We had better use paper on both sides
The world is speaking about green economy more and more, Chairman of the Union of Employers of Armenia Gagik Makaryan told the journalists touching upon the green economy and the goals of stable development and their implementation in the RA and the world. He thinks that the state officials are trying to introduce it from the point of view of business interests, “As a result of global rearrangements, if the business wants to be competitive, it must be resource saving.” Mr. Makaryan regrets to say that today there are few economies in the RA, which are inclined to green economy, “For example, to use less paper, to use paper on both sides or to send email instead of letters. There must also be green jobs, the workplace must have elements inclined to green economy, if the room is warm, additional electricity should not be consumed, save it! The employers had better hire workers, who are aware of green economy.” He also highlighted that today the corruption is so widespread in the state apparatus and the sector of purchases is so degenerate that money always plays decisive role, “I pin hopes on my model that many international organizations are keen on signing agreements with those Armenian companies, which have green economies.” Gagik Makaryan is sure that as a result of green economy it will be possible to limit the mining industry and its damages, “But we mustn’t exclude that there is also clash of interests: the mining industry has guaranteed markets, if we refuse them, we will lose foreign currency. I think that by making the SMEs stronger in our country, we will be able to weaken the importance of the mining industry, though at present it is of great importance for us.” Another speaker of the press conference Karine Danielyan, chairman of Association for Stable Human Development NGO and Head of the Department of Ecology and Sustainable Development of Armenian State Pedagogical University, noted what must be done with industrial waste, “Industrial ecosystems must be created. It means that several companies join in order to carry out green economy by making one company’s waste resource for another one.” She highlighted that their department suggested touching upon this issue at high school, “We got a refusal that the school is overloaded. Then it turned out that there was misunderstanding- they misunderstood our letter. After the meeting with the Minister of Science and Education he agreed by asking us to present a project.”
