August 11, 2026
News
As climate change continues to affect communities across Georgia, Caritas Czech Republic with support from the German government, is launching a new initiative that will help make the city of Poti greener, healthier, and better prepared for the future. The "Growing Resilience: Nature-Based Microspaces for a Greener Poti" project will introduce practical nature-based solutions that improve public spaces while helping the city adapt to challenges such as flooding, heatwaves, droughts, and rising sea levels.
Greener Poti for residents
As one of Georgia's principal coastal cities, Poti is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The city already faces growing risks from coastal flooding, sea level rise, water accumulation caused by intense rainfall, increasingly frequent heat waves, and the urban heat island effect. Expanding green public spaces and implementing nature-based solutions offer an effective and sustainable response to these challenges , while also supporting the priorities set out in the Poti Municipality's Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP).
Caritas Czech Republic will work closely with Poti Municipality, residents, environmental experts, and civil society organizations to create three multifunctional pop-up parklets and rehabilitate one larger climate-adaptive green space. These areas will provide more than just attractive places to relax — they will help cool urban neighborhoods, improve rainwater management, support biodiversity, and demonstrate how green infrastructure can make cities more resilient.
Community involvement is a key part of the project. Residents will take part in selecting locations and shaping the design of the new spaces, ensuring they reflect local needs and encourage long-term community ownership.
The project also aims to increase public understanding of climate change and environmental protection. Through awareness campaigns, educational workshops, community planting events, and interactive information boards with QR codes, people of all ages will have the opportunity to learn more about climate adaptation and discover simple actions they can take to protect their environment.
To ensure the new green spaces continue to benefit the community well beyond the project's lifetime, municipal technical staff and local volunteers will receive practical training on maintaining climate-resilient green infrastructure. A maintenance plan and a replication toolkit will also be developed, allowing other municipalities across Georgia to build on the project's experience.
2500 square meters of green space will be created
By the end of the initiative, approximately 2500 square meters of public green space will have been created or revitalized. More than 200 people are expected to participate directly in educational and community activities, while awareness campaigns will reach over 5000 residents throughout Poti.
By bringing together local communities, municipal partners, and environmental experts, the project demonstrates how nature-based solutions can improve everyday life while helping cities adapt to a changing climate. Through this initiative, Caritas Czech Republic continues its commitment to supporting sustainable, community-driven development across Georgia.
"Climate change is no longer a distant challenge, it is already affecting communities across Georgia. Through this project, Caritas Czech Republic is proud to work alongside GIZ, Poti Municipality, and local communities to demonstrate that nature-based solutions can improve everyday life while strengthening resilience to future climate risks. We believe that when citizens are actively involved in shaping their public spaces, these investments become more sustainable and create lasting value", - states Ekaterine Meskhrikadze, Country Director of Caritas Czech Republic in Georgia.
