Armenia: Workshop on assessing climate risks and vulnerability, developing adaptation measures in municipalities was held in Yerevan

On December 6, 2018, workshop was held in Yerevan for the signatories of the Covenant of Mayors on Climate and Energy in Armenia, on the topic “Assessing climate risks and vulnerabilities, and developing adaptation measures in municipalities”.

12 Armenian municipalities that have joined the new Covenant of Mayors on climate and energy have committed themselves to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 30% by 2030, as well as assessing climate risks and developing appropriate adaptation measures to mitigate identified risks and their possible consequences.

Five signatories have already begun to prepare Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans, and have completed the development of measures to mitigate climate change.

The workshop was organized in cooperation with the UNDP Climate Project Coordination Program of Armenia, with the aim of strengthening the capacity of the signatories to the Agreement to assess and prioritize key climate risks and vulnerabilities, identify relevant adaptation measures, and prepare relevant municipal strategies and their integration into the SEAP.

The workshop was conducted by UNDP experts from Armenia, Ms. Gohar Hovhannisyan (assessment of climate risks and vulnerabilities) and Mr. Aram Ter-Zakariaan (adaptation to climate change) who gave presentations on the following topics:

(i) climate change and associated risks for countries and urban communities: economic and social consequences;

(ii) climate change prediction in Armenia, typical climate risks and indicators;

(iii) climate risk assessment and vulnerability concept;

(iv) an assessment of the vulnerability of municipalities;

(v) a review of typical adaptation measures in municipalities.

A separate session was devoted to submitting and filling out a questionnaire on the collection of baseline data, allowing municipal experts and project experts to assess urban climate risks and to prepare “adaptation” heads of the SEAP.

The event was attended by 15 representatives of 9 city-signatories of the Covenant of Mayors in Armenia.