On November 22, “EcoLur” Press Club held a roundtable discussion on the topic of the draft Law of the Republic of Armenia “On Climate Change” and in anticipation of the new NDC (Nationally Determined Contributions). Rosa Julhakyan, an expert from “EcoLur” Informational NGO, presented observations and recommendations on the draft Law “On Climate Change.”
“The draft bypasses the principles of justice and social equity, as well as the regulations for addressing the impacts of climate change and enhancing climate resilience,” Rosa Julhakyan said, suggesting that justice and social equity be enshrined as principles within the climate change policy framework.
Referring to sections of the draft law that concern communities, she noted: “Support for communities vulnerable to climate change is provided in Article 6 (2)6). However, the mechanisms for ensuring this support are not outlined. There are no provisions for assisting communities in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and expanding carbon sinks.” To address this issue, she proposed the following solutions:
1. Amend RA Government’s November 16, 2006, Decision N 1708-N “On Approving Procedure for Providing Subsidies to Communities from State Budget” to reduce the required co-financing for community programs aimed at climate resilience.
2. Include a provision in the draft Law “On Climate Change” for supporting communities in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and expanding carbon sinks.
The speaker also suggested making the requirement for community budget allocation, as stipulated in the draft law, an imperative (mandatory) requirement, and finding opportunities to fill community staff positions with relevant specialists to meet this requirement.
The draft law states that communities should participate in the development of legal acts that include climate components. To ensure this, the inclusion of amendments in the procedures for developing legal acts was emphasized.
The roundtable was organized within the framework of “Empowering Communities in Armenia Through Participation and Awareness in Climate Policy Implementation” project implemented by EcoLur with the support of the Heinrich Böll Foundation’s South Caucasus Regional Office in Yerevan.
This article was prepared within the framework of “Empowering Communities in Armenia Through Participation and Awareness in Climate Policy Implementation” project carried out in cooperation with the Heinrich Böll Foundation’s South Caucasus Regional Office.
December 11, 2024 at 21:48