Shelling of the Kechut water reservoir had a potentially catastrophic  human toll and environmental impact - Vahagn Khachaturyan 

ArmInfo.On November 7, President Vahagn Khachaturyan delivered a speech at the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention  on Climate Change held in Sharm El Sheikh.

The President noted that Combating climate change is a critical  component of the global agenda, which requires a shared commitment of  us all.

"Climate change evolves faster than expected. The entire mankind not  only witnesses this change, but is also affected by it. Ecosystems  are at risk, water resources are running dry, floods, storms, forest  fires, extreme heat and drought become more frequent," noted the  President.

Touching on the impact of conflicts on the environment, the President  said: "We all well aware of a destructive power of conflicts on  environment - its resources and productivity.

Impacts of war on ecosystems vary, depending on the magnitude and  duration of a conflict, as well as the types of weapons used.

Regretfully, recently Armenia experienced such a challenge. On  September 13 this year Azerbaijan initiated an aggression, targeting  the sovereign territory of Armenia. Densely populated towns of the  eastern and south-eastern regions of Armenia, including city of  Jermuk, a well-known mountain spa town and popular destination for  medical tourism, came under heavy fire. The hostilities with the use  of a wide range of weaponry, including artillery and combat UAVs  against the settlements were accompanied by causing a heavy damage to  the unique environmental complex. The shelling of the Kechut water  reservoir had a potentially catastrophic human toll and environmental  impact."

President Vahagn Khachaturyan highlighted that despite the existing  challenges and security concerns in Armenia, the climate change  agenda continues to remain priority for the Government.

"Particularly, climate resilience and low-carbon development are  recognized as a primary goal, which is based on the sustainable and  long-term climate change adaptation strategy, investments in  large-scale afforestation, renewable energy and energy-efficient  sectors, application of innovative and modern climate technologies,  promotion of electric mobility and development of nuclear energy,"  noted the President.