Georgian PM delivers speech at UN Climate Change Conference
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has begun his official visit to Glasgow to attend the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), which kicked off on October 31 and is scheduled to end on November 12. Photo: PM's press office
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Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has delivered a speech at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, the United Kingdom, touching on ‘critical importance’ of COP26 for Georgia.
The Caucasus - a beautiful land of mountains, glaciers, and rivers - has already lost 40 percent of its glaciers. During the last two decades alone, the speed of glacier loss in the eastern Georgia has exceeded projections from the end of the twentieth century”, he said.
Calling for rising the challenges and increasing public commitment to develop more productive, table and resilient societies, PM Garibashvili said ‘the investments in clean energy, climate-smart agriculture, and enhanced adaptive capacity represent concrete steps for reducing emissions and preparing our societies for the unavoidable impacts of climate change’.
In that spirit, Georgia has committed by 2030 to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by more than half compared to its 1990 levels, and to deepen the understanding of its adaptive capacity to climate change through international partnerships", the Georgian PM said in his speech.
He further underscored that the government of Georgia has 'a development plan with a clear vision for 2030 that aligns perfectly with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development'.
It was an honor to deliver a speech at #COP26 on behalf of Georgia, discussing our aspirations & effective steps taken by my country in preserving our planet. The challenges are clear, but so are the solutions. My deepest gratitude to all #TogetherForOurPlanet pic.twitter.com/BydFa65Ni5
— Irakli Garibashvili (@GharibashviliGe) November 1, 2021
PM also noted that Georgia will diversify its renewable energy sector, expand the share of wind and solar segments in its energy market, transform the country's urban mobility, develop low-carbon approaches in the construction, industrial, and waste sectors, advance climate-smart technologies and services and increase the carbon-capturing capacity of Georgia's magnificent forests.
However, PM Garibashvili said, ‘we are here because none of us can meet these challenges alone’.
Leaders from government, industry, academia, subject-matter professionals, technical experts and stakeholders in every community from every country and from every region must act jointly to solve the climate crisis by building a low-carbon and resilient economies”, he addressed the world leaders.
Calling on everyone to act, PM Garibashvili stated as well that 'from small towns and villages to large urban areas, we must all pledge to the younger population today and for future generations, that preserving our planet is non-negotiable'.
Stressing that ‘no one should be left behind in this fight’, Irakli Garibashvili said ‘Georgia looks forward to bold and visionary outcomes from COP26 that will dramatically advance our collective climate ambition and help us build back from the pandemic - greener, stronger, and more secure than ever’.