NATIONAL CAPACITY NEEDS SELF-ASSESSMENT FOR GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

Government Building #3,
Republic Square,
Yerevan, Armenia
Tel: (3741) 583 920
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ncsa@nature.am

February 20, 2004

“RENEWABLE ENERGY IN ARMENIA: REALITY AND PERSPECTIVES” PUBLICATION PRESENTED AT UNDP ARMENIA OFFICE

Today at the United Nations House in Yerevan the “Renewable Energy in Armenia: Reality and Perspectives” conference proceedings were presented by the Energy Institute of Armenia, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)/Global Environment Facility (GEF), Advanced Engineering Associates International/Armenia (AEAI), and the International Research and Exchange Board (IREX).

The international conference “Renewable Energy in Armenia: Reality and Perspectives” was organised in June 2003 by the joint efforts of Armenian scientists and governmental officials under the sponsorship of Alumni Small Grants Program of IREX, two UNDP/GEF projects - “Armenia National Capacity Self Assessment for Global Environmental Management” and “Armenia Country Study on Climate Change, Phase 2,” as well as the AEAI Armenia. It was attended by more than 70 participants from a number of Ministries, the Commission for Natural Monopoles, local and international organisations, foreign technical assistance programmes, engineering and scientific institutions, private companies, investors, technology providers, economists and representatives of embassies of Russia, Belarus, Iran and Germany in Armenia, specialists from Georgia and USA.

The main focus of the Conference was on the presentation of the current situation with renewable energy development in Armenia, fostering information exchange between different field actors, consolidation of previously gained experience in renewable energy field, initiation of an open professional discussion between field actors and public authorities in the regulatory and legislative framework, as well as introduction of new technologies.

The speeded-up growth of the renewable energy use complies with the Concept of Sustainable Development adopted at the World Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, as well as with UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and Kyoto Protocol recently ratified by Armenia.

As underlined in the UN Development Assistance Framework for Armenia 2005- 2009, the United Nations in Armenia will continue its assistance in maintaining and strengthening national capacities for technology transfer, expanding energy efficiency and renewable energy practices, creating favourable conditions for transfer of environmentally sound technologies and encouraging investment flows into the sustainable energy sector.

Sustainable development of renewable energy sector in Armenia, as a country without fossil energy resources, should be based on the extended use of efficient technologies either in traditional or alternative energy field. The articles presented in the Proceedings reflect actual progress of Armenia in keeping up with world tendencies of renewable energy development both in policy and practices.

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UNDP is the UN's global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners.

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