"EU4Climate" Regional Project To Be Continued

Gerald Audaz mentioned that "EU for climate" project will have a second phase. The new project will focus on the implementation of the climate policy developed under "EU4Climate" project.

Fabian Porcher noted that attention will be paid not only to the implementation of NDCs, but also to accountability and transparency.

Laura Altinger emphasized the support for the development of legal and regulatory documents within the framework of the Project. Within the framework of "EU4Climate" project, the five countries of the Eastern Partnership have developed NDCs, long-term strategies for low-carbon development, draft climate laws, action plans for sustainable energy and climate development, etc.

"EU4Climate" project experts presented their milestones:

• 5 Roadmaps for implementation of EU agreements on climate acquis
• 9 draft legislative proposals (F-gases, ODS, ETS, climate change law, etc.)
• 2 laws and 1 regulation adopted

  ACHIEVEMENTS by EaP countries

 Improved GHG inventories

• Increased experience in Emission Modeling & Long term Planning
• Increased Stakeholder engagement and awareness
• Governmental Approval and Submission of updated NDC
• Mitigation and Adaptation actions at all levels (national-municipal)
• Financial Planning and Climate Finance
• Integration of climate actions across sectors
• Increased awareness for Gender equality

Then, the countries presented the work they have done, the documents developed and accepted by the governments. 

Works Performed by Armenia In his interview with EcoLur, Artak Baghdasaryan, Team Lead of "EU4Climate" regional project, stated that within the framework of the project, the NDC of Armenia was adopted, where RA government developed the draft of "Law on Climate" in 2021, the draft of "Amendment to the Law on the Protection of the Ozone Layer" and the package of drafts of related by-laws were developed, as well as the draft of the long-term strategy of low carbon development, the implementation plan and financial strategy of the NDC, the plan for energy conservation and renewable energy for 2022-2030 and the plan-schedule for the implementation of the first phase of the plan (2022-2024).

Artak Baghdasaryan mentioned that a number of analyzes were also performed, among which are the cost analysis of public climate financing, sectoral studies of mitigation potential in agriculture, transport, land use and land use change, forestry.

Within the framework of the project, the road map for the establishment of the Measurement, Reporting and Verification System (MRV) was also developed, the climate commitments of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the Republic of Armenia, on the one hand, and the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their member states, on the other hand, were analysed together with the progress and challenges in the implementation of the road map.

During the event, Diana Harutyunyan, UNDP Armenia Climate Change Programme Coordinator, presented the legal regulations of the national legislation of the climate agenda within the framework of the Program, the harmonization with the EU legislation.

Presenting RA Law "On Amendments to RA Law on Atmospheric Air", she listed the actions:

• Developing of the maximum permissible concentrations of pollutant substances of ambient air;
• Developing the regulation for state registration of emissions from ambient air pollutants and state registration and inventory of greenhousegas emissions;
• Inventory of ambient air pollutant substances and greenhouse gas emissions;
• Development and approval of the list of operating organizations subject to state;
• Registration with a harmful effect on ambient air.

Referring to the progress of the implementation of the requirements of the law, Diana Harutyunyan noted that the concept of improving air quality monitoring was discussed with RA government, the draft of RA government's decision “On establishing procedure for GHG inventory preparation” is in the final stage of adoption, the draft of the implementation of the national MRV system was discussed with the stakeholders, which lays down the responsibilities of various institutions.

She also informed about the development of “Law on Climate”, which will regulate the development and implementation of climate change mitigation and adaptation policies, the coordination of these processes, as well as the legal relations between the state, communities, legal entities and individuals in these processes.

The law will provide a legal basis for planning and implementing actions aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with RA's international commitments.

The framework of Armenia's climate policy, the main achievements, including the long-term development strategy project with low emissions of greenhouse gases, were presented by Nona Budoyan, Head of Climate Policy Department of Environment Ministry.

In particular, she noted that the country has set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 2.07 t CO2 equivalent per capita by 2050 for climate neutrality with the draft of the long-term development strategy with low emissions. In order to reach that target, Armenia intends to implement measures in various branches of the economy as follows:

Reduce GHG net emissions to 2.07 tons of CO2 eq. per capita by 2050

Energy

• Development of solar energy capacity from 59.57 MW in 2021 to 1000 MW by 2030, and to 1500 MW by 2040to increase both, green energy share and energy security. In total, by 2040, the capacity of solar and wind plants is planned to be increased to at least 2000 MW
• Energy storage facilities would be developed, and e-mobility promoted
• Use of nuclear power would play a major role in ensuring stability of energy supply and guaranteeing energy security
• Intensive studies of opportunities and feasibility of utilizing biomass, biogas, hydrogen would be organized. Hydrogen might be an important solution to store the electrical energy produced by renewable sources of energy to be consumed at peak hours
• Carbon capture and storage technologies would be emerging after their full-scale production at the international level

Agriculture

• Promoting the use of biogas plants and plants with higher absorptive capacityon all livestock farms
• Establishing an effective infrastructure and mechanisms for agricultural waste collection and management
• Implementing technological solutions to reduce methane emissions from livestock, in particular new feed additives, alternative forage, genetic breeding, controlled delivery of feed additives
• Creating and developing of new sustainable pasture management
• Integrating biodiversity in agricultural land and adoption of organic farming practices;
• Increasing the accuracy of mineral fertilizer application, use of organic fertilizers from livestock production, use of fertilizers with slow nitrogen release

Transport

• Improving human settlements planningand transport infrastructure
• Improving the public transport system
• Ensuring intensive renewal and modernisation of the vehicle fleet, including the bus fleet, with a gradual transition to vehicles using alternative energy sources/carriers (electricity, gas, biofuels, hydrogen)
• Optimisingpassenger and freight transport
• Creating and expanding infrastructure for bicycles, electric scooters and walking Enhancing digitalisation and the development of online services

Waste

Minimisation of solid waste (primarily biodegradable)

• Minimisation of landfilled solid waste (primarily biodegradable)
• Transition to more sustainable landfill management
• Minimisation of wastewater generation
• Improvement of wastewater treatment technologies

Nona Budoyan also spoke about Armenia's expectations from "EU4Climate2" project. According to her, Armenia expects to get support in the following matters:

• Implementation of the Armenia’s NDC 2021-2030 in line with national priorities
• Enhancement of the national climate finance framework and introduction of innovative financial instruments
• Strengthen the analytical/methodological basis of climate related policy decisions to realize more ambitious climate agenda
• Raise public awareness and increase participatory involvement of civil society institutions in climate policy development processes

In her speech, Victoria Burnazyan emphasized the importance of the implementation of "EU4Climate" project and the climate documents developed within the framework of the Project: the strategies for countries, the NDCs, the draft laws on climate. She mentioned that the enforcement of these documents is very important. "Our community visits and studies show that communities are highly vulnerable to climate change. They need climate change adaptation and mitigation measures. In this regard, it is necessary to increase the capacity and knowledge of local governments," Victoria Burnazyan said in her speech. Ivana Mijatovic, the expert of "EU4Climate" project, responded that the second stage of the project will be directed to the implementation of the adopted documents. She emphasized the importance of the implementation of climate projects in communities and the development of capacities.