From 1953 till 2012 the air temperature in Armenia rose by 1.03 degrees, Aram Gabrielyan, National Focal Point of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UN FCCC), said at today's workshop.
According to the surveys, within the specified period precipitation fell by 10%. It was pointed out that the climate change has a direct impact on natural ecosystems, biodiversity, water resources, forest ecosystems, as well as on human health.
Climatic forecasts say that by 2030 air temperature in Armenia will rise by 1-1.2 degrees, and by 2100 - by 4.8-5.7 degrees. The temperature rise amid the forecast precipitation decline will have a number of negative consequences, particularly, evaporation capacity growth and snow cover reduction. This will have a negative effect on the water resources.
In addition, Armenia faces the risk of desertification, soil erosion, drought and floods. Specialists expect the water temperature of Lake Sevan to rise by 3.6-4 degrees and the water level to annually fall by 16 centimeters by 2100.
Armenia will also experience shortage of irrigation water, 10-30% decline in surface humidity, growth in the number of destructive insects, reduction of pasture areas, as well as 4-10% reduction in grazing capacity. By 2100 the forest zone boundaries in Armenia will go up by 200-400 meters.
As regards the impact on the human health, the air temperature rise is expected to develop a favorable environment to spread Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Armenia.
The 5th report of IPCC says that it is by 95% possible that changing of the climate is linked with activity of a man. For this reason, experts call to reduce the volume of greenhouse gases release into the atmosphere.
The Armenian office of ICRC has been implementing a programme Climate Forum East, financed by the EU, Austrian Development Cooperation, Austrian Red Cross and WWF. Among the goals of the 2-year programme is drawing out of the policy in the climate changing sphere, supporting of civil society development in the Eastern Partnership countries.
Moreover, in 2013-2016 the pilot programme of UNDP and …U Climate East has been implemented in the republic for stable management of grazing lands and woods, to decrease negative affect of the climate changing in the local communities of Armenia. The programme is being implemented in Vardenis (Gegarkunik region of Armenia). In particular, the programme plans to restore 200 ha of grazing lands and 60 ha of wood.
The seminar was organized under a support of the EU, UNDP, Austrian Development Cooperation, Austrian Red Cross and WWF.