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Changes in climate patterns are already evident in
the South Caucasus countries – Azerbaijan, Armenia
and Georgia. Annual temperatures are increasing
accompanied by severe heat waves and droughts.
More extreme weather events, such as heavy rains
and unusual hail storms, and changes in precipitation
patterns are also linked to climate change. Human
casualties, damage to infrastructure and economic
losses are increasing due to intensifying natural
disasters such as floods, landslides and mudslides. The
latest large-scale natural disaster occurred in Tbilisi,
Georgia in June 2015, when heavy rainfall triggered
landsides and disgorged debris in the capital of
Georgia. This disaster resulted in 19 human casualties
and economic losses of about US$ 100 million.
In the region, the majority of natural disasters
occur in the mountains, which cover the largest
territory of the South Caucasus. These disasters
threaten not only mountain inhabitants and critical
infrastructure but also people living in the lowlands.
Moreover, poverty rates are higher and gender
inequality more profound in mountain regions than
in lowland and urban centres, where access to basic
resources such as energy and water is secured. The
national trends towards a warmer and drier climate
(with some exceptions) will continue leading to
serious consequences such as water shortages and
desertification in all three countries.
At the policy level, the South Caucasus countries
recognize the adverse effects posing severe threats to
both ecosystems and national economic sectors and
Executive summary
the necessity of prioritizing climate change adaptation.
However, this outlook reveals that even though the
importance of climate change gains recognition
among some decision-makers, adaptation activities,
particularly in the mountain regions, are still at an
early stage of development. For instance, specific
climate change adaptation activities are few, and
consistent coordination and a long-term strategic
approaches are missing. This report also highlights
which ecosystems (e.g. forests) and economic sectors
(e.g. energy, agriculture, mining, tourism) are most
vulnerable to climate change, as well as the impacts
of climate change on human health and well-being.
Recently submitted Intended Nationally Determined
Contributions (INDCs) to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) from the South Caucasus countries
highlight the countries’ commitment towards an
agreed outcome with legal force under the Convention.
INDCs further outline concrete emission reduction
plans and highlight some adaptation approaches. The
respective National Communications to the UNFCCC
are the main reference documents where climate
change adaptation plans and interventions are laid
out. These documents are widely used as source of key
references especially by international development
agencies and non-governmental organizations and
serve as tools for progress measuring.
Political commitments and legal mechanisms
are the basis for implementing concrete actions
on climate mitigation and adaptation processes.
Walking near the mountains of Armenia