate. For Our Future.”