PM Garibashvili at UN Climate Change Conference: Caucasus already lost 40% of its glaciers

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, where he said that the Caucasus has already lost 40% of its glaciers due to climate change. 

“During the last two decades alone, the speed of glacier loss in the eastern Georgia has exceeded projections from the end of the 20th century. We fully share the alarm presented by the UN Secretary-General’s latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that declared a ‘code red for humanity,” Garibashvili said. 

He stated that greater ambition and effort is needed to meet long-term temperature goals of the Paris Agreement and avert a global disaster.

Garibashvili thanked the United Kingdom for its dedication to making the COP26 a reality in light of the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, also pointing out the importance of joint efforts necessary to deal with the challenges triggered by climate change.

Garibashvili stated that the government of Georgia has developed a plan with a clear vision for 2030 that ‘aligns perfectly’ with the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development.

“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,” Garibashvili stated.

The UN Convention on Climate Change was adopted in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. The agreement came into effect in 1994 with the approval of 196 countries. More than 100 world leaders have participated in the conference.