Climate change is increasingly affecting our ecosystems and infrastructure, posing new challenges to both societies and economies. Although the national circumstances of each country differ, many of the risks we face are common and require a practical, coordinated response. Levan Zhorzholiani said this during his keynote speech at the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Regional Dialogue.

The Head of Government Administration spoke about the efforts pursued by the Government of Georgia to strengthen the national early warning and disaster risk management system, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation in responding jointly to climate change-induced threats.

“Due to its mountainous terrain and diverse climatic zones, Georgia faces high risks from floods, landslides, mudflows and other natural hazards. That is precisely why strengthening the national early warning and disaster risk management system remains one of the major priorities of the Government of Georgia as clearly reflected in the country’s national policy documents.

To further reinforce our efforts in this direction, the Government of Georgia established a special coordination mechanism in March of this year-an inter-agency council.

This decision underscores the strategic importance the government attaches to this issue and ensures high-level coordination along with the effective engagement of all relevant state agencies. We place particular emphasis on developing early warning systems. We believe that improved monitoring, more accurate forecasting and timely alerts are crucial for identifying risks early and responding effectively before a disaster occurs”, - noted Levan Zhorzholiani.

He also highlighted the specific outcomes brought by the multi-year partnership with the Green Climate Fund.

“150 new monitoring stations were established, geological monitoring equipment was installed at 11 landslide-prone locations and a risk information system was created for 11 river basins in Georgia. International support yields maximum results only when accompanied by strong national commitment. That is why the Government of Georgia is making significant investments and consistently enhancing monitoring infrastructure, forecasting capabilities and institutional coordination mechanisms”, - added Head of Government Administration.

The GCF Regional Dialogue, which brings together countries from Eastern Europe and Central Asia, was opened by David Songhulashvili, Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia. Addresses were also delivered by Tornike Cheishvili, Chairman of the Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Committee of the Parliament of Georgia and Thomas Eriksson, Director for Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East at the GCF.

Members of the Government of Georgia attended the event.