Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, has the worst air quality in the South Caucasus, stated Françoise Jacob, the United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator in Armenia. She made the remark during the “The Future of Banking: Sustainable Innovation and Perspectives” forum on September 23.
Jacob noted that this impacts Armenia’s overall appeal. She also highlighted the challenges of desertification across the country’s lands and the pollution of rivers caused by agricultural, construction, and mining activities. According to her, Armenia currently allocates only 0.6% of its GDP to environmental protection.
The UN official added, however, that Armenia is making progress on its peace agenda, which creates new opportunities. Jacob explained that this progress provides the basis for developing a green economy, including in the framework of the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), set to be held in Armenia next year.
She emphasized the critical role of banks in financing sustainable development. Jacob expressed confidence that Armenian banks can play a significant part in building a green economy, restoring forests, and advancing other areas.
In preparation for COP17, Jacob stressed that Armenia must demonstrate its commitment to protecting biodiversity. She noted that the forum also calls for increasing global funding for this sector by $200 billion.
Françoise Jacob of France was appointed UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia by Secretary-General António Guterres in April 2024, with the host government’s approval. She brings more than 28 years of humanitarian and development experience. Prior to this role, Jacob served as UN Resident Coordinator in Serbia, where she led support for green transformation, the fight against inequalities, and the human rights and rule of law agenda. She previously held senior positions with UNOPS, UNRWA, ECHO (EU), NGOs, and the private sector, working in Afghanistan, the Middle East, East Timor, Sudan, Montenegro, Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Jacob holds a Master of Business Administration from ESSEC in Paris.
