Yerevan Mayor vows radical steps to reduce air pollution

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan has vowed more efforts to address the air pollution problem in the Armenian capital. 

City officials in charge of environmental issues briefed the mayor on Monday that the average air quality index in the city was 103 in November and 140 in December, which is categorized as unhealthy for vulnerable groups. The data was collected from 151 detectors across the city.

“Most of these devices were installed in 2024,” said the mayor.

“The air quality in Yerevan differs significantly depending on the season. These same devices showed very good quality of air in spring and summer, but we’ve been recording problems in the winter,” he added. Before, the city did not have that many devices to record the issues, he said.

Avinyan again said that the city must develop a 4-year program to improve air quality.

“Yerevan, geographically speaking, is located in not a very favorable position in terms of air quality, and we must make additional efforts. Not to mention the man-made factors, our geographical position is not too favorable in terms of air quality, especially in winter seasons. We must at least have a clear action plan pertaining to the man-made part. Our steps will be radical, not very pleasant or popular, but our health is far more important than the use of any old car or a mine,” the mayor said.