On March 21, a workshop titled "Protecting Lake Sevan: Sustainable Solutions and Investment Strategies" was held in Yerevan. The event was organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment of the RA, the Water Committee of the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Government officials, international and local experts, representatives from environmental organizations, and members of civil society attended the event.
The workshop aimed to address urgent issues related to protecting the Lake Sevan ecosystem, present research on the impact of climate change, and develop long-term strategies for climate-resilient development and financing.
Aram Meymaryan, Deputy Minister of Environment of the RA, Martiros Nalbandyan, Deputy Chairman of the Water Committee, and Donald Lambert, Country Director for ADB’s Armenian Resident Mission delivered the opening remarks.
In his speech, Aram Meymaryan emphasized that the primary goal is to promote climate-resilient and low-carbon development in the lake basin. To achieve this, he stated, it is necessary to:
Develop scientifically sound adaptation plans,
Implement feasible financing and investment strategies,
Modernize infrastructure, particularly wastewater treatment systems,
Promote the use of clean energy sources,
Engage the public and raise awareness.
During the workshop, participants presented an analysis of Lake Sevan's ecological state, the impact of climate change, and the need for adaptation. They also discussed the economic value of the lake's ecosystem services and the financial sustainability of sanitation solutions. Additionally, the best sanitation and wastewater treatment technologies were presented, with a particular focus on low-carbon solutions.
At the workshop, the results of a sociological study titled "The Intangible Value of Lake Sevan: Summary of the Public Survey – What is Sevan for Armenia?" were also presented. This was followed by a question-and-answer session and a panel discussion.
During the panel discussion, representatives from state and local governments, financial institutions, and civil society discussed ways to bridge financing and ecosystem protection, ensuring a sustainable future for Lake Sevan.
At the end of the workshop, the key outcomes of the discussions were summarized, and the next steps for protecting Lake Sevan and ensuring climate-resilient development were outlined.