

Armenia's climate ambitions are largely anchored in the transition to carbon-neutral energy, and the fulfillment of climate commitments can be achieved through the long-term and sustainable use of nuclear energy, as RA President Vahagn Khachaturyan said this in his speech at the opening ceremony of the 28th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 28) on December 1, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The President informed the audience that Armenia has developed long-term Low Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS), which will lead the country to carbon neutrality.
The 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change started on November 30 and will be held until December 12. More than 70,000 delegates are attending COP28, including member states of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The United Nations Climate Change Conferences are held annually as the world's only multilateral decision-making forum on climate change, with almost full membership from all countries of the world.
At the forums, the world comes together to agree on ways to tackle the climate crisis, such as limiting global temperature increases to 1.5 degrees Celsius, helping vulnerable groups adapt to the effects of climate change and achieving zero emissions by 2050.
The entire speech by President Vahagn Khachaturyan is given below:
“I would like to congratulate the President of the United Arab Emirates H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the Government of the UAE on excellent organization of the COP28.
Climate change remains a topping global issue and the COP sessions remind us of the need to take a holistic approach to it for a greener, more sustainable, peaceful and healthier future.
In 2015, we made a historic step by adopting the Paris Agreement. However, as the latest report of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) highlights, we are way off track from pathways for keeping its goals. The reasons for this are numerous, including with the continued reliance on fossil fuel-based economies at its core.
It is clear that we cannot continue down the path of excessive and unsustainable exploitation of hydrocarbons for energy production. Phasing down the demand for supply of fossil fuels is an imperative. We need to build energy systems, which are more carbon neutral and less fossil fuel reliant to meet our ambitions for climate change mitigation. The solutions are there. We need to accelerate science and build on the positive developments of the last decade by doubling and tripling the use of renewable energy sources. For that end, we need sufficient climate financing, with the Loss and Damage fund being its cornerstone.
Dear attendees,
As a mountainous developing country, Armenia is facing many challenges in this area. World Bank’s projections for Armenia indicate warming at levels significantly above the global average, of up to 4.7° degrees by the 2090s, under the highest emissions pathway. This places Armenia among the most vulnerable countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
Mr. President,
Despite the serious humanitarian challenges and external security threats, Armenia takes proactive measures to fulfil our Paris Agreement promises, employing both conventional and innovative solutions that involve all segments of the society.
In 2021, Armenia declared its post-2020 climate actions, an NDC with a 40% greenhouse reduction target by 2030. Recently, we developed long-term low-emission development strategies (LT-LEDS) to guide us towards carbon neutrality. Our climate ambitions are largely anchored in the carbon-neutral energy transition. By 2030, we aim for a 15% share of solar energy in our total energy production. Armenia firmly believes that the attainment of our climate commitments can be achieved with long-term and sustainable use of nuclear power as a carbon-neutral source of energy and we appreciate the efforts of the International Atomic Energy Agency in this regard.
Armenia is determined to achieving its ambitious targets and securing a clean and sustainable future for the next generation. We stand ready to further contribute to global efforts to this end.”
New Loan and Grant to Increase Energy Efficiency of Kindergartens and Polyclinics in Yerevan
In order to reduce the energy consumption of public buildings in Yerevan community and to support energy efficiency and renewable energy measures, the financial agreement "Yerevan's Second Phase of Energy Efficiency" will be signed between the Republic of Armenia and the European Investment Bank. The bank will provide a loan of 25 million Euros to Armenia. An investment grant of 10.1 million Euros from the EU Neighborhood Investment Platform will be involved for co-financing.
On November 23, 2023, the executive approved the proposal to sign the project's financial contract. As a result of the project, the general technical condition of 6 polyclinics and 32 kindergartens of the capital will be improved.
December 03, 2023 at 12:58