The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has been implementing its "Green City" program since 2016. It is aimed at contributing to the transition of cities to a green economy in the cities of all the Bank's countries of operation. In 2019, Gyumri also joined this program, adopting "Green City Action Plan" by the decision of its Aldermen’s Council. With this document, a vision for Gyumri until 2035 was set "To rehabilitate the environment of Gyumri and make it more suitable for citizens to live by improving air quality, water resources and land use, preserving ecosystems and mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change".
Within the framework of its "Green City" program, the EBRD provided loans to cities aimed at transitioning to green economies and improving the ecological condition of cities. Within the framework of this program, Gyumri implements "Gyumri City Roads" loaning program, within the framework of which several streets have been overhauled, the exterior lighting of the streets has been modernized.
EcoLur had an interview with the representatives of civil society in Gyumri about the implementation of "Gyumri City Roads" project, as well as "Green City Action Plan" and reaching the planned targets therein.
According to Gevorg Petrosyan, President of Gyumri-based "Biosofia" Center for Healthcare, Environmental Protection, and Agriculture Development NGO, the projects financed by EBRD should really be green. The bank must have a component of being subject to public monitoring and control for the projects it finances.
According to Gyumri's green city action plan, reduction of atmospheric air dust pollution is planned. However, the dust concentration in the atmospheric air in Gyumri exceeds the maximum permissible concentration already 5 years after the adoption of this project.
According to Chair of "Third Nature" NGO, Rafael Mkhitaryan, the source of dust in Gyumri is mostly unpaved streets. "The other source is the company in charge of water supply and drainage. The company demolishes streets several times a year, nevertheless, they are not paved later. On the other hand, there are few green spaces in the city for dust absorption," he said.
According to Seyran Martirosyan, Head of Shirak Regional Branch of Armenian Center for the Protection of Human Rights named after A.D. Sakharov, another source of dust is treating frozen streets with sand in winter. "In winter, they pour tons of sand, which is spread throughout the city. They clean it all year round, but it is eventually not cleaned," he said.
Gevorg Petrosyan mentioned that clear calculation mechanisms are needed both to understand the real picture of air pollution and to calculate the real area of green spaces for general use of the community. There is only one air quality monitoring station in Gyumri, which, according to Gevorg Petrosyan, is located in the greenest part of the city.
Touching on the issue of calculating the green areas, Gevorg Petrosyan noted that the "Green City Action Plan" has a green area of 3.91 square meters calculated per capita in Gyumri. According to new data, that indicator exceeds 13 square meters. The point is that now, the forest park outside the city is also included in the calculation in addition to the general green zone, while the calculation of the total green area and the forest park should be done separately.
According to Gevorg Petrosyan, the two parts of the Akhuryan River's riverbank up to Arpi Lake can also be greened.
Next, we will present the response of Gyumri Municipality in terms of achieving the targets set by "Green City Action Plan" in Gyumri.
May 31, 2024 at 18:05