Aarhus Centres identify avenues for promoting the transition to Green Economy and Resource Efficiency in Armenia at an OSCE-supported workshop in Yerevan

Promoting a green economy and resource efficiency was the focus of a workshop held in Yerevan, on 24 and 25 July by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA). The event was organized in co-operation with the Government of Armenia.

The event brought together representatives of government, Aarhus Centres, civil society, academia and the private sector, as well as regional and international partners. The workshop is part of a cross-regional project addressing the transition to a green economy and resource efficiency in the OSCE region.

“We welcome the OSCE’s engagement in supporting Armenia in our efforts to transition to a green economy, including through strengthening the capacities of Aarhus Centres in this area, both in our country as well as in the wider OSCE region," noted Maya Martirosyan from the Department of Arms Control and International Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia.

During the workshop, national and international experts presented best practice examples of international and domestic initiatives and discussed the role of civil society and the national Aarhus Centres in contributing to the efforts in this area.

The event also enabled participants to discuss the Aarhus Centres´ Road Map on Green Economy and Resource Efficiency and identify avenues for their further engagement on this topic.

The event included a field trip to the Lukashin Agricultural Association Consumer Co-operative in the village of Lukashin in the Armavir Marz district. The participants visited a farm designed and managed to maximize sustainable development of rural communities as well as to ensure active involvement of the local population in the improvement of their living conditions. Through environmentally sound and sustainable agriculture practices, the co-operative also contributes to raising awareness of the peoples’ rights to be healthy and to live in a healthy environment.

“I am happy to share our experience and underline the importance of joint efforts of the private sector, civil society and the government to fulfil our common goals,” said Vardges Davtyan, the Chairperson of the Lukashin Agricultural Association. “I hope our example will be an inspiration for others to contribute to this common effort.”

The workshop was part of the OSCE project Promoting the Engagement of Aarhus Centres in Green Economy and Resource Efficiency.