With a population of around 3 million (2025), Armenia contributes just 0.02% of total global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and has a relatively low per capita footprint of 3.45 tCO₂e(Green House Gas Emissions in Armenia, 2024).

Armenia’s GHG emissions fell by about 70% between 1990 and 1995, then fluctuated between 7–8.5 million tCO₂e until 2010. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions dominated in the latest greenhouse gas national inventory report of the Republic of Armenia for 2019, with a share of about 55.7% of the total emissions, followed by methane (CH4) – of 24.2%, nitrous oxide (N2O) – of 11.4% and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) – for roughly 8.7%. In regional comparison, Armenia records the lowest emission intensity per unit of GDP among the Eastern Partnership countries. The largest emitting sectors are energy (66.7%) and agriculture (19%), 12 % industrial processed and product use, 6% waste representing the greatest mitigation potential.

Armenia’s Updated NDC (submitted in 2021) commits the country to:

• A 40% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.
• A national economy-wide target covering energy, IPPU, agriculture, waste, and LULUCF.
• A shift toward low-carbon energy, including accelerated solar deployment, efficiency measures, and sustainable land and forest management.

(Government of Armenia, Updated NDC (2021), submitted to the UNFCCC NDC Registry).

Armenia’s Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS)

Armenia’s Long-Term Strategy to 2050, adopted in 2023, sets a headline target of reducing emissions to 2.07 tCO₂e per capita by 2050.
The LTS outlines pathways for deep decarbonization across power, buildings, transport, agriculture, and industry. It aligns with Armenia’s ambition to move toward climate-neutral development in the second half of the century (Armenia’s LT-LEDS (2050), submitted to the UNFCCC (2023)).

The Government is preparing an update on Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) to 2035. Armenia is expected to set an economy-wide target to reduce GHG emissions by 47% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels.

Armenia is developing a Climate Law, which was approved in draft form by the Government in August 2025. This law is designed to provide a strong legal and institutional framework for climate policy: it will define the powers and responsibilities of different levels of government, set clear climate goals, and introduce market-based instruments to regulate emissions. Importantly, the law envisages carbon pricing mechanisms. This could help Armenia leverage carbon markets, attract climate finance, and align with EU mechanisms.

Climate Risks, Vulnerabilities and Adaptation 

Armenia is experiencing rising climate risks, significant increase of the temperature, reduction of precipitation, and growing threats from droughts, landslides, floods and water scarcity. The most at-risk sectors include agriculture, human health, water resources, forestry, transport, and energy infrastructure.

Historical observiations highlight the countries' vulnerability. The 4th National Communication on Climate Change (2020) reported an average temperature increase of 1.23°C between 1929–2016, alongside a 10% reduction in average annual precipitation between 1935–2012. The 3rd Biennial Update Report (2021) noted that from 1990–2019, the average annual temperature was 0.9°C above the 1961–1991 baseline, with a deviation of 1.5°C recorded in 2019 compared to the 1961–1990 average.

According to IPCC projections, Armenia could warm significantly above the global average, with potential increases of up to 4.7°C by the 2090s relative to the 1986–2005 baseline under the high-emissions scenario (RCP8.5). Such changes would heighten drought risks, flood and landslide hazards, reduce arable land, lower staple crop yields, and drive ecosystem shifts including dryland expansion, reduced water availability, and declining food production.

To strengthen Armenia’s adaptive capacity, in May 2021, the Government of Armenia approved the National Adaptation Action Plan and List of Measures for 2021–2025, institutionalizing the national adaptation planning process. A follow-up National Adaptation Action Plan-2 and List of Measures for 2026–2030 will be developed with the support of the EU4ClimateResilience project.

National Climate Governance

• The Ministry of Environment of Armenia is the coordinating ministry responsible for climate policy, international reporting (NDCs, BURs) and coordination of MRV and inventory work, as well as leading the preparation and submission of national communications and the inventory of greenhouse gas emissions and removals.
• Inter-Agency Coordination Council on UNFCCC/Paris implementation — established originally in 2012 and updated by Decree (719-A/2021) to formalize roles and procedural rules for cross-sectoral coordination. The Council includes line ministries (Economy, Agriculture, Transport, Energy, Health), public agencies, and stakeholders is the formal body assigned to coordinate NAP, NDC implementation and reporting. The 2021 decree clarifies reporting lines and six-monthly reporting requirements for ministries.
• Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Territorial Administration, and sector ministries — responsible for translating national targets into sectoral plans (energy, agriculture, water, infrastructure) and for implementing measures listed in the NAAP and NDC implementation plans.

Climate policy development and advancing cooperation with the EU in Armenia

EU4ClimateResilience in Armenia

Armenia has set an ambitious climate agenda, expanding renewable energy, strengthening climate resilience, and advancing disaster risk reduction. However, challenges remain, including heavy reliance on external financing, limited national funds to sustain the MRV system, shortages in technical capacity, insufficient GHG and forest inventories, and underdeveloped local adaptation plans.

EU4ClimateResilience supports Armenia’s climate policy efforts through a range of interventions:

• Implementing two demonstration projects in Armenia: “Dream Garden” climate-resilient urban park development in Gavar city and “The Climate Bridge” Tashir riverbank restoration and climate resilience through sustainable tourism in Tashir city, showcasing nature-based solutions for healthy ecosystems and human well-being.
• Supporting in the local-level reporting alignment with the national climate adaptation framework and the enforcement of local monitoring/reporting capacities for the SECAP implementing communities.
• Launching Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans development (SECAPs) for Akunk, Talin, and Aparan communities, enabling municipalities to integrate mitigation and adaptation measures.
• Supporting the establishment of a national MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, Verification) platform to track GHG emissions, adaptation measures, and overall climate action progress.
• Strengthening Armenia’s MRV system.
• Launching a Carbon Tax Impact Assessment, providing tools for climate-friendly economic incentives.
• Supporting the preparation of the National Adaptation Action Plan-2 (2026–2030) and List of Measures, promoting a sectoral and multi-level approach to resilience.

Through these efforts, EU4ClimateResilience will harmonize Armenia’s climate policies with the EU Acquis and the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA), helping align national strategies and legislation with EU and international standards. Throughout the project, the best international and EU practices will be applied.

Source

1. National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report of Armenia 1990-2019: https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/NIR%202019_EN.pdf
2. Updated NDC of the Republic of Armenia (2021–2030): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BwCO0HJHjtM92O7h_Gw7QvXD9Rxalixc/view
3. National Action Programme of Adaptation to Climate Change and List of Measures (NAP 2021–2025): https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/NAP_Armenia.pdf
4. Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS): https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/UNDP%20LT_LEDS_ARMENIA.pdf
5. MRV / Transparency background and recommendations:  https://www.undp.org/armenia/publications/development-background-information-climate-change-monitoring-reporting-and-verification-mrv
6. Decree establishing/updating the Inter-Agency Coordination Council (Decree 719-A/2021): https://climate-laws.org/document/decree-719-a-2021-establishing-the-inter-agency-coordinating-council-on-implementation-of-requirements-of-the-unfccc-and-the-paris-agreement_8d6e