Youth Lead the Way in Shaping Georgia’s New Climate Pledge

Youth Climate Forum puts young voices at the heart of Georgia’s updated climate goals under the Paris Agreement

Press Release – April 22, 2025 – Young voices, bold ideas, and a shared vision for a greener future filled the room at Georgia’s first-ever Youth Climate Forum on the country’s new climate pledge – NDC 3.0.

Held in Tbilisi on 16 April, the event marked a critical milestone: the first time Georgian youth were directly engaged in public consultations on the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. NDC 3.0 is set to be submitted to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in the coming weeks.

The Forum gathered more than 50 passionate young participants, including Georgia’s Young Climate Ambassadors – a dynamic team of climate activists and changemakers.

Organised by UNDP and the Environmental Information and Education Centre (EIEC) of Georgia’s Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, the Youth Climate Forum was part of UNDP’s global Climate Promise initiative – the world’s largest offer of support to over 140 countries and territories on NDC enhancement and implementation.

In his welcome remarks, Nils Christensen, UNDP Resident Representative in Georgia, underscored the vital role of youth in shaping climate policy and turning commitments into action: “NDC 3.0 isn’t just another policy document. It’s Georgia’s climate roadmap – a guide to the next decades of sustainable development. The voice of young people is not only welcome but essential because these targets define their future.”

Nino Tabatadze, Head of Education Projects Service at EIEC, highlighted how the updated NDCs create more space for youth participation and learning: “NDC 3.0 strengthens the role of young people in shaping, monitoring, and implementing climate policy. It also expands access to state-funded educational programmes focused on environmental awareness and climate action.”

The Forum featured insightful presentations, lively panel discussions, and interactive group work. Participants explored key areas of Georgia’s climate pledge and brainstormed innovative ideas for grassroots climate action.

A video explainer on NDC 3.0 – featuring Young Climate Ambassadors Rezi Dgebuadze and Etuna Asanashvili – added a dynamic touch, showcasing youth perspectives on climate policy.

In his motivational presentation, Rezi Dgebuadze, a Young Climate Ambassador and member of UNDP’s regional youth network Generation Nexus, shared his experience: “Being a Young Climate Ambassador is an incredible learning journey. It’s about stepping into the future, being part of the solution, and driving real change.”

The Youth Climate Forum will be followed by a broader national discussion at the end of April, bringing together government, civil society, and the private sector. Georgia’s updated NDC 3.0 will then be submitted to the UNFCCC, making the country one of fewer than 20 (out of 196) to have submitted its updated climate goals so far.

About the Paris Agreement and NDCs

The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty adopted by 196 Parties at COP21 in December 2015. It aims to limit global temperature rise to well below 2°C while pursuing efforts to stay below 1.5°C.

Achieving this goal requires transformative action. Every five years, countries submit Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) outlining how they will cut emissions, build climate resilience, and mobilise financing for sustainable development.

Georgia submitted its first and second NDCs in 2016 and 2021, respectively, pledging to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, or up to 50-57 percent with international support. NDC 3.0 aims to raise this ambition, charting Georgia’s path towards a low-carbon, climate-resilient, and inclusive economy.