Outlook on Climate Change Adaptation in the South Caucasus Mountains

National coordination mechanisms on climate adaptation

Armenia Armenia established the Inter-Agency Coordination Council on Climate Change in 2012 (Prime Minister of Armenia 2012). The Council is composed of the representatives of 14 ministries, 2 independent state agencies, the Armenian Public Services Regulatory Commission, the Armenian National Academy of Sciences, and the UNFCCC National Focal Point. The Chair of the Council is the Minister of Nature Protection. The Council was established to implement UNFCCC provisions, in particular, to implement measures defined by the Decree on “Approval of the Action Plan of RA Obligations Emanating from a Number of International Environmental Conventions” (Government of the Republic of Armenia 2011). The Council safeguards cooperation between regional, intergovernmental and international organizations, participatory approaches with regard to communities, civil society and the scientific community, and capacity building. It meets twice a year and, between meetings, uses formal channels of intergovernmental cooperation. To support the operations of the Council a working group was established comprised of representatives of state agencies, as well as climate change experts (MoNP 2015). Azerbaijan To ensure coordination to meet the country’s commitments to the UNFCCC, the State Commission on Climate Change was established (President of Azerbaijan 1997). The Climate Change and Ozone Centre within the mentioned ministry served as a secretariat for the Commission.

At present, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources coordinates all reporting processes under the framework of the UNFCCC Convention, and also ensures coordination of climate action among government agencies. Besides this, the Ministry is nominated as the designated authority to represent the country at the Adaptation Fund. Moreover, before submission of the National Communications to the UNFCCC, the Ministry submits it to the Cabinet of Ministers to begin the state approval process, where related line ministries provide their comments and suggestions to the relevant sectoral parts. Georgia The Government Commission on Climate Change was established in 1996 (President of Georgia 1996). The Chair of the Commission was the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Protection. Under the same decree, the National Climate Change Programme and composition of the Commission were approved. However, the decree was repealed, and the programme closed in 2005. At this stage no formal inter-agency national coordination mechanism on climate adaptation exists. Though the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection remain responsible body for climate adaptation action planning and coordination at national level. For the purpose of providing input to the National Communications, there are national working groups within all three countries, representing all related ministries and state agencies, the academic and private sector and NGOs. However, it is rare that

these working groups include representatives of the local authorities and the local population. In contrast, international and non-governmental organizations deploy a more inclusive approach when implementing projects for development of regional/ local/municipal climate strategies or actions; establishing working groups or steering committees that typically include both local authorities and local population representatives.

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