The Republic of Armenia has initiated the development of a new Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), as Nona Budoyan, Head of Climate Policy Department at Environment Ministry, announced during the official presentation of "Progress Summary of NDC Implementation and Coordination Plan of NDC Partners."
The Nationally Determined Contributions are commitments developed by parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) under the Paris Agreement, aimed at addressing climate change adaptation and mitigation.
In her speech, Nona Budoyan outlined Armenia's climate policy priorities: "NDCs must be updated every five years. Currently, Armenia has a mitigation target: a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels across the entire economy by 2030. With the new NDC 3.0, the mitigation target will cover the entire economy and include sector-specific targets for each emitting sector. These sectors are energy, agriculture, industrial processes, and waste. The new NDC will also feature an implementation plan aimed at achieving long-term low-emission development targets for greenhouse gases, along with clear mechanisms for tracking NDC progress," she said.
Budoyan added that Armenia has a long-term target as well: "The Low-Emission Development Strategy, approved by the Armenian Government in 2023, aims for climate neutrality. By 2050, Armenia seeks to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions to 2.07 tons of CO2 equivalent per capita," she stated.
She also highlighted that greenhouse gas inventorying will be conducted by the Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center SNCO, which will maintain a greenhouse gas registry.
Budoyan discussed the adoption of sector-specific documents and the establishment of platforms:
"In 2022, the Armenian Government approved the Water Resources Sector Climate Adaptation Program 2022–2026 with 26 measures. Between 2021 and 2022, adaptation programs for health, agriculture, tourism, and energy sectors were developed under the Ministry of Environment’s coordination and integrated into sectoral strategies. Additionally, adaptation programs were created for Tavush, Shirak, Gegharkunik, and Syunik Regions, supported by UNDP."
Budoyan also mentioned the establishment of the Interdepartmental Council on Climate Change Coordination in 2021. The council aims to ensure the fulfillment of Armenia’s obligations under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, coordinate the implementation of national and adaptation action plans for 2021–2030, and unify government efforts toward the UN 2030 Agenda’s 13th Sustainable Development Goal on climate action.
In 2022, the development of a draft Climate Law was initiated. Budoyan explained: "The draft law is necessary for several reasons, particularly to provide a legislative framework for measures outlined in the long-term strategy, clearly define rights and responsibilities, and introduce concepts that are currently absent in the field. The law will regulate the development, implementation, and coordination of mitigation and adaptation policies, as well as relationships between regional governors and foreign legal entities in the sectors of climate change mitigation and adaptation."
November 22, 2024 at 17:01