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1.
CURRENT PROJECT STATUS
2. ACTIVITIES TO BE INVOLVED IN PHASE II PROJECT
3. PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
4.
PROJECT REPORT
During
preparation of the First National Communication a number of problems
regarding methodology and technology needs were identified. The framework
of the Phase I project did not provide activities for the identification
of technologies for abatement of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as well
as technologies for adaptation to climate change and abatement of its
consequences.
The operational guidelines for "Expedited Financing of Climate
Change Enabling Activities Part II" will allow Armenia to reveal,
assess, identify priorities and undertake practical steps to assess
technological needs and identify specific technologies required for
abatement and adaptation to climate change. Such technologies should
contribute to greenhouse gas emissions reduction, be environmentally
sound (EST) and support and promote to sustainable development.
The overall goal of the Phase II Enabling Activity Project is to strengthen
and maintain the in-country capacity for realization of these technologies
and further development of enabling activities to:
i. Create and strengthen capacities for transferring and introduction of technologies and know-how aiming at reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and /or carbon sequestration, as well as technologies and measures aiming at adaptation to possible climate change.
ii. Create conditions for further studies and systematic observations addressed to climate change studies and its impact on different sectors of economy, health and the environment.
iii. Create condition for improvement of emission factors.
iv. Enhance public awareness and involve the stakeholders in climate change related issues.
v. Interagency coordination and take into account climate change factors in planned activities.
The
framework of the proposed project shall encompass the efforts towards
advanced study and assessment of the potentials and costs of emission
reduction, economic efficiency of the designed measures and certain
projects and the measures to assess their likely environmental impacts
and identify technical and legal opportunities for their implementation.
Taking of these steps is stipulated by the Article 12, paragraph 4 of
FCCC and will establish the conditions for applying and proliferating
environmentally-sound technologies, know-how, practices and processes
addressing climate change consequences. Implementation of the Phase
II will strengthen the in-country potential for realization of stipulations
underlined in the FCCC Article 4 (paragraphs 1, 7, and 8) and Articles
5 and 6 in compliance to the status of Armenia under the Convention.
By undertaking the Phase II enabling activity, Armenia is aware that
they must await both the future decisions of the Conference of the Parties
regarding the preparation of second national communications and GEF
guidelines to operationalize those decisions.
The
Implementing Agency and the GEF focal point of Armenia have satisfied
themselves that the proposal for additional funding complies with the
Operational Criteria for the expedited financing of climate change enabling
activities."
2.
ACTIVITIES TO BE INVOLVED IN PHASE II PROJECT
Top
The National Communication Support Programme (NCSP) is currently developing regional/global proposals in several areas of work that might have implications for the national activities described in this project. Implementation of the project will be carried out in close co-ordination with the NCSP to ensure that areas of synergy will be identified where possible, and to avoid duplication for cost effectiveness.
A.
Technology Transfer:
Top
(i) Identification/submission of technology needs
The
preliminary assessment of Armenia's needs in technologies and methodologies
has pointed out the problems in technologies and methodologies for developing
measures related to both climate change abatement and adaptation in
different sectors of economy thereby promoting sustainable development.
The biggest potential for emissions reduction lies in the area of the
energy sector. The relevant measures include reducing losses and raising
the efficiency of fuel and energy resources consumption in every sector
of the national economy and by consumers; introducing modern energy
efficient technologies of energy-production in energy sector, economy
and other sectors of industry; and further developing renewable energy
sources.
Measures relevant to the increase of carbon absorption are connected
with the development of the forest sector based on optimization degree
of afforestation. Measures relevant to preservation of carbon absorbents
and reservoirs are connected with the optimization of land use. All
these measures should serve to adapt to possible climate change and
contribute to the development of economy on a sustainable basis.
In Armenia, the primary ways of adaptation to climate change are related
to optimization of water resources consumption as in agricultural sector
as in other sectors of economy considering the vulnerability of water
resources in solving Lake Sevan problem. There is a strong need to consider
and assess technologies that can be instrumental in minimization of
the water resources consumption in all sectors of economy.
The project activities shall include study, selection and adaptation
of appropriate models to the local conditions, as well as creation of
conditions for developing the missing methodology. The scope and the
content of measures and technologies should respond to the requirements
of development of stable bases.
The starting point for additional work implementation will be measures
on greenhouse gas emissions reduction and adaptation to climate change
developed in the First National Communication of Armenia.
(ii) Capacity building to assess technology needs, modalities to acquire and absorb them, design, evaluate and host projects.
This task will require:
· establishment and development of capacities to identify technology needs for the above mentioned objectives, modalities to acquire and absorb them, including technologies and projects developed in the country;
· study of methods and experience existing in the ministries, agencies and academic, research institutions and international organizations; and
· establishment of informational database for technology needs.
The main emphasis will be on the following:
· Identifying the key technologies and projects grouped by economy sectors, preliminary evaluation of their economic efficiency and advisability of their introduction;
· Establishing a dialogue among concerned parties/organizations;
· Establishing a group for the assessment of technological needs, study and evaluation of the information related to technology transfer;
· Study, select and elaborate methods for economic assessment of measures on adaptation and greenhouse gas emissions reduction;
· Assessing the consumption of own fuel and energy resources on stable bases as well as the potential of solar, wind and biological energy and the efficiency of their introduction in the country;
· Identifying information sources both at national and international levels, including information search activities and obtaining the necessary information to address climate change; and,
· Establishment of database and a package of project proposals.
To complement the technology transfer activities, a series of awareness building activities will be conducted, including:
· capacity building to develop and assess projects addressed to technology needs;
· holding of workshops, round tables, lectures, presentations;
· preparation of information and demonstrative material for various types of audience and mass media;
· establishment of a working group of experts in various directions of climate change;
· establishment of a group of experts to assess technological needs, study and evaluate information related to technology transfer;
· interagency coordination aimed to consider climate change factors in planned activities, including preventative matters for mitigating the consequences of natural calamities.
B.
Capacity Building for Participation in Systematic Observation Networks
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In order to build capacity for research and applied activities on climate
change related issues and participate in the networks of systematic
observation and environmental monitoring on stable bases, the following
operations will be required:
· Coordination of national activities synergetic with those organized on regional and international level by the NCSP;
· Developing databases for studying the relationship between climate change and desertification processes. This activity will include developing a list of recommended measures on adaptation;
· Assessing the existing practice on water management and projects developed in the sector, from the point of view of vulnerability of water resources at current and projected climate change with a focus on win-win policy options;
· Developing proposals for introduction of measures on adaptation to climate change in different sectors of economy and the environment, considering limited funding currently available for adaptation;
· Strengthening the systematic and institutional bases for conducting hydrometeorological database including data of the national system and Global Climate Observation System (GCOS). Ensure its availability for the concerned parties;
· Statistical analyses of tendencies to climatic anomalies and its consequences (mudflows, long-term droughts, etc.) on the national economy as well as on stability of food security; and,
· Analyses of research and applied studies as well as environmental monitoring covering climate change problems.
3.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
Top
The overall goal of Phase II of enabling activities is to maintain and enhance the country's capacity in climate change area and technology transfer in particular.
The same structure which was established for preparation of the First National Communication in frames of "Armenia - Country Study on Climate Change" project will be used in the Phase II project. The intent is to promote to the efficient use of compiled information and continuity of activities. The project intermediate reports will be discussed during the regular working workshops.
The Project Steering Committee will mainly include institutions and organizations that have been involved in the first phase of the project. The project work will be carried out in collaboration with WB, TACIS, USAID, NGOs, etc.