100 Communities. One Shared Journey Towards Climate Resilience.

In Georgia, 1.7 million people, more than 40 percent of the population, live in areas exposed to climate-related hazards, including floods, landslides, avalanches, and extreme weather. According to the National Statistics Office, the country experiences around 1,000 geological and 170 hydrometeorological events every year, with both their frequency and intensity continuing to rise. [Source: GEOSTAT]

To meet this growing challenge, Georgia is strengthening its resilience to climate change. The country is improving its climate monitoring and weather forecasting, expanding early warning systems, introducing risk-informed land-use planning, and protecting high-risk locations with retaining walls, gabions, and other protective infrastructure. This transformation is part of the nationwide climate programme led by the Government of Georgia and UNDP, with support from the Green Climate Fund, Sweden, and Switzerland. 

Building resilience, however, takes time. While these long-term investments are laying the foundations for a safer future, climate hazards are already disrupting the lives of hundreds of communities. The greatest burden falls on those with the fewest resources to cope, including rural women, children, older people, persons with disabilities, and people living in remote mountain villages.

That is why immediate, community-led action matters.

Working with national and local partners, UNDP has identified 100 communities across Georgia where climate risks are especially high. Home to more than 360,000 people, these communities are now strengthening their climate resilience.

With UNDP support, residents are assessing climate risks, developing disaster risk management plans, establishing local councils to coordinate preparedness and response, and implementing practical solutions that help prevent disasters where possible and reduce their impact when they occur.

By the end of 2026, all 50 of the selected communities in western Georgia will have completed small-scale climate adaptation projects tailored to their local needs. Another 50 communities in eastern Georgia will follow suit by the end of 2027.

From reinforcing unstable hillsides and riverbanks to restoring drainage systems, these relatively modest interventions are making a tangible difference. They help people protect their homes, livelihoods, and essential services while building confidence to face a changing climate together.

According to Douglas Webb, UNDP Resident Representative in Georgia, “At the heart of climate resilience are people. When communities understand their risks and take action, they can protect lives, livelihoods, and their future.”