CCE Country Profile

Climate change

Article 59 1e in Albania’s Constitution (1998) claims that present and future generations have the right to live a healthy life in an ecologically suitable environment that should be maintained by Albanian authorities. Article 56 in the Constitution affirms that “everyone has the right to be informed about the status of the environment and its protection” (p. 13). 

In 2020, Albania adopted Law No. 155/2020 On Climate Change, which outlines many aspects including a general framework of the national policy for climate change actions; the conditions of greenhouse gas emissions from stationary and mobile sources; the conditions of capture and geological storage of carbon dioxide; a monitoring, reporting and verification framework of greenhouse gas emissions; the framework for participation in international climate actions; and the establishment of the institutional system for undertaking actions against climatic changes. The main aims of this law are:

1. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
2. Accelerating adaptation to climate change while mitigating its harmful effects.
3. Contributing to global efforts against climate change by fulfilling the obligations of the Republic of Albania to the Convention.
4. Creating a framework revolved around climate action at the national level in accordance with European Union legislation on climate change.
5. Joining states that recognize the climate emergency according to the decision of the European Parliament in 2019.

The law ‘On climate change’ acts as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change implementation law in Albania. It covers requirements under the European Union Emissions Trading System (ETS) Directive and requires all relevant ministries to mainstream climate change mitigation and adaptation issues into their legislation. The draft Decision of the Council of Ministers ‘On monitoring and reporting GHG emissions and other information relevant to climate change at the national level’ establishes a mechanism for monitoring and reporting on greenhouse gases and other climate change information at the national level, as appropriate for a Non-Annex I party. 

Law no. 10431 (2011), ‘On Environmental Protection,’ outlines a framework for environmental protection, sustainable development, and environmental monitoring. It also offers high importance to the right to environmental information by highlighting:The right of the public to request environmental information and the obligation of the authorities to provide this information in a timely manner. The obligation of public authorities to ensure that the public has every opportunity to be informed without making a request in advance, to be able to participate in the procedures for identifying the state of the environment, drafting and approving strategies, plans and programs related to environmental protection.

A National Strategy on Climate Change (NSCC) document was endorsed in 2019 and contains two corresponding annexes: the National Action Plan on Mitigation and the National Adaptation Plan. The National Strategy on Climate Change is the current strategic document in Albania that addresses climate change and intends to support the implementation of European Union legislation on environment and climate, strengthen intersectoral coordination for measures on climate, and coordinate environmental protection and stable development. 

The National Action Plan on Mitigation (NAPM; 2019) considers long-term objectives until 2050 and focuses on four sectors: energy (plus a special focus on transport), agriculture, land use change, and forestry. The document identifies six main mitigation strategy priorities: 1) ensure sustainable economic growth, 2) establish a monitoring, reporting, and verification system of greenhouse gases, 3) strengthen the capacity of relevant institutions and inter-institution cooperation, 4) streamline climate changes across sectoral strategic planning, 5) reinforce capacity building and awareness raising, and 6) align with the European Union Climate Change framework. 

The National Action Plan (NAP), in the frame of the National Strategy for Climate Change, 2020–2030, was developed in accordance with the ‘Technical Guidelines for the NAPs’ and drafted by a group of experts for less-developed countries in the context of the Nationally Designated Contributions for Climate Change.

Albania is the first Balkan country to produce a National Adaptation Plan, which was created in 2015 under the framework of the Inter-Ministerial Working Group on Climate Change that is also responsible for its development and implementation. The Plan provides principles, goals, and indicators for mainstreaming climate change in target sectors and uses priority actions to establish performance through access mechanisms to finances, outreach and involvement, capacity development, and monitoring. Furthermore, this Plan aims to increase participation and awareness to achieve climate change resilience in the country. 

The National Strategy for Development and Integration 2015–2020 was adopted by the Albanian government in 2016; This national planning document is committed to implementing the United Nations Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. It outlines the development process for Albania as a middle-income economy aiming to advance to an upper-middle–income level. Although the National Strategy for Development and Integration paper does not specifically reference climate change, it does state priority adaptation actions for growth through sustainable use of natural resources and territorial development, including undertaking climate action, protecting nature, and developing sustainable tourism. 

Another policy paper by the Albanian government is the 2013 Climate Change Adaptation in the Drini-Mati River Delta and Beyond Policy, which is based on the pilot project, ‘Identification and implementation of the adaptation response measures in the Drini-Mati River deltas’ by the Global Environment Fund, the Government of Albania, and the United Nations Development Program. The project assessed climate risks to the Drini-Mati River deltas and helped increase its resilience to climate change through adaptation strategies such as beach nourishment, wetland restoration, and controlling the discharge of polluted water from pumping stations. Implementing this policy is fundamental to providing the enabling environment needed to support ongoing, proactive adaptation to climate change risks in Albania. 

Albania submitted its Revised Nationally Determined Contributions in 2021 (published in 2022), which is closely aligned with the European Union’s Green Deal. The focus of the strategies put forward in this revised document are the development and improvement of institutional frameworks for responsible environmental management, better management of the effects of climate change and economic development goals, and the availability of the resources required to support strategic adaptation activities and advance low-emission and climate-resilient development. The Revised Nationally Determined Contributions document states that Albania is committed to a 20.9% emissions reduction target by 2030, which is an increase from original aim of 11.5% in Albania’s first Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (2016). The implementation of the Revised Nationally Determined Contributions and the promotion of some of the adaptation measures are facilitated by the Inter-Ministerial Working Group on Climate Change. 

Albania ratified the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol in 2019 to reduce the use of hydrofluorocarbons and promote more climate-friendly alternatives.

Table 20 within the First Biennial Update Report for Albania (2021) offers a Climate Change Gender Equity Plan (2021–2027), created to strengthen the capacities of institutions to integrate gender considerations into climate change policies and promote equitable participation and influence by women and men in climate change adaptation and mitigation decision-making processes. The plan’s objectives comprise “Promote gender equality in decision making on climate change policies on central levels of policy making and strengthen capacities of institutions to integrate gender considerations in climate change policies,” “Update the relevant national and local strategic documents in order to integrate best practices, information and risk scenarios, with gender and climate change issues taken into consideration,” and “Engage stakeholders in the process of the monitoring of Action Plans on Climate Change National Action Plan on Mitigation (NAPM) and the National Adaptation Plan (NAP; DCM 466, date 3.07.2019).” Another focus of this plan is to develop and pilot gender-based climate change adaptation and mitigation projects, specifically on the Vjosa River Basin, which is the second-largest water system in Albania. 

The country approved the National Strategy For Gender Equality (NGSE) 2021–2030 (2021) by Decision of the Council of Ministers No.400, dated 30.06.2021. The strategy was prepared by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. Goal I of the strategy includes objectives and measures related to the thematic areas of the European Union Gender Action Plan III 2021–2025 (2020) such as: “Promoting economic and social rights and empowering girls and women,” and “Addressing the challenges and harnessing the opportunities offered by the transition to a green economy, digital transformation, climate change, and the environment.” 

According to the Fourth National Communication (2022), despite the development of the Climate Change Gender Equity Plan, the National Strategy For Gender Equality, and guidelines on mainstreaming gender in climate change mitigation and adaptation plans put forth within the national communication, gender is still not yet reflected in any of the recently established climate-related policies and laws including the Cross-Sector Strategy on Environment 2013–2020, Intended Nationally Determined Contributions, National Strategy on Climate Change and its two annexes The National Action Plan on Mitigation and the National Adaptation Plan, the National Integrated Energy and Climate Strategy, and the Law On Climate Change. Furthermore, gender-related strategies such as the Third National Strategy on Gender Equality (NSGE) and its Action Plan 2016–2020 do not consider climate change issues. In contrast, this national communication asserts that climate change is identified in five Municipal Councils’ Gender Equity Local Action Plans 2018–2020. 

Albania’s Third Environmental Performance Review (2018) by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), states that the country has a rich legal framework for the protection of the environment relating to ambient air quality, forestry, water and industrial pollution, energy, transport, and environmental permits. Strategic objectives on environmental protection and on climate change are covered extensively in the Second National Strategy for Development and Integration 2015-2020 (NSDI-II).

The Climate Change Strategy in Albania 2020–2030 and the 2019–2021 Action Plan Monitoring were published in 2022. The Framework of Priority Actions on Climate Change, an integrated part of the National Strategy for Climate Change, is based almost entirely on a document titled National Adaptation Plan for Albania. The development of the National Adaptation Plan for Albania was a process that lasted two years from 2016 to 2018. The development of the document was supported by PlanAdapt (an interdisciplinary team of experts engaged in climate risk and resilience issues) in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, and the Inter-Ministerial Working Group on Climate Change; the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), guided the process.

Education and communication

The Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth published a Curriculum Framework of Pre-University Education in 2014 that outlines the country’s pre-university education goals, key competencies acquired by students, principles on curriculum development and implementation, and effective teaching and learning processes. 

The Albanian Qualifications Framework was adopted in 2010 by Law No. 10247, which outlines rules for the organization and operation of regulated professionals, and incorporates eight levels similar to the European Qualifications Framework. The three institutions responsible for the Albanian Qualifications Framework are the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth; the Ministry of Finance and Economy; and the National Agency for Vocational Education, Training and Qualifications. 

Albania is one of the 193 member states of the United Nations that adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2015, which focuses on achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The country released a National Education Strategy covering 2021–2026, and while the strategy does not address Sustainable Development Goal 13 (action to combat climate change), it does state a commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 4 that ensures that everyone is entitled to inclusive and fair quality education and the promotion of opportunities for lifelong learning.

The National Strategy on Climate Change (2019) references Sustainable Development Goal 13 to take urgent action in combating climate change and its impacts, and it specifically mentions Target 13.2, “to integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning” and Target 13.3, “to improve education, awareness raising and human and institutional capacities for climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.” However, as stated in this National Strategy, Albania states that a limited awareness of climate change at both the policy-making and the public levels, combined with a lack of any systematic government measures, are present obstacles to achieving these goals. Therefore, the approaches in the National Strategy call for capacity development activities and a communication strategy on climate change issues to be addressed at central and local levels as well as by public and private stakeholders. One priority of this communication strategy is strengthening awareness through educational institutions by incorporating climate change modules and knowledge into curricula and introducing campaigns in schools.