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Climate Week in Georgia

From October 24-31 it was Climate Week in Georgia – The first large scale and coordinated Climate Campaign in this Caucasian country organised by WECF partner the Greens Movement of Georgia

01.11.2009 | Anna Samwel

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From October 24-31 it was Climate Week in Georgia – The first large scale and coordinated Climate Campaign in the Caucasian country, with numerous non-governmental and governmental organizations responding  to the call of different world-wide climate campaigns. The Georgian Climate Week was organized by WECF partner the Greens Movement of Georgia/Friends of the Earth Georgia and European Commission Delegation to Georgia.

Over 35 Georgian NGOs, social organizations, local authorities, Institutes and scientific-research centers, individuals, educational centers, schools, representatives of the diplomatic corps in Georgia and even the ministry of environment protection and natural resources of Georgia and the ministry of Energy took  part in the activities during Climate Week.
Climate Week Georgia started off with an official opening ceremony in front of the Parliament Building in Tiblisi on October 24 and was followed by over a hundred climate actions taking place in different regions of Georgia. The most prominent action was a demonstration of environmentally friendly forms of transport, in which WECF participated too. The opening ceremony was attended by the minister of Environment and natural resources of Georgia, Mr. Giorgi Khachidze, Head of European Commission Delegation to Georgia Ambassador Per Eklund and the Head of USAID Caucasus, Mr. Jock Conly. 
 
Regional Conference on Climate Change
Parallel to the Climate Change opening Ceremony WECF partner Greens organized together with WECF in the West Georgian town of Kutaisi a regional conference. To preceed Climate Week pre-conference NGO round-table meetings were organized in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, where country NGO positions on climate change were elaborated to be presented at the regional Conference: “Development of NGO Capacity and Public Awareness on Climate Change Mitigation Measures in Caucasus” on October 27-28

Representatives of NGOs and governments form three countries as well as different diplomatic corps and ambassadors (Embassies of Sweden, France, UK, Israel, Check Republic, Germany, The Netherlands, USA, England) and other international organizations (WECF, IUCN, WWF, REC Caucasus, TGC, GTZ, FOEE, Global Water Partnership)  presented the positions of their countries and organisations for the coming COP 15 and talked about implemented actions on climate change in Georgia well as planned activities.

WECF presented the perspectives of CDM mechanism in climate change mitigation and showed the connection between sustainable sanitation and its role in climate change mitigation and adaptation. Participants expressed willingness to support the Caucasian countries on the preparation of Climate Change adaptation and mitigation measures. The conference was supported in the frame of the international climate protection initiative, based on a decision of the German Bundestag, by the ministry of environment, nature protection and nuclear safety (BMU).
 Climate Week was the first large-scale and coordinated climate campaign in Georgia, which ensured the coordinated and agreed cooperation of South Caucasus NGOs, raised awareness of wide public on climate change. Ensured mobilization of media and increased their interest on climate change. Governmental structures saw great interest of the  public regarding climate change and got a clear  message from the society to elaboration a strong state position on Climate change mitigation and adaptation measures. 

The Climate Week ended on October 31 and coincided with the International Day of the Black Sea, accordingly, it was organized in Batumi, where a series of actions took place, among them dialogue with local government.  Climate Week will be organized in Georgia annually, It is planned to implement regional project for awareness raising of wide public and organize media trainings for journalists on Climate Change related issues. It is planned also to organized Regional Climate Change Conference after COP 15. 

www.greens.ge/climateweek

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