ACCORDING TO CONSUELO VIDAL, THERE IS CONCERN THAT ARMENIAN ECONOMY WILL ALSO SUFFER FROM CLIMATE CHANGE
Noyan Tapan
Nov 28 2007
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 28, NOYAN TAPAN. There is concern that Armenia, first
of all the country’s economy, will also suffer from the climate change,
the UN resident coordinator and the UNDP resident representative to
Armenia Consuelo Vidal stated at the November 28 presentation of the
UNDP Human Development Report 2007/2008 "Fighting Climate Change:
Human Solidarity in a Divided World". According to her, the climate
change is a complex rather than an environmental problem that endangers
development of the humanity.
She said that as a result of climate changes, the poorest countries
and nations will undergo regression.
In the words of C. Vidal, a rise of the temperature by 2 degrees
in Armenia will result in an annual 15-20% decline of water flows,
expansion of desert and semi-desert areas, a decline in precipitations,
in the number of cattle and the amount of crops.
The RA deputy minister of environmental protection Simon Papian stated
that it is evident from the fact that the 2007-2008 UNDP report pays
special attention to the climate change that the mankind’s concern
about this problem is growing. According to the latest report of the
intergovernmental group on climate change, the average temperature
of the lower layer of the atmosphere has risen by 0.7 degress, while
the ocean level – by 17 centimeters.
He said that Armenia that joined the Kyoto protocol in 2002 is
fulfilling its obligations. A program on energy efficiency of the city
heating and hot water supply system is being implemented under the
convention. It is also envisaged implementing a program on reduction
of greenhouse gases in the transport sector. As of August 1, 2007,
10 projects on waste management, agriculture, energy, industry and
deforestation have been developed in Armenia, and these programs are
at various stages of implementation.
According to the UNDP Human Developemnt Report, about 262 million
people suffered from climate disasters in 2002-2004. A rise of
temperature by 3-4 degrees may result in permanent or temporary
displacement of 330 million people and destruction of 30-40% of the
animal world.