Public Readiness and Willingness to Support Initiatives for a Green Transition in Armenia: Country Report

This report, commissioned by the Stockholm Environment Institute and conducted by ACT Global, examines public perceptions in Armenia regarding climate change, environmental protection, and energy security. Based on a survey of 1,000 individuals, it identifies a general awareness of climate change impacts—particularly health and economic effects—and a strong public preference for renewable energy and educational initiatives, while highlighting significant barriers to individual engagement such as lack of time and financial costs.

• Public understanding of climate change in Armenia is predominantly perceived as moderate, with 55% of respondents rating it as such. Perceived knowledge peaks among the 35-44 age group, where 25% rate their understanding as "very good".
• Facebook is the primary source of environmental information for several demographics, including 70% of unemployed individuals, 64% of women, and 60% of rural residents who receive such information. However, there is no observed link between receiving recent environmental information and the perceived level of climate change understanding.
• A large majority of Armenians (77%) believe climate change personally affects them or their social circle. The most cited negative impacts are adverse health effects (90%), local weather disruptions (77%), natural disasters (70%), and economic impacts (61%).
• Transport emissions are the most recognized human-related driver of climate change, cited by 81% to 89% of residents across rural, urban, and capital areas. Conversely, non-energy-efficient practices are the least acknowledged root cause.
• The public identifies the deterioration of food product quality, agricultural issues, and health issues as the top three environmental problems. The highest ranked priority for environmental protection is permanent access to clean water and sanitation.
• Educational institutions are viewed as both the most important and most efficient actors in environmental protection. In contrast, religious institutions are seen as the least important, and the private sector is considered the least efficient.
• Individual engagement in environmental protection is relatively low at 22%. The highest engagement rates are found among men (25%), those aged 16-24 (28%), PhD holders (31%), and urban residents (27%).
• The primary obstacles preventing individuals from engaging in environmental activities are lack of time (56%), financial costs (38%), and lack of information (35%).
• There is strong public support for renewable energy, with a high agreement that such sources are more environmentally friendly than fossil fuels (4.49/5) and that the government should provide financial incentives for household adoption (4.48/5).
• A majority of the public (62%) is highly concerned about Armenia's dependence on foreign energy sources. The most supported strategy to achieve energy independence is the development of the solar and wind power industries (91%).
• Among various thematic initiatives, educational programs and information campaigns receive the highest public support, while NGO projects are the least likely to be supported.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2025). Public Readiness and Willingness to Support Initiatives for a Green Transition in Armenia: Country Report. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/publicperceptionstudy-armenia-eng.pdf

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Public Readiness and Willingness to Support Initiatives for a Green Transition in Armenia: Country Report. 2025. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/publicperceptionstudy-armenia-eng.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Public Readiness and Willingness to Support Initiatives for a Green Transition in Armenia: Country Report |date=May 2025 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/publicperceptionstudy-armenia-eng.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2025public, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Public Readiness and Willingness to Support Initiatives for a Green Transition in Armenia: Country Report}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2025}, month = may, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/publicperceptionstudy-armenia-eng.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }