This climate law establishes Armenia’s overall legal framework for addressing climate change and organizing climate policy across the country in line with the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, covering both mitigation and adaptation. Its main purpose is to create a coordinated national system for both mitigation (cutting greenhouse gas emissions and alligning national action with international commitments) and adaptation by helping society, infrastructure, and the economy prepare for and respond to climate impacts. The law defines responsibilities across government institutions and encourages cooperation between national authorities, local governments, businesses, and individuals. It introduces mechanisms for climate planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and evaluation to improve accountability and transparency. The law also supports the development of financing mechanisms and creates institutional arrangements for coordinated climate action, establishes a national measurement, reporting, and verification system, and integrates climate finance into the public financial management system.
Key policy instruments include Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), a long-term low-emission development strategy, and a national climate adaptation programme, all approved by Government. The law introduces regulatory tools such as GHG emission permits, carbon pricing mechanisms (carbon tax or emissions trading), and mandatory GHG accounting and reporting by legal entities above defined thresholds. A measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) system aligned with the Paris Agreement's Enhanced Transparency Framework is established, with annual government reporting to the National Assembly. Lastly, Chapter 4 creates a Climate Council as the central coordination and advisory body. Chaired by a Deputy Prime Minister, the Council brings together representatives of relevant government bodies, civil society organisations, scientific institutions and local authorities. Its mandate includes reviewing national climate documents (NDCs, strategies, adaptation programmes), issuing recommendations to the Government, and ensuring cross-sectoral coordination of climate policy.
