The public discussions on the draft governmental resolution “On Approval of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) of the Republic of Armenia for 2021-2030 developed under the Paris Agreement” was held on 10 February 2021.
The draft resolution is put into circulation by RA Environment Ministry on the unified website for publishing draft legal acts for a time period of two weeks until February 12, for comments, observations and suggestions.
Ruzanna Grigoryan, Head of International Cooperation Department of RA Environment Ministry and UNDP Climate Change Program Coordinator Diana Harutyunyan made presentations.
The Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) of the Republic of Armenia approved by RA Government Protocol Decision No. 41 dated on September 10, 2015, were submitted to the Secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change as the positioning of the Republic of Armenia under the Paris Agreement.
After the ratification of the Paris Agreement (2016), all countries were suggested to submit the reviewed version of their positioning by December 2020 and set more ambitious goals to limit greenhouse gas emissions.
Ruzanna Grigoryan noted that the review of the document provides an opportunity for Armenia to harmonize the terms of action set at the national level with the terms set for the majority of the member states of the agreement - 2021-2030.
UNDP Climate Change Program Coordinator Diana Harutyunyan: "Till 2015 there was no clear format of the Paris Agreement, sp different countries adopted different deadlines and different approaches to express their position. Nevertheless, for the purpose of ensuring the compatibility, timelines and formats, the tabular form by which Armenia developed its updated review was proposed. The first Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) submitted by Armenia is fully maintained. There is a requirement that countries submit their greenhouse gas emissions reports every five years, which is the cornerstone of the Paris Agreement. That clarity was missing in Armenia's first national action plan." According to her, the main target indicator, the assessment of greenhouse gas reductions in 2030, was made in the proposed document on the basis of the newly approved energy sector policy.
Artak Baghdasaryan, “EU4Climate” EU-UNDP regional project Task Lead, introduced the need and reasons for the adoption of the draft resolution.
He outlined the amendments to the revised INDC 2020, which are as follows:
• To reduce 35-year-long period of the INDC to 10 years considering the timeframe of 2021-2030 instead of 2015-2050.
• To consider the target use for 2030 of the absolute reduction of emissions since 1990.
• To refrain from using the carbon budget and per capita carbon budget indicator for this period.
• To use measurable indicators to ensure transparency, such as GDP energy intensity or greenhouse gas emissions per unit of GDP.
• To provide links to sectorial strategies and programs.
• To develop a plan for the implementation of the INDC 2020, which will specify bodies in charge, financial resources and institutional capacities.
Arevik Hovsepyan - President of “National Water Cooperation” Environmental NGO, Aram Gabrielyan - Expert of “Khazer” NGO, Marie Chakryan, President of “Public Awareness and Monitoring Center”, Expert Hamlet Melkonyan, Artyom Petrosyan, Director of “Scientific Research Institute of Energy” CJSC, Vahan Sargsyan, Head of Strategic Center of “Scientific Research Institute of Energy” CJSC, Experts Rosa Julhakyan and Masis Sargsyan made speeches and asked questions during the discussion.
The main considerations were related to the short deadlines for suggestions or commenting on the draft resolution. The participants were invited to post their suggestions and remarks, including on the extension of the draft consideration deadline (also after February 12) on www.e-draft.am.
February 12, 2021 at 13:26