During the roundtable titled "Towards Update of EPA Roadmap" on September 13, 2024, participants from various communities raised concerns regarding climate change, waste management, and the shortage of sectoral specialists in local self-governments.
Raisa Minasyan, Secretary of Pambak Municipality Staff, highlighted the overburdened landfill in Arjut settlement of Pambak community. "The landfill in Arjut not only serves Pambak but also the entire Vanadzor community and nearby settlements. A large amount of waste is dumped there. The waste is burned, which causes significant harm to the environment by polluting the air. We urgently need a waste recycling plant," she said.
Raisa Minasyan emphasized the need to clarify the role of the community in the context of climate change and integrate this into state policy, as small communities lack sufficient financial resources and specialists. "The issue of a lack of skilled professionals in communities is critical, especially regarding municipal services. This is a specialized service that should be included in the list of municipal service positions. It is very challenging to add a new position. We recently submitted a request, and the council’s decision is now in the ministry. They review general criteria, like the population of the community, but every community needs specialists in each field," she noted.
Anush Sargsyan, Administrative Head of Debed, spoke about the negative impact of climate change, pointing out the issue of deforestation in the 1990s. "This year, we felt the consequences of climate change. The disasters have been quite severe and caused significant damage to the population. Floodwaters have damaged infrastructures and roads, and the loss of fertile soil will be a serious problem next year for the cultivation of crops and vegetables," she noted.
Anush Sargsyan also raised the issue of a lack of specialists, particularly in terms of the efficiency of road construction projects.
The roundtable was organized by "EcoLur" Information NGO with the support of the Heinrich Boell Foundation Yerevan Office - South Caucasus Region within the framework of "Strengthening Communities in Implementation of Climate Policy in Armenia through Participation and Awareness Raising" project.
This article was prepared within the framework of "Strengthening Communities in Implementation of Climate Policy in Armenia through Participation and Awareness Raising" project, which is implemented in cooperation with the Heinrich Boell Foundation Yerevan Office - South Caucasus Region.
The content of the article is solely the responsibility of the author, and it cannot in any way be perceived as the viewpoint of the Heinrich Boell Foundation Yerevan Office - South Caucasus Region.
October 24, 2024 at 14:13