Communities Association of Armenia

CoM East and Climate Change UNDP Program in Armenia agreed for strengthening the cooperation.

17.10.2022

With the framework of the country mission to Armenia, on October 13th, 2022, Mr. Christophe Frering, Team Leader of the EC “Covenant of Mayors East” regional project, met with Mrs. Diana Harutyunyan, Coordinator of Climate Change UNDP Programs.

This was the second meeting between the leaders of the two climate projects, during which they discussed the possibility ofcooperation to support the Armenian communities in development and implementation of sustainable energy and climate strategies. The national partner organization of EC “Covenant of Mayors East” regional project is Union of Communities of Armenia.

The Climate Change UNDP Program Office has very extensive experience of cooperation with the communities in climate change mitigation and adaptation, including development of the guidelines for the introduction of the energy management system and establishment of institution of energy managers in the communities of Armenia, capacity building of municipal personnel on energy efficiency and energy saving, reduction of greenhouse gas emission in municipal and residential buildings, energy efficient modernization of street lighting systems, development of regional adaptation plans.

Thus, the Program is one of the key stakeholders in the country with the necessary knowledge and capacities for the technical and informational support of the signatories.

In order to unite efforts to support the implementation of local energy and climate policies, Mr. Frering and Mrs. Harutyunyan agreed on cooperation between CoM East Project and Climate Change UNDP Program in Armenia.

The main objectives of the cooperation are to improve awareness and capacities of the Armenian local authorities - signatories of the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy on climate change mitigation and adaptation as well as to support Signatories to develop and implement Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAP), allowing them to reduce their energy dependence, to contribute more actively to climate change mitigation and adaptation processes and, ultimately, to improve quality of life of citizens.

The projects will join their efforts in organization of capacity building and awareness raising events, provision of relevant methodological guidance, identification of technical and financial opportunities for implementation of municipal action plans, etc.

At the end of the meeting, Mr. Frering shared his impressions received from bilateral meetings with the leaders and representatives of the local authorities held on 12-13 October 2022 and updated Mrs. Harutyunyan on ongoing and planned activities of the CoM East team.