The next episode of the “Dilemma” podcast centered on “Climate Change and Environmental Degradation,” where key environmental issues were discussed, including climate change, water management, land use, pollution, and other critical security-related topics.
The guests were Diana Harutyunyan, climate change program coordinator at UNDP and a candidate of biological sciences, and Professor Georgi Fayvush, a doctor of biological sciences. The discussion was led by Areg Kochinyan, head of the Research Center on Security Policy.
Diana Harutyunyan
“Security concerns also extend to communities affected by landslides triggered by heavy rainfall. Approximately 69-70% of Armenia’s land area is at risk of landslides. In these regions, landslides often activate due to intense rains, making prevention nearly impossible in many cases.”
Georgy Fayvush
“Proper agricultural practices and efficient water use for suitable crops can slow down soil salinization.”
“Armenia’s forest cover has decreased, and we all know the reasons: it’s a consequence of the energy and economic crisis. However, substantial efforts have been made in recent years to expand forested areas. Unfortunately, as usual, campaigns here tend to focus on numbers—let’s plant 100 million trees, or however many… and so on. But where will we actually plant them? Instead, let’s first think about where planting is viable and where it is not.”
Areg Kochinyan
“It seems that many of our issues stem from the need for accurate calculations, effective organization, and clear policy goals. These, in turn, reflect the quality of governance and the indicators of good management.”
