What we do

The pathway to environmental sustainability and resilience comprises efforts to mainstream environmental issues into national and regional development processes, thus helping the country to transition into a low-carbon, resource-efficient, resilient and socially inclusive green economy that is able to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change. UNDP interventions are geared towards identifying, piloting and scaling up data-driven and tech-based smart policies and solutions that are environmentally and climate-friendly, risk-informed and long lasting.

UNDP works on:

(a) improving the institutional and regulatory frameworks governing the environmental sector;

(b) providing technical and financial support, including through small grants, for promotion of community engagement in co-management and monitoring to increase local ownership, improve livelihoods and reduce poverty; and

(c) mainstreaming ecosystem-based approaches into sectoral policymaking, community development and landscape restoration.

UNDP advocates for a new social contract, turning people, particularly women and youth, and businesses into actively contributing development partners. This will require all-of-society engagement, environmental education, behavioural changes, new types of economic and fiscal instruments and public-private partnerships, including tapping the potential of the country’s tech sector.

UNDP addresses energy poverty and insecurity by investing in energy infrastructure, unlocking retrofit markets for energy-efficient and renewable sources and facilitates access to international climate financing mechanisms for mitigation and adaptation, including through climate budgeting frameworks.

In light of the compound crisis, a green and resilient recovery is boosted by promoting sustainable city concepts through low-emission and circular-economy models; helping to design and translate nationally determined contributions; and including climate adaptation into sectoral strategies and action plans in line with the Paris Agreement.

Stimulus packages are developed to protect and promote nature-based/green jobs and livelihood opportunities in communities, specifically for the rural poor and other vulnerable groups such as veterans, the newly disabled and the widowed and their families.

National capacities for resilience-building are strengthened and gender-responsive public and private investments in disaster risk management are stimulated.

UNDP pays particular attention to the environment-health nexus by mainstreaming a ‘one-health approach’ into cross-sectoral policies, financing and actions. This encompasses reducing risks to human health through sound management of waste, chemicals, air and water pollution and green transformation of urban mobility and industry.

Some results so far

• Armenia successfully completed its National Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement setting 40 percent CO2 emissions target for 2030.
• National Adaptation Plan and 3rd Biennial Update Report were also approved.

• As a result of hostilities in and around Nagorno-Karabakh, 10 communities hosting about 12,000 spontaneous arrivals saved over US$43,000 energy costs through using UNDP-provided solar thermal and photovoltaic systems; biomass briquette fuel was also used by 60 displaced families.

• After successful retrofitting of around 50 public/residential buildings, the Government of Armenia has committed USD 4 mln state funds for upscale.