The 2026 parliamentary elections in Armenia may become the first in the country’s history where, in addition to the traditionally dominant international agenda, an internal ecological agenda will emerge as a key factor.
Environmental problems in Armenia have always existed, yet they were too localized. Apart from environmentalists and civil activists who covered these issues in the media, ecology never truly entered wide public debate. Several factors contributed to this — first and foremost, the population’s environmental illiteracy. This explains the persistent problems with waste management both in Yerevan and beyond. Even in the 2000s, international experts repeatedly warned about the country’s environmental degradation, but the situation was not yet catastrophic, and access to information for most citizens was very limited.
Today, almost everyone speaks about waste. Illegal dumpsites are filmed and posted online everywhere. Even the most loyal supporters admit that Yerevan’s air has become so heavy that breathing has become unsafe. And yet, in October 2026, Armenia will host COP17, a major international forum dedicated to biodiversity. But can the country meet global expectations if its own natural environment sparks serious concern?
Weak Environmental Protection and International Concerns
According to The Revelator, only 13% of Armenia’s uniquely rich ecosystem is protected — far below international standards. And while COP17 is not the largest ecological forum worldwide, it is important to consider that Armenia’s environmental situation, especially in Yerevan, may raise serious questions for the government, which has long been cooperating with international organizations to improve it. This is the hope of many local environmentalists.
Recently, Tommaso Demozzi, an environmental governance and biodiversity expert at the IUCN, visited Yerevan. When asked what would happen if the forum “fails,” he clarified: evaluations will not be based on the current state of Armenia’s environment. Rather, the goal is to demonstrate Armenia’s commitment to becoming a key player in global environmental discourse — and to show readiness to turn Yerevan into an international crossroads for ecological cooperation.
Thus, the 2026 forum is unlikely to become a transformative milestone in solving specific environmental problems. However, ecology has already moved far beyond its previously hidden and local status. It is no longer just a topic for environmentalists, who for years were viewed by some as marginal figures.
Air Pollution and the Rise of Public Awareness
The persistently heavy ecological situation in Yerevan forced the leadership of one of Armenia’s popular radio stations, Radio Van, to purchase KN95 protective masks — something they publicly announced on social media.
KN95 respirators filter at least 95% of airborne particles and protect the respiratory system from viruses, bacteria, dust, and micro-particles.
If other radio stations, TV channels, and media personalities follow this example, the environmental agenda may, for the first time, become not a background topic but a standalone political factor, including during the upcoming elections.
Ecology as a New Electoral Force
Environmental issues are becoming a potential electoral resource — not because it is a global trend, but because ecology affects what every voter sees and breathes daily:
- dust
- smog
- fires at illegal dumps
- a shortage of green zones
- water shortages
For Yerevan residents, ecology is no longer an abstract or distant topic: it has become personal and tangible. Mass visualization of the problem can turn into collective action — and into political capital, including for the opposition, which has failed to mobilize the public while focusing exclusively on international issues.
The Opposition’s Advantage
The opposition has a clear rhetorical advantage:
How can a country prepare to host a global biodiversity forum while failing to solve the crisis of its suffocating capital?
The opposition can exploit this contradiction by offering concrete and pragmatic solutions: waste recycling, landfill modernization, urban greening, PM2.5 reduction, and reforms in oversight and accountability.
For the ruling government, the environmental agenda is potentially dangerous precisely because of its “everyday” nature. It cannot be postponed, blamed on external factors, or tied to historical narratives. People see smoke, breathe polluted air, and feel daily discomfort — making the issue emotional and mobilizing.
COP17 as a Tool and a Risk for the Government
If the elections were held after COP17, the risk of losing the “waste battle” would be significantly higher.
However, the current timing allows the authorities to present COP17 as proof of international legitimacy and responsibility.
Still, expectations have grown, and the fact of hosting COP17 increases public sensitivity to environmental problems. This means that ecology in 2026 may become not just a campaign topic but a metric for evaluating the government.
A Gateway for New Political Players
Another important point: the environmental agenda creates space for new players. Even if environmental movements do not become an independent political force in 2026, they will lay the foundation for long-term change and future electoral cycles.
It is worth noting that Armenia has never witnessed a real change of power through regular elections. Only twice did the country have objectively fair, democratic elections without fears of falsification: the 1991 presidential elections and the 2021 parliamentary elections, which re-elected the current Prime Minister. The 1991 elections can be explained by the people’s immediate will in a newly independent country. But the overwhelming victory of a party and a Prime Minister who had lost a war still raises many questions — the results were so decisive that disputing them was meaningless.
These elections demonstrate that foreign policy alone cannot determine electoral outcomes. The public seeks something new. Mobilization around a new issue will bring new faces — something Armenia’s political scene desperately lacks.
Political commentator: Marina Brutyán.