Yerevan has been recorded as having the worst air quality in the South Caucasus, which negatively affects the country's attractiveness. UN Resident Coordinator Francoise Jacob noted problems of land desertification and river pollution caused by agriculture, construction and mining activities. Only 0.6% of GDP is allocated to Armenia's environmental protection. Ahead of COP17, the importance of transitioning to a 'green' economy and restoring forests as a measure to improve air quality is particularly emphasized. Jacob urged Armenian banks to support sustainable development projects. The role of the state in protecting biodiversity is also underscored.
Air quality in Yerevan in September 2025:
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From 2030, Armenia will significantly tighten maximum permissible concentration (MPC) standards for harmful substances in the air and revise the methodology for calculating them. For fine particulate matter PM2.5, the limits will be lowered to 25 µg/m³ as a 24-hour average and 10 µg/m³ as an annual average. For nitrogen dioxide, including that generated by waste burning, new limits will be set: 200 µg/m³ per hour, 50 µg/m³ per day, and 20 µg/m³ per year. Similar reductions are предусмотрено for sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and other emissions. Restrictions on the frequency of exceedances will also be introduced: hourly—no more than 3 times per year, daily—no more than 18 times.
Air quality in Yerevan in August 2025:
In a discussion organized by the Yerevan for People initiative, the main focus was on the level of air pollution in Yerevan. Participants discussed the impact of polluted air on health and exchanged data on the city's air quality.
Air quality in Yerevan in March 2025:
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In recent years, air pollution in Yerevan has intensified due to transport, industrial facilities, and expanding construction; the highest levels are recorded in summer and winter. The country lacks modern online monitoring systems, so monitoring is carried out via fixed and mobile stations that provide daily average readings (45 stations in Yerevan). Specialists measure concentrations of particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and ground-level ozone using laboratory methods, and in the city center particulate levels often exceed the maximum permissible concentration by 1.5–2 times. Factors behind deteriorating air quality include the dry climate, dense development, a shortage of green spaces, a growing number of cars, fog (which worsens air circulation), and emissions from heating boilers in winter. An additional factor is the Nubarashen landfill and summer fires; authorities plan to rehabilitate it and create a green zone. The government is preparing to tighten controls at construction sites and continues to fine enterprises and developers for violations related to dust and emissions.
Air quality in Yerevan in February 2023:
Yerevan, an ancient city and the capital of Soviet Armenia, suffers from smog that obscures the view of the biblical Mount Ararat. Although authorities have launched a campaign to reduce air pollution, the growth in private cars and emissions from factories have a significant impact. Plans include converting public transport to liquefied natural gas and relocating factories outside the city to improve air quality. However, restrictions on private car use remain controversial. The city has about 60,000 private cars, making it the leader in cars per capita among cities in the USSR. The city is actively increasing green spaces, adding 10 square meters per person over the past 10 years. The main sources of pollution are vehicle exhaust, factories, and adverse weather conditions during the winter period.
Over the past 24 hours, the average PM2.5 level was within WHO recommendations: 7.9 µg/m³ compared to the standard of 15 µg/m³.
The yearly average PM2.5 level exceeds the WHO recommendations 6.1 times: 30.4 µg/m³ compared to the standard of 5 µg/m³.
Over the past year, there were 215 days exceeding the daily PM2.5 limit (15 µg/m³). Up to 4 days per year are allowed.
The Yerevan Municipality seems to lack a systematic stance on the city’s air quality. At different times, officials have expressed opposing views, ranging from denying pollution to calling for programs to combat it.
Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan said that current air pollution levels are no longer as high as in November, even though it is now the peak construction season and traffic is heavy. According to him, from November to March air quality largely depends on a climatic phenomenon: an “atmospheric layer” descends, causing pollutants to concentrate closer to the ground. He noted that this situation is typical not only for Yerevan but also for the entire Ararat Valley and neighboring areas. As temperatures rise, the atmospheric layer lifts and observed pollution levels decrease. The municipality, the mayor said, publishes open data and air quality forecasts.
Air quality in Yerevan in March 2026:
Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan said the city administration should regularly share air quality data with the public. According to him, the municipality collects the largest volume of such information, including via installed sensors, and this data makes it possible to see seasonal changes (especially from November to March). Avinyan stressed the importance of understanding what portion of air quality deterioration is linked to anthropogenic factors in order to build policy based on accumulated information. He noted that air pollution requires detailed study and that there are many unprofessional assessments surrounding the issue. Expert Kristina Vardanyan said that air quality in Yerevan is worsening and that tree cutting deprives the city of a natural “filter” against pollution.
Air quality in Yerevan in February 2026:
Nearly 1,900 Yerevan residents took part in a Telegram channel poll by “YerevanyCh” on how to mitigate air pollution in the capital. The poll was prompted by Mayor Tigran Avinyan’s statement that it is impossible to fully solve the problem due to factors beyond the city authorities’ control. Respondents most often cited mass tree planting and the creation of new parks, followed by strict control of construction dust. In the comments, residents link worsening winter air quality to widespread burning of trash, plastic, tires, and the use of stove heating. Proposed measures include fines and enforcement against waste burning, switching to gas/electric heating, expanding gasification, and greening to combat summer dust.
Air quality in Yerevan in February 2026:
According to a GALLUP survey, about 30% of respondents named air pollution as Yerevan’s most important problem. The findings were presented by Aram Navasardyan, head of the Armenian office of the GALLUP International Association. The survey was conducted by phone on January 19–23 among 601 participants.
Air quality in Yerevan in January 2026:
Armenia has approved a comprehensive atmospheric air protection program for 2025–2030. It предусматривает modernization of air quality monitoring and the introduction of mandatory requirements for the use of dust-suppression equipment in construction and the mining industry. Two automatic monitoring stations have already been installed in Yerevan, and the first data are expected soon. Under a grant agreement with the Japanese government, three more stations are planned to be supplied, and one will be purchased from the state budget, bringing the total in the capital to six. This is intended to ensure comprehensive, citywide air-quality monitoring in line with international standards. Armhydromet of the Ministry of Environment is authorized to officially publish atmospheric air quality indicators and inform the public.
Air quality in Yerevan in January 2026:
Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan said that it is impossible to fully solve the capital’s air pollution problem due to factors beyond the city authorities’ control. According to him, during the cold season, concentrations of dust and pollutants rise sharply because the inversion layer (“atmospheric ceiling”) lowers. Air quality is also significantly affected by emissions coming from neighboring countries, and the mayor estimates that external emissions exceed internal ones. Avinyan noted that restrictive measures can only partially mitigate the deterioration of air quality. Expert Kristina Vardanyan believes that air quality in Yerevan continues to worsen, with children, the elderly, and people with chronic illnesses being the most vulnerable; meanwhile, the protective role of trees is reduced by the cutting of green spaces.
Air quality in Yerevan in January 2026:
Yerevan City Hall has announced a tender for the construction and operation of a waste-processing plant in Nubarashen, which could significantly affect air quality in the coming years. The project envisions processing up to 300,000 tons of waste per year to reduce the share of landfilling and cut the “landfill” plume and fire risks. A separate environmental issue is the production of RDF fuel: burning it requires modern air-cleaning systems that Armenia does not yet have, making effective emissions monitoring crucial. The technical specifications cite compliance with EU Directive 2010/75/EU and the need for filters to capture fine particles and toxic gases. The project also includes biological stabilization of organic waste to reduce methane emissions and prevent spontaneous combustion at the landfill.
Air quality in Yerevan in January 2026:
On December 25, the Armenian government approved a procedure for state monitoring of ambient air quality, as well as the collection, analysis, assessment, and publication of data. The document notes that previous procedures did not include air quality assessment from the perspective of health risks or recommendations for precautionary and preventive measures for the public, including vulnerable groups. The roles of state agencies in informing the public in cases of pollution limit exceedances were also not legally defined. The new procedure establishes rules for monitoring, data processing, and public disclosure, and introduces provisions on the air quality index and alert thresholds. State monitoring and data provision are assigned exclusively to the Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center under the Ministry of Environment, and a Japanese grant will be used to modernize three monitoring stations with modern automated equipment.
Air quality in Yerevan in December 2025:
The article describes the deterioration of air quality in Yerevan, framed as a public health issue, particularly due to high concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Key sources of pollution include construction dust (including weak oversight and numerous unfinished building sites), active quarries and mineral extraction, and transport emissions. Fires and chronic problems at the Nubarashen landfill are also cited as factors polluting the air with toxic substances. It notes that geographic and climatic conditions can “trap” pollution but are not its root cause. The piece also highlights a lack of up-to-date monitoring data, plans to modernize monitoring stations, and authorities’ intentions to tighten requirements and fines (for example, for missing protective netting at construction sites) and to develop solutions such as electric vehicles and waste-management reform.
Air quality in Yerevan in December 2025:
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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.
Air quality in Yerevan in April 2026:
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.
Air quality in Yerevan in February 2026:
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.
Air quality in Yerevan in February 2026:
In 2025, 617 violations were recorded in the field of ambient air protection (up from 397 a year earlier), including 217 in Yerevan. The most frequent violations were related to construction (99 cases in Yerevan), the burning of waste/leaves/stubble, and transporting loose materials without protective covering; the total damage to air was estimated at about 160 million drams. The inspection body conducted control measurements of PM2.5 and PM10 in Yerevan: out of 225 measurements, in 5 cases the exceedance was more than fivefold, and in 25 cases up to fivefold. The agency head noted that “high pollution” data from some platforms may be inaccurate due to large instrument error, and that their checks do not show a critical problem—part of a state strategy of denying the issue. An ambient air protection strategy has been adopted, and Yerevan is creating a system of accurate measurements by installing two stationary stations with support from the Government of Japan. Factors affecting air quality in Yerevan include inversion meteorological conditions, a lack of green spaces, and construction dust; dust-suppression technologies are being introduced and requirements are being закреплены in standards.
Air quality in Yerevan in January 2026:
In winter in Yerevan, temperature inversions cause pollutant emissions from transport and heating to accumulate near the ground, and PM2.5 concentrations can reach 200–300 µg/m³. Individual gas boilers produce little visible smoke but emit NOx, which in the atmosphere converts into secondary particles (e.g., ammonium nitrate) and increases PM2.5. At high relative humidity and in fog, reactions in water droplets accelerate: precursor gases (NOx, SO2) form nitrate and sulfate aerosols, increasing particle mass. Optical sensors (Clarity Node-S with Plantower sensors) are sensitive to moisture, so readings are adjusted using QA/QC procedures and calibrations. PM2.5 spikes in fog are due both to a real increase in aerosol and to partial methodological measurement artifacts. Fog and high humidity do not clean the air; they can intensify pollution and increase health risk.
Air quality in Yerevan in January 2026:
The author describes how life in Yerevan has come to mean checking the air quality index every day and using a sensor on the balcony. In winter, pollution levels often exceed international standards and can reach dangerous values, prompting people to keep windows closed, limit walks, and wear masks. He notes that Yerevan’s authorities have long responded cautiously and at times skeptically, criticizing data from independent platforms, even though various measurement sources and residents’ well-being point to a problem. According to investigative journalism, the city’s air shows exceedances for dust, while monitoring of fine particulate matter (PM2.5/PM10) remains insufficient. Visible sources include construction sites without dust suppression, heavy truck traffic, shrinking green spaces, the smoldering Nubarashen landfill, dirty heating, burning leaves, and old cars. The author urges treating clean air as a matter of politics and enforcement, so that pollution does not shorten residents’ lives or push people to leave.
Air quality in Yerevan in December 2025: