Within the framework of the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change-COP27, held in the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian Office of UNDP, in close cooperation with the Partnership Assistance Department of the NDC, organized a panel discussion dedicated to discussing the problems of the water sector in the country.
Deputy Minister Gayane Gabrielyan thanked her colleagues for the opportunity to share Armenian experience in water management and exchange views.
Prior to the discussion, Marianna Panunzio-Feldman, Head of the Support Department of the NDC Partnership for the Involvement of Countries, congratulated the Armenian colleagues on the approval of the climate change adaptation program for 2022-2026 in the field of water resources.
Deputy Minister Gayane Gabrielyan presented the consequences of climate change for the water sector of Armenia.
About 88% of the total freshwater consumption in the country is accounted for by agricultural activities, the largest share of which is irrigation (57%).
Water resources management is one of the main environmental and economic challenges facing Armenia.
Gayane Gabrielyan spoke about the legislative reforms related to the water sector, as well as about the government's steps aimed at effective management of the sphere, including by attracting international donors.
At the end of the discussion, Marianna Panunzio-Feldman once again stressed that the NDC partnership is ready to assist the RA government in implementing the adaptation program in the field of water, which will contribute not only to meeting national needs, but also to solving cross-border problems in the region.
Eric Grigoryan, the founder of the Investment Group LLC, spoke at the discussion, who presented practical solutions for how to stimulate re- (secondary) water use in Armenia.
Maria Pia-ancora, representative of the Asian Development Bank, and Jean-Marc Faures, Head of the FAO regional program in the Middle East and North Africa, spoke about partner support in the water sector.