Without measures/Climate change will create 17 billion USD in losses in agriculture

2026-01-15 07:14:02, Ekonomi CNA

Without measures/Climate change will create 17 billion USD in losses in

The agricultural sector and the country's economy will face losses estimated at up to 17 billion dollars by 2050 from climate change, according to scenarios developed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as part of the National Climate Adaptation Plan.

The climate in Albania is expected to change significantly by 2050, with rising temperatures, decreasing precipitation and increasing extreme events, according to national climate projections. Average annual temperatures will increase by about 2 degrees, while maximum temperatures will increase by 2.8 degrees.

Annual rainfall is expected to decrease by 5.8%, while sea levels will rise by 28 cm, while the number of days with extreme precipitation will reach 16, while the country will face four heat waves and 16 very cold days per year, the UNDP document states.

These changes are expected to severely impact the agriculture and forestry sector, which constitutes one of the main pillars of the Albanian economy. Agriculture, which includes livestock farming, employs about a third of the workforce and contributes 15% of GDP, while forests cover 39% of the territory, but have lost 334 thousand hectares since 1938 due to illegal logging, fires and poor management.

To address these challenges, 66 measures must be implemented for the agricultural sector alone, at a total cost of $9.8 billion, aimed at regulating irrigation systems and improving water management for agriculture.

At the center of the measures are the restoration of lands and ecosystems to prevent floods and erosion, the protection of farmers through insurance and compensation funds, the implementation of afforestation and agroforestry programs, the strengthening of fire protection systems and the promotion of sustainable financing for forests, etc.

Experts warn that without these measures, potential losses from climate change could exceed $17 billion. The interventions aim to increase ecosystem resilience, support sustainable growth, and align with global climate adaptation goals.

The agricultural sector is predominantly family-run, with 85% of farms averaging just 1.2 hectares, which limits productivity. Crops are more vulnerable than livestock, especially cereals and vegetables. Among livestock, cattle and horses are more sensitive to climate change. Meanwhile, forests face increasing droughts, fires and the spread of insects and diseases, which increase the vulnerability of ecosystems./Monitor.al