UNDP, Sweden, Euronews launch documentary series on climate change effects in Georgia

The United Nations Development Programme, Sweden and Euronews Georgia have launched Climate Magazines, a series of documentaries detailing key climate change issues and impacts in Georgia, in a bid to better inform the country’s residents about challenges posed by the issue.

The UNDP announced on Wednesday the project had been planned to address a lack of awareness among the country’s population on specific policies required to counter climate change.

It said while over 94 percent of the Georgian population understood that outcomes of climate change affected their country and posed "threat to people and the economy", the specific policies were only understood by 10 percent, and one-third of them placed responsibility for climate action on international organisations and civil society.

The series are presenting a “variety of opinions presented by Georgian and international environmentalists, economists, climate activists and public officials”, the preview release noted. Premiering in December, the first episodes of the series covered phenomena including avalanches and melting glaciers caused or exacerbated by climate change.

It will continue screening through July and cover a range of topics, including Georgia’s climate commitments as part of international treaties, including the 2015 Paris Agreement and the 2014-signed Association Agreement with the European Union. 

The UNDP and Swedish support for Climate Magazines is part of the former’s Climate Promise initiative, which promotes “timely and effective implementation” of the Paris Agreement throughout 120 countries.