Implementing Armenia’s New Climate Law: Navigating Energy Independence and Geopolitical Tensions in the South Caucasus

Authors

Ilona Evelina Mantachian

Abstract

As a result of human activity, the Earth is warming faster than at any point in recorded history. The effects of climate change are already devastating communities and crippling ecosystems globally. With deep cultural and traditional ties to the land, indigenous peoples are especially vulnerable to the direct consequences of the climate crisis despite contributing the least to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The 3 million Armenians living in the Republic of Armenia are no exception. Escalating climate change threatens their food security, degrades watersheds, and further endangers the people of this small, land-locked nation. Still, the government of Armenia has signaled a pivotal shift towards sustainable development and energy independence with its newly adopted Long-Term Low Emissions Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) as a potential path towards achieving climate neutrality. This paper investigates Armenia’s newly adopted climate law in the context of Armenia’s current over-reliance on imported energy sources. First, I explain what makes Armenia particularly vulnerable to climate change compared to other nations, such as its unique geography, complex mountain ranges, and diverse climates. I also discuss the implications of a warming climate on Armenian agricultural practices. Second, I contextualize Armenia’s path to energy independence by explaining critical aspects of its energy profile, ranging from its production capacity, its reliance on imported natural gas, diver- sification of its grid, and system reliability of its only domestic energy source: the Soviet-era Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant. This section would not be complete without a discussion of the consistent threats of strikes to the plant from the Azer- baijani Ministry of Defense, the Armenian Genocide of 1915, the 44-Day War fought between Armenia and Azerbaijan in 2020, and the ethnic cleansing of 120,000 indigenous Armenian peoples from ancestral Armenian lands in the former Republic of Artsakh (internationally recognized as Nagorno-Karabakh) in 2023.

Lastly, I analyze Armenia’s ambitious new law against the backdrop of the nation’s specific climate vulnerabilities and strategic goals. I explore the strategy’s potential to address GHG emissions, promote renewable energy sources, and enhance Armenia’s energy security and geopolitical standing. I further examine the challenges and considerations that might impede the success of Armenia’s strategy, offering insights into the complex interplay between climate change mitigation, energy policy, and regional stability in the South Caucasus.

Recommended Citation

Ilona Evelina Mantachian, Implementing Armenia’s New Climate Law: Navigating Energy Independence and Geopolitical Tensions in the South Caucasus, 31 Hastings Envt'l L.J. 1 ()
Available at: https://repository.uclawsf.edu/hastings_environmental_law_journal/vol31/iss1/2