Climate risk country profile: Georgia

This publication outlines rapid onset and long-term changes in key climate parameters, as well as the impact of these changes on communities, livelihoods, and economies—many of which are already underway. Georgia is located in the South Caucasus Region, sharing land borders with Russia to the north, Turkey to the southwest, Armenia to the south and Azerbaijan to the east. Georgia developed and submitted its Initial Nationally Determined Contribution to the UNFCCC in 2017. Georgia submitted its Updated Nationally Determined Contribution in 2021, fully committing to an unconditional limiting target of 35 % below 1990 level of its domestic total greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and to a target of 50%–57% of its total greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990, in case the global greenhouse gas emissions follow the 2 degrees or 1.5 degrees scenarios respectively.

This publication features a number of key messages regarding the climate risks Georgia faces, inlcuding: 

• Average temperatures in Georgia have increased steadily since the 1960s and are projected to rise by more than the global average by the end of the 21st century.
• The frequency of heat waves is projected to increase significantly by the 2090s under higher emissions pathways, representing major risks to human health, livelihoods, and biodiversity.
• • Rapid retreat of glaciers is expected and is likely to shift the regional hydrological regime, increasing the risk of flooding and ultimately driving transitions in local ecosystems.
• The capital city, Tbilisi, is subject to urban heat island effect, making its residents vulnerable to health risks as the frequency of extremely high temperatures increases over the coming decades.