YEREVAN (ARKA), February 9—Armenia is aimed at reducing emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere through the application and use of new technologies, said the Minister of Nature Protection of Armenia Aram Harutyunyan.

“Science has proven that even if global emissions will be reduced to zero levels, climate change will continue, because carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases remain in the atmosphere for thousands of years,” he said last Friday during the discussion of the Second National Report on Climate Change.

According to him, the obligation to reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is assumed by developed countries, and developing states are making efforts to contribute to this process while not assuming any obligations.

Harutyunyan noted that the main purpose of discussing the second draft on the national report on climate change, prepared by Armenia on the basis of the requirements of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, is to consider environmental issues in Armenia.

“The report includes three important directions in the context of climate change — the current situation, possible solutions and the projected expectations as a result of climate change,” he said.

In this regard, the Minister stressed that climate change affects all spheres, including health, agriculture, economy, and development in general.

Countries in support of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, in accordance with their national and regional priorities, pledged to develop and periodically submit national reports for discussion in the summit of supporters of the Convention.

Armenia prepared and presented its first report at the summit in 1998.

The development objective of the report is to assist the implementation of Armenia’s obligations emanating from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Development of the report was conducted with the participation of broad sections of stakeholders and their extensive consultation.

The basis for the development of the report has a departmental and statistical purpose. The analytical work involved more than 40 national experts, as well as the Research Institute of Energy and Public Service for Hydrometeorology and Monitoring.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – FCCC (Framework Convention on Climate Change, UN FCCC) is an agreement signed by more than 180 countries around the world, including Russia, all the countries of the former Soviet Union and all industrialized countries.

The Convention was solemnly adopted by the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and has been entered into force on March 21, 1994.