Climate change/ 8 municipalities draw up adaptation plans for the first time

2024-06-18 13:16:00, Aktualitet CNA

Climate change/ 8 municipalities draw up adaptation plans for the first time

Minister Mirela Kumbaro

The Ministry of Tourism and Environment and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) held a National Conference where eight Local Adaptation Plans to the possible impacts of climate change in Albania were discussed. These plans have been drafted for the first time and through a participatory process led by the municipalities, which have identified adaptation measures to climate change in Albania.

In her opening speech, the Minister of Tourism and Environment, Mirela Kumbaro, emphasized the urgency of local climate adaptation and the critical role these plans play in building sustainable communities.

Minister Mirela Kumbaro

"Climate change presents significant challenges for our local economies, communities and ecosystems. Adopting and implementing these plans are crucial steps towards a sustainable future, but also an example of how when we coordinate, we can do good work. This year we started with a headline, which is forests. We christened 2024 as the Year of Forests with an afforestation and awareness program throughout the country with 50 participating municipalities, 156 afforestation activities and about 300,000 seedlings planted in just the first 4 months of this year. year," said Minister Kumbaro as she declared that Albania will be part of COP29, the World Climate Summit, this year as well.

The Permanent Representative of UNDP in Albania, Monica Merino, pointed out the collaborative efforts behind the drafting of these plans.

"Integrating local adaptation strategies into broader national policies is vital to ensuring inclusive climate resilience. This conference marks an important moment in our journey towards sustainable development," Merino said.

The Local Adaptation Plans were presented by the mayors of the eight municipalities involved in this process: Vlora, Elbasani, Përmeti, Gjirokastra, Durrësi, Fieri, Kruja and Kukësi. Each mayor discussed specific climate challenges facing their communities and economies and proposed adaptation measures to address these issues. In the following, the adoption of Local Adaptation Plans by Municipal Councils is expected before COP-29, and the integration of some of the main priority measures to be included in the National Adaptation Plan, which is expected to facilitate access to national and international financial resources.

Among other things, the conference also emphasized the importance of strengthening partnerships between local, national and international actors to achieve an effective adaptation to climate change. Pursuant to Law no. 155/2020 "On climate change", municipalities must design and develop adaptive policies and measures, to reduce the risk and consequences of climate change, increasing capacities and equal gender involvement in decision-making processes for adaptation and renewal of communities./ CNA