04/02/2024

Youth voices for advocating the climate crisis in Georgia

6 young people talk to each other at a table.

The International Climate Initiative (IKI) supports a youth forum on climate action in Georgia and strengthens a deeper understanding of the local impacts of the climate crisis and how to shape a sustainable future.

Under the IKI-funded project "Strengthening Civil Society in the Implementation of National Climate Policy," Green Alternative is hosting a series of sessions called the Youth Forum. This forum is for young people who are interested in understanding and addressing the climate crisis, advocating for principles of climate, social and environmental justice, and collaborating with their peers to take action.

The forum, which started in November, aims to enrich participants' understanding of the climate crisis through engaging with various young field experts. Topics covered include climate justice, the impact of climate change on water resources and biodiversity in Georgia, global climate governance and international negotiations, just transition, gender mainstreaming, national climate policies, and sustainable mobility. The forum uses a hybrid format to ensure inclusiveness for participants from different regions. It employs various non-traditional learning methods and organises field visits to engage with local activists and address environmental challenges at the grassroots level.

Three women and a man sit at a table and discuss — Youth Forum in Georgia.

Participants will be actively involved in developing their visions for national climate policies and building a more resilient Georgia. Consequently, the main outcome of the Youth Forum will be to inform decision-makers on potential enhancements to Georgia's Climate Action Plan and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), based on the perspectives and insights gathered from youth voices.

15 youth from diverse backgrounds are working together

The Youth Forum brings together fifteen students and young individuals from diverse backgrounds, including activists, animal rights activists, public sector workers, researchers, and students studying various disciplines such as ecology, law, sociology, and international relations. Their motivations for joining the Forum vary, but they all share a common interest in learning about the climate crisis and exploring available mechanisms for action, recognising the scarcity of opportunities to acquire such knowledge despite their strong interest.

9 young people sit in a meeting tent next to a wood-burning stove and listen. — Youth Forum participants visiting activists at Balda village and canyon.

Furthermore, in the context of intensified disasters in Georgia, some participants emphasized a sense of their responsibility to act, recognising the urgency of addressing climate-related issues, including climate migration. Several have volunteered in support groups for communities affected by disasters such as the Shovi disaster in Racha. Others are concerned about environmental degradation and unjust decisions affacting their communities and cities. As a result, they express a willingness to collaborate with fellow activists, to engage in dialogues with other communities, and to tackle cross-cutting environmental and social issues.

“I want to participate in this process, to be able to fulfill my share of civic responsibility and make a small contribution to the future policies of my country.” - Nazi Kitoshvili, Youth Forum participant.

As part of the Youth Forum's activities, participants organised a field visit to the Balda Canyon in Samegrelo. Here, they met a local community, that has been protesting outdoor for more than 130 days. They are demanding the cancellation of a license to privatise the canyon and the negative impact of an investment company on the protected natural area.. The community aims to achieve local ownership of development processes affecting their land and water resources. They advocate for initiatives that bring mutual benefits to both the community and the environment, in order to maintain a balance between human activities and nature.

“It was one very special, lovely, and important day for me. Even though I was more or less familiar with this topic, now meeting with the locals and communicating with them made me want to finish this process sooner and with great success. Also, now I feel as a sharer of the responsibility for protecting the canyon.” - Sopho Rostiashvili, Youth Forum participant.

A map of Georgia is shared in a video conference. The participants of the online meeting can be seen on the right. — Online knowledge-sharing meeting.

The forum endeavours to establish an interdisciplinary space for learning and knowledge sharing. To this end, one of the sessions was dedicated to facilitating the exchange of insights and experiences among participants across various fields, ranging from activism to research. Topics ranged protected area management in Georgia to the challenges of integrating eco-migrants, their activism in establishing the Truso protected landscape and the importance e and ways to support disaster-affected communities.

A collaborative and intersectional approach is needed

Participants emphasised that their key takeaways included a deeper understanding of the scale and complex impacts of climate change on communities and biodiversity in Georgia. They recognised the need for a collaborative and intersectional approach and highlighted the importance of inclusive climate policies. Moreover, they emphasised the crucial role of environmental activists in shaping climate policy and recognised their own potential to contribute to creating a more sustainable future for Georgia.

“I realized once again our responsibility for climate change, and I feel a great desire to contribute to this process as a sociologist.” - Sopho Rostiashvili, Youth Forum participant.

“After participating in this Forum, I started to actively follow the COP outcomes.” - Valeri Gelovani, Youth Forum participant.

“It made me think about how I can direct my field of work in such a way that I can cover the climate crisis with more intensity.” - Lizi Beridze, Youth Forum participant.

The forum will conclude in April with participants expressing their visions at the high-level conference hosted by Green Alternative. This conference will bring together decision-makers along with representatives from various international and national environmental organisations.

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