Armenia: Workshop on the development of SECAP for Signatories of the Covenant of Mayors, Yerevan, 30-31/05/2019
From the 30th to the 31st of May 2019, the sixth training seminar for the signatories of the Covenant of Mayors in Armenia on the theme “Development of SECAP: baseline assessment and mitigation of climate change and adaptation” was held in Yerevan.
The event was organized for the fourteen Armenian municipalities that joined the new Covenant of Mayors on climate and energy of the year and committed to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 30% by 2030, as well as assessing climate risks and developing appropriate adaptation measures, mitigating identified risks and their possible consequences.
The purpose of the workshop was to raise awareness and strengthen the capacity of representatives of signatories to the Covenant of Mayors on the establishment of municipal structures and the appointment of energy managers responsible for the development and implementation of SECAPs, the collection and analysis of baseline data, the calculation of the GHG baseline inventory and assessment of climate risks and vulnerability, as well as development and implementation of measures to reduce GHG emissions and adapt to climate change in key sectors.
In addition, the participants of the workshop were acquainted with the content of the main chapters of the new management manual developed by the JRC, and the ten key stages of the implementation of climate and energy strategies.
A separate session was devoted to discussing the technical aspects of planning, implementation and monitoring of energy efficiency projects in buildings and systems for indoor and outdoor lighting, emission reductions in transport and solid waste management, energy from renewable sources (solar energy, biogas and geothermal technologies ), as well as adaptation projects.
The event was attended by more than 35 people — representatives of the signatories of the Covenant of Mayors, experts from the Ministry of Energy Infrastructure and Natural Resources of the RA, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Development of Armenia, the United Nations Development Program in Armenia, the Armenian Community of Armenia, the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fund of Armenia and experts of the draft EU project “Covenant of Mayors — East”.
Participants of the workshop were welcomed by Mr. Emin Yeritsyan, President of the Union of Armenian Communities, Mr. Vahagn Atayan, Head of Energy Efficiency and Technical Standards Department of the Ministry of Energy Infrastructure and Natural Resources of the Republic of Armenia, and Mr. Karen Bakoyan, Head of the Department of Coordination of Local Government of the Ministry of Territorial Administration and development of RA.
Mr André Ohanyan (Energy Efficiency in Buildings), Mr. Armen Gulkanyan (Energy Efficient Lighting), Mr. Martiros Tsarukyan (calculation of BKV and measures in the transport sector and the SDS, Mr. Gegham) made reports on various topics. Mr. Hovhannisyan (biogas theologians), Ms. Gohar Hovhannisyan (assessment of climate risks and vulnerability), Mr. Aram Ter-Zakaryan (adaptation), Mr. Artem Kharazyan (new guidance on the development of PADERK, tools for collecting baseline data, calculation principles BKV, status of implementation of the CoM East project in Armenia).
As part of the cooperation in the EU project “Covenant of Mayors — East”, experts from the RA Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fund, Mr. Grant Ter-Gabrielyan and Mr. Norayr Harutyunyan, made presentations on the possibilities of using solar and geothermal energy sources for local electricity production , heat and cold.
In the final part of the workshop, Ms. Diana Harutyunyan, UNDP Climate Change Coordinator, briefed the participants on the goals and objectives of the new UNDP-GEF project “National Adaptation Plan to Promote Medium-Term and Long-term Adaptation Planning in Armenia”, aimed at developing a National Plan on adaptation to climate change with a view to integrating adaptation into planning and budgeting at the national, sectoral and local levels, as well as in order to support the mobilization of funds for more the most important goals of climate change-resistant growth.
Within the framework of the presentation, it was noted that the project is ready for cooperation with the cities and can provide assistance in developing adaptation strategies at the local level, as well as in their implementation, in the presence of substantiated project proposals.