Outlook on Climate Change Adaptation in the South Caucasus Mountains

desertification. Moreover, Article 34 of the said law states: “State bodies, enterprises, establishments and organizations can carry out the actions directed on artificial change of atmospheric air and atmospheric phenomena in the economic purposes from the permission of authorised state bodies in the sphere of atmospheric air protection and only provided it will not result in adverse influence on weather and climate” (Ecolex 1994). Azerbaijan The basis for national environmental legislation is the Constitution, which defines living in a healthy and clean environment as a right of the population. The two main environment-related laws safeguarding this right – the Law on Environmental Protection (1999) and the Law on Environmental Safety (1999). The Law on Environmental Protection is a framework law and covers all related sectors such as waste management, protection of fauna, protected areas, ecological expertise etc. Unfortunately, issues related to climate change mitigation and adaptation are not explicitly reflected in Azerbaijan’s environmental laws. Climate change issues are also reflected in the government’s main strategic documents. 19 For example, a special chapter on climate change is included in the draft Action Plan on Improvement of the Ecological Situation and Efficient Use of Natural Resources in the Republic of Azerbaijan (2015–2020), which is currently undergoing final inter-agency approval. More importantly, climate change is also addressed in the forthcoming National Adaptation Plan (NAP). Georgia The Law on Environmental Protection (1996), which was developed as a legal framework to define key environmental competencies and areas of action,

Nialdag Range, Azerbaijan

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