Yerevan

Founded in 782 BC, Yerevan is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities and today is home to more than 1 million residents. Known as the “Pink City” for its rose-colored tuff stone architecture, Yerevan also enjoys nearly 2,500 hours of sunshine each year, making it one of the sunniest capitals in the world. The city stretches across 233 km² and twelve districts along the Hrazdan River, framed by Mount Ararat. Its modern identity blends millennia of history with the 20th-century master plan of architect Alexander Tamanyan, who gave Yerevan its distinctive avenues, radial layout, and leafy parks.

Vision

Yerevan is shaping its future as an energy-efficient and resilient capital, aligning with Armenia’s national long-term climate strategy toward 2050. Guided by its Covenant of Mayors commitments, the city has pledged to cut CO₂ emissions by 30% by 2030, paving the way for deeper decarbonization and a just transition.

The transformation focuses on:

• Expanding renewable energy in homes, municipal facilities, and public buildings,
• Deep retrofits and seismic upgrades of schools, kindergartens, and clinics,
• Developing a sustainable mobility system with cleaner transport and reduced car dependence,
• Harnessing digital tools for participatory, evidence-based decision-making,
• Ensuring inclusivity, equity, and protection of vulnerable groups while celebrating cultural heritage.

Key Strategies & Commitments

• EU Covenant of Mayors (since 2014): First SEAP approved in 2016, covering transport, lighting, buildings, and renewables.🔗 Read more – Yerevan SEAP (yerevan.am)

• Green City Action Plan (2017): Vision to 2030 on sustainable mobility, waste, resilience, and environmental health (developed with EBRD support).🔗 Read more – Yerevan Green City Action Plan (yerevan.am)

Flagship Projects

• EU for Yerevan: Solar Community – Rooftop PV on 97 multi-apartment buildings, delivering ~933 MWh renewable electricity annually and avoiding 300 tons of CO₂.
• Municipal Solar Rooftops – PV on city-owned buildings covering 35% of their electricity needs (~800 tons of CO₂ avoided annually).
• Energy-Efficient Kindergartens & Public Buildings – More than 100 facilities retrofitted and seismically strengthened under EIB- and EU-financed programs. Phase I: 62 buildings (kindergartens, health centers, cultural facilities) retrofitted, seismically upgraded, and equipped with energy efficiency measures, financed by EIB loan, E5P grant, UNDP technical assistance, and city funds.Phase II: 38 more buildings, with a €37.1m budget co-financed by an EIB loan, EU NIP grant, and the city budget.
• Green Urban Lighting Program – LED streetlights cut municipal energy costs and created a revolving fund for future upgrades.
• Community Engagement – Annual EU Sustainable Energy Week events, youth hackathons, and public awareness campaigns.

Global Partnerships

Yerevan maintains active relations with dozens of sister and partner cities worldwide and participates in a broad range of international networks, including:
• ICLEI — member since 2014, advancing local climate action.
• IUCN — Subnational Government Member since 2024, promoting biodiversity and nature-based solutions.
• Covenant of Mayors — signatory since 2014, with commitments under its Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan.
• Engagement with international networks such as LUCI, AIMF, Eurocities, Strasbourg Club, and the International Assembly of CIS Capitals and Large Cities (IAC), strengthening Yerevan’s role in urban sustainability and innovation.

Highlight

Yerevan – the 2,800-year-old “Pink City” – is moving towards a green and climate-resilient future by investing in clean mobility, energy-efficient buildings, renewable energy, and citizen-driven urban innovation.