Media Coverage of Air Quality in Armenia

Avinyan announces winner of Nubarashen waste plant tender (machine translation)

Yerevan’s mayor said a consortium of Chinese, Arab and Armenian companies had won the tender. The scope of work still needs to be agreed and contracts signed.

Read the full article on azatutyun.am →

“Consortium selected for Yerevan waste processing plant” on civilnet.am →

“Tender winner to finance waste plant construction” on panorama.am →

“A1+ publishes video of Avinyan’s waste plant tender announcement” on a1plus.am →

Environmental Provisions in the Armenian Government’s 2026–2031 Program (machine translation)

On August 25, the National Assembly of Armenia adopted the government program for 2026–2031, which includes a separate section devoted to environmental policy. The government defines its goals as the effective management of natural resources, the conservation of biodiversity, and the reduction of negative impacts on the environment, while also linking this course to Armenia’s upcoming presidency of COP17 of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity starting in October 2026.

The environmental section includes the harmonization of legislation with EU directives, the development of climate policy and economic mechanisms for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including a carbon pricing system. Also planned are a nationwide air quality monitoring system with 16 modern stations and a reference laboratory, the expansion of 24/7 radiation monitoring, limiting water abstraction from the Ararat artesian basin to 926 million cubic meters per year, ecosystem-based management of Lake Sevan, about 10,000 hectares of afforestation and reforestation, the digitalization of environmental permits, and the strengthening of environmental education.

Read the full article on ecolur.org →

EU and UN launch €2.47 million air quality monitoring program in Armenia (machine translation)

The European Union, UN agencies, and the Government of Armenia officially launched the EU4Clean Air in Armenia program on August 19, aimed at modernizing the national air quality monitoring system and strengthening pollution control. The project will run until February 2029; the EU’s contribution is €2 million, with a total budget of around €2.47 million.

The program is being implemented by UNDP, WHO, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, and the Environment Agency Austria in cooperation with Armenian government bodies. Plans include installing at least two new monitoring stations in line with EU technical requirements, establishing a National Reference Laboratory, developing data collection and analysis, training specialists, and launching an air quality portal and mobile application.

Read the full article on arka.am →

“EU and UN Launch Air Quality Monitoring Modernization Program in Armenia” on newsarmenia.am →

Fines of 3 million drams for violations of atmospheric air protection requirements (machine translation)

Armenia’s Environmental Protection and Mining Inspection Body reported 45 violations of atmospheric air protection requirements identified from June 22 to July 10, 2026, in Yerevan and several regions. As a result of intensified inspections, administrative fines totaling 3 million 150 thousand drams were imposed.

The inspections concerned the illegal transportation of fertile topsoil, the transportation of bulk materials and construction waste without dustproof covers, as well as compliance with standards at construction sites. Most cases involved the transportation of bulk materials without protective covers: 12 in Yerevan, 13 in Armavir Province, 3 in Kotayk Province, 4 in Gegharkunik Province, and 1 in Aragatsotn Province; violations at construction sites were recorded in Yerevan, Kotayk, and Aragatsotn, while 2 cases of illegal transportation of fertile topsoil were also identified in Kotayk Province.

Read the full article on ecolur.org →

Avinyan compared Yerevan to a "pot with a lid" (machine translation)

Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan stated that air pollution in the capital worsens during the cold season due to an atmospheric inversion layer, comparing the city to a "pot with a lid." According to him, this natural and climatic phenomenon cannot be eliminated, but the situation can be mitigated by reducing vehicle emissions and traffic congestion. He also noted that the problem affects not only Yerevan but other settlements in the Ararat Valley as well. The article mentions that Avinyan had previously linked air quality to emissions from neighboring countries. Environmentalist Kristina Vardanyan, for her part, had also spoken about worsening air quality and emphasized the role of trees as a natural filter.

Comment from the AirQuality.am editorial team The mayor claims that the problem lies in the geographic location, but we believe that in doing so he is absolving himself of responsibility for failing to implement programs for cleaner heating, transport regulation, and construction oversight. Atmospheric phenomena only intensify the impact of pollution factors; they do not explain them.

Read the full article on newsarmenia.am →

New standards and methodologies for assessing ambient air quality will take effect starting in 2027 (machine translation)

The Armenian government has introduced amendments to a number of decisions: starting on November 1, 2027, new standards and methodologies for assessing ambient air quality will take effect. As part of a comprehensive measures program for 2025–2030, the air quality monitoring system is set to be модернизация, including the purchase of 14 stationary stations, 6 of them for Yerevan. In 2025, the Ministry of Environment was allocated 300 million drams to purchase two air quality assessment stations. These two stations have been installed in Yerevan (Kentron administrative district and a park in Kanaker-Zeytun) and are undergoing testing and calibration. They are expected to enable more accurate measurement of key pollutants and provide real-time data.

Read the full article on hetq.am →

Mayor: Air quality in Yerevan has improved despite construction and cars (machine translation)

Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan stated that the level of air pollution in the city is now lower than in November, despite the active season of construction, vehicle traffic, and other anthropogenic sources of pollution. According to him, the changes are linked to seasonal atmospheric conditions that affect the concentration of pollutants near the ground.

Avinyan explained that from November to March, air quality in Yerevan is largely determined by the height of the atmospheric layer: during this period, he said, it decreases from about 1,200 meters to 80–100 meters, causing pollution to concentrate closer to the ground. He noted that this phenomenon is characteristic not only of Yerevan, but of the entire Ararat Valley, including Vedi and Artashat, as well as adjacent territories of Turkey.

The mayor emphasized that the municipality publishes open data on air quality and forecasts for the coming days and week. According to him, as temperatures rise, the atmospheric layer increases to 2,000 meters, and the level of pollution observed in November is no longer recorded.

Comment from the AirQuality.am editorial team Claims on the level of "snow melts in spring, so there is no need to clear it away." We believe that in this way the mayor's office is absolving itself of responsibility for failing to implement programs to introduce more environmentally friendly heating and to control transport and construction. Atmospheric phenomena only amplify the impact of pollution factors; they do not explain them away.

Read the full article on news.am →

“Yerevan City Hall claims the air was cleaner in February 2026 than last year” on am.sputniknews.ru →

Making Air Visible: Community Response to the Pollution Problem in Armenia (machine translation)

The article describes winter air pollution in Yerevan, when smog and temperature inversions trap pollutants near the ground and residents regularly record “unhealthy” readings. AirQuality.am, created by Anton Vlasov, brings together fragmented air-quality data from municipal sensors, volunteer DIY networks, weather stations, and independent monitoring platforms, making it accessible and easy to understand. The platform publishes hourly updates, as well as open raw and processed datasets with documentation. The ArmAQI initiative and other volunteer networks expand sensor coverage across city districts. The project encourages residents to install their own sensors, share data, and engage with authorities on measures to reduce dust and waste burning and to expand green spaces.

Read the full article on airgradient.com →

Avinyan called for sharing air quality data so that “half-baked thoughts are voiced less often” (machine translation)

Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan stated that the municipality should regularly share data on the city’s air quality with the public. According to him, the municipality collects the largest volume of such information, including through installed sensors, and this data makes it possible to observe seasonal changes, especially from November to March. Avinyan emphasized the importance of understanding what portion of air quality deterioration is linked to anthropogenic factors in order to shape policy based on the accumulated information. He noted that the issue of air pollution requires detailed study and that there are many unprofessional assessments surrounding it. Expert Kristina Vardanyan said that air quality in Yerevan is deteriorating and that tree cutting is depriving the city of its natural “filter” against pollution.

Comment from the AirQuality.am editorial team The municipality strongly dislikes the work of activists and websites like ours, yet no real discussion is taking place. We analyze the data, and it shows that the municipality is either deliberately avoiding politically inconvenient issues or is completely incompetent on the matter.

Read the full article on newsarmenia.am →

Yerevan Has Nothing to Breathe: How “New-Wave Gardens” Can Become a Remedy for Smog and Stress (machine translation)

Air pollution in Yerevan has intensified, and one proposed solution is the development of “new-wave gardens”—nature-like green spaces made up of native, drought-tolerant plants. Ecologist and agronomist Zoya Dutova explains that such gardens can become the city’s “lungs,” support biodiversity, and provide more shade while requiring less irrigation and fewer chemicals. She notes that air quality is also tied to greening policy: the city is being built up, former sanitary standards have lost force, and WHO recommendations on green-space provision are not закреплены in law. Mass tree felling and the loss of forests on the slopes (Monument/Victory Park and Nork) have deprived the city of natural barriers, while simply planting trees is not always possible due to soil erosion. Private projects like Goght Urban Valley demonstrate an approach to greening that preserves existing plantings and selects species suited to local conditions. However, without systemic changes in urban planning, even widespread adoption of such gardens will not fully solve the smog problem.

Read the full article on newsarmenia.am →