MINISTER: ARMENIA AIMS AT REDUCING GREENHOUSE GASES IN ATMOSPHERE

ARKA
Feb 8, 2010

YEREVAN, February 8. / ARKA /. Armenia is aimed at reducing emissions
of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere through the application and
use of new technologies, said the Minister of Nature Protection of
Armenia Aram Harutyunyan.

"Science has proven that even if global emissions will be reduced
to zero level, the climate change will continue, because the carbon
dioxide and other greenhouse gases remain in the atmosphere for
thousands of years," he said on

Friday during the discussion of the Second National Report on Climate
Change.

According to him, the obligation to reduce greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere is assumed by the developed countries, and the developing
states are making efforts to contribute to this process while not
assuming any obligations.

Harutyunyan noted that the main purpose of discussing the second
draft on the national report on climate change, prepared by Armenia
on the basis of the requirements of the UN Framework Convention on
Climate Change, is the consideration of environmental issues and
climate change.

"The report includes three important directions in the context of
climate change – the current situation, possible solutions, as well
as the projected expectations as a result of climate change," he said.

In this regard, the Minister stressed that climate change affects
all spheres, including health, agriculture, economy, and development
in general.

Countries supporters of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
in accordance with their national and regional priorities, pledged
to develop and periodically submit national reports to the discussion
in the summit of supporters of the Convention.

Armenia prepared and presented its first re port at the summit in 1998.

The development objective of the report is to assist the implementation
of Armenia’s obligations emanating from the UN Framework Convention
on Climate Change.

Development of the report was conducted with the participation of
broad sections of stakeholders and their extensive consultation.

The basis for the development of the report has a departmental and
statistical purpose.

The analytical work involved more than 40 national experts, as
well as the Research Institute of Energy and Public Service for
Hydrometeorology and Monitoring.

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – FCCC (Framework
Convention on Climate Change, UN FCCC) is an agreement signed by
more than 180 countries around the world, including Russia, all the
countries of the former Soviet Union and all industrialized countries.

The Convention was solemnly adopted by the Earth Summit in Rio de
Janeiro in 1992 and has been entered into force on March 21, 1994.