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

The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture presented the Program for Adaptation to Climate Change
The Government of Georgia begins to implement a seven-year program for adaptation to climate change estimated to be worth of USD 70 million. The program aims at protection of the Georgian population from natural disasters generated by climate change. 
The event was opened by the Prime Minister of Georgia, Mamuka Bakhtadze. The Prime Minister stressed, that, implementation of the new program will change attitudes towards climate-change-related threats in Georgia.
"The climate change adaptation program fully responds to the challenges facing the country and offers complex solutions in this direction. In previous years, we had to react to the natural disasters, the new initiative will increase the country's national capabilities to climatic information analysis and predictions in relation to possible natural disasters, which will ultimately promote sustainable development of the country " - stated the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Levan Davitashvili.
According to the Minister, modern early warning systems will be created, which will protect eleven large river basins of Georgia and the population of 1.7 million.
According to the UNDP Head in Georgia, Louisa Vinton, after the implementation of the program, extreme weather and natural hazards will not turn into disasters.
"In recent years, the number of natural disasters has been significantly increased throughout the world and in Georgia as well. By implementing this program we will prove, that people will be better protected from the changes and that, nothing is inevitable, anything is possible. It is possible to carry out similar measures, which will further mitigate the negative effects "said Louiza Winton.
The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Swiss Confederation to Georgia, Patrick Franzen highlighted issues related to the joint efforts of Georgia and Switzerland in the adaptation to climate change and sustainable development of Georgia's highlands and underlined the significance of bilateral  partnership between Georgia and Switzerland. 
The finances of the program include the grant of Green Climate Fund (GCF) with USD 27 million, contribution of the Georgian government – USD 38 million and grant of Swiss government – USD 5 million.
The program will be carried out with support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) with close cooperation of the Georgian Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture in collaboration with relevant agencies.