IMPROVING U.S. DIPLOMACY ON INDOOR AIR POLLUTION

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000116

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CARC, EUR/ACE, OES/IHA-DWILUSZ

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV TBIO AID AM
SUBJECT: IMPROVING U.S. DIPLOMACY ON INDOOR AIR POLLUTION

REF: 06 STATE 192919


1. Post delivered reftel points to Head of the Department of Air
Pollution at the Ministry of Nature Protection Aram Gabrielian.
Post's assessment of GOAM commitment to reduce indoor air pollution
and summary of recent projects in this area are provided below.

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GOAM COMMITMENT
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2. Assess level of government commitment to reduce Indoor Air
Pollution.


3. The GOAM's commitment to reducing indoor air pollution (IAP) has
been mixed. The legal foundation is relatively strong but not
well-enforced and there is a lack of resources to fully combat the
problem.


4. In 1992, the GOAM passed the law on "Sanitary Epidemiological
Safety" which states that Armenian citizens have a right to a safe
environment (including indoor air) and established a body within the
Ministry of Health to monitor the quality of indoor air. The
Ministry of Health began to engage on IAP in 2002, however, when the
Ministry became responsible for the maintenance of air and heating
units in schools and the circulation of fresh air in school
facilities. One possible explanation for the Ministries lack of
significant engagement before 2002 is that following independence
from the Soviet Union in 1991, Armenia's industrial sector collapsed
(along with the entire economy and Armenians' material living
standards),leading to a dramatic decrease in overall air pollution
levels. Residential air quality, however, remained poor,
particularly during the winter months when open fires were and still
are) used for heat. Smoking, which is commonplace in Armenia, also
contributes significantly to IAP.


5. In the past few years, the Armenian industrial sector has begun
to recover and private vehicle ownership has increased, triggering

greater GOAM involvement on IAP issues. In 2004, the Minister of
Urban Development made two decrees tied to the 1992 legislation and
related to indoor air pollution. The first decree details the
acceptable concentrations of various chemicals indoors. The second
regulates indoor air pollution levels in residences and office
buildings. While these regulations set stricter standards than
those recommended by the WHO, enforcement remains poor and the GOAM
has not dedicated significant resources to programs addressing
indoor air pollution.

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IAP PROJECTS
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6. Provide examples of any government and non-government projects in
the host country related to IAP.


7. GOAM projects in Armenia related to IAP focus on household
energy use, particularly natural gas. ArmRusGas CJSCo (which is 45
percent government owned) is required to inspect all residences
using natural gas for heating and cooking to ensure proper
ventilation of noxious fumes. ArmRusGas has been working to expand
the number of residential users of natural gas, but wood-burning
stoves remain the primary source of heat in most rural areas.
Homemade stoves and improvised modification of residential heating
equipment create significant IAP and in 2005, 26 Armenians died from
residential carbon monoxide poising.


8. The USG supports several programs to promote energy efficiency
in Armenia and the gasification of schools for heating. Specific
activities include:

- The School Heating Project: reconstructing and rehabilitating the
heating systems in 40 schools across Armenia.

- The Armenian Energy Sector Partnership: increasing energy
efficiency through consumer education and the introduction of new
technologies, and promoting energy security through diversification
of energy resources, including renewable energy projects.

- The Energy Efficiency and Heat Systems Project: increasing energy
efficiency and environmental sustainability in the energy sector.

- The Residential Heating Project: revision of eight gas safety
standards in order to make them consistent with European Union
standards, drafting of two gas safety technical regulations, and
drafting of technical regulations which have been delivered to the
Ministry of Energy for review and implementation.

- Democracy Commission: a grant to support regional seminars on gas
safety and develop and publish 300 copies of an informational
brochure on gas safety, consumer and service provider rights and
responsibilities and appropriate regulation.
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FUTURE STEPS
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9. Suggest possible ways to increase IAP mitigation in your host
country.


10. As the GOAM and private bodies continue to make natural gas
available to citizens throughout the country (and particularly those
residing in rural areas),the use of traditional biomass (e.g. wood,
dung and crop residues) for home cooking and heating will likely
decrease. Gasification should be coupled with a concerted effort to
promote increase energy efficiency in homes and offices, through
improved insulation and other measures. A public outreach campaign
on the risks associated with gasification and ways to prevent carbon
monoxide poisoning is also needed. Regulation of indoor smoking and
the establishment of smoke-free restaurants and offices would also
significantly improve the quality of indoor air, particularly in the
winter months.

GODFREY