Fact Sheet 2 - Albania - 8139-00/2010 6525-00/2011
1.5
Access to energy and resources
See list of documents
1.6
Awareness and action (political and civil society) to mitigate
climate change and to adapt to it
See list of documents
1.7
Functionality and strength of governmental organisation and
NGOs
See list of documents
1.8
Improved possibility of implementing multilateral
environmental agreements
See list of documents
The Ministry of Environment is functional in Albania with varying scope and responsibilities as decided by the changing governments. The current one includes under its responsibility
several agencies national and regional such as: Regional Environmental Agencies, Directorates of Forest Service, Agencies of Water and Basins as well as the Inter‐institutional Operational Sea
Centre.
The former Environment and Forests Agency was re‐organised in January 2015 and renamed National Environment Agency. Its administrative capacity was strengthened. A State Inspectorate
of Environment Forests and Waters (SIE) was also established in 2015. According to the EU Progress Report 2014 on Albania, the environmental inspection system has limited resources and do
not provide a credible guarantee that infringements are being properly monitored and punished.
Local government units have responsibilities especially related to water supply and sanitation and waste management. It has to be mentioned that waste management is a challenge in the
country. Environmental civil society and civic movement has seen a certain maturity as in various occasions civil support has been gathered through media awareness and recently social
media on hot discussion topics as far as important decisions with large impact on environment is concerned. Some crucial ones can be mentioned such as the civil alliance against the
processing of imported waste from Italy, the civil alliance and street protests against the Syrian chemical weapons that were considered to be dismantled in Albania back in 2013 as well as
protests and lawsuits on certain construction permits in environmentally sensitive areas such as around the lake in Tirana.
Environmental civil society has also received support from international actors within and outside Albania. Global Environmental Facility continues to be active and the country is preparing
for its 6th round. In addition, a programme (2013 – 2015) financed by the Swedish government and implemented by the Regional Environmental Centre (Support for Environmental Civil
Society Organisatons in Albania ‐ SENiOR‐A) aims to strengthen and specialize environmental civil society in Albania through articulating community needs, provide services and support,
develop partnerships and networks, capable to address country environmental priorities and progress towards sustainable development.
Albania has repeatedly incorporated the need to address energy issues in various strategies, assessments and reports that focus on socio‐economic development and poverty reduction. For
example, effort has been made to expand the market share of LPG as an alternative to electricity and fuelwood for space heating and cooking. LPG has the advantage of being more reliable in
terms of supply, as well as more flexible and cleaner to use. However, it is still relatively expensive and not widely available in the country. Low energy efficiency, poor economics of
fuelwood use, and a lack of rigorous forest management practices are leading to unsustainable dependence on this renewable resource by a large portion of the Albanian population.
At the end of 2014, Albaniaʹs power regulator ERE raised the price of electricity for businesses and scrapped its cheaper rate for households on Friday to help companies in the sector pay off
debt to meet criteria set by international lenders. The electricity price for businesses was raised and the two‐tier system for residential energy use was abolished. Social programmes that can
support energy efficiency are in discussion i.e. installation of thermal insulation in buildings and efficient wood stoves in households could serve to sustainably reduce energy consumption
and energy bills, while also improving living standards.
Albania does not have a national climate change strategy to address mitigation and adaptation challenges. Nevertheless, the climate change issue has been integrated into several strategic
documents: the NSDI (2007‐2013) and the 2009 Policy Paper for Carbon Finance. Albania ratified the Kyoto Protocol to UNFCCC in 2004 and is eligible for the application of one of the
Protocol’s mechanisms – CDM. Memoranda of understanding and agreements for carbon funding have been signed with the Governments of Italy and Denmark. A portfolio of 11 CDM
projects was identified under the Memorandum of Understanding with Italy and feasibility studies were launched. Other CDM‐related agreements were concluded with the World Bank Bio‐
Carbon Fund and the Austrian Cooperation Agency.
Albania is experiencing certain vulnerabilities in terms of climate change. Higher air temperatures and frequent floods are reported in both the northwestern and southwestern plains. The
World Bank estimates that summer rainfalls will decline by about 10% by 2020 and 20% by 2050 with a large impact on hydropower production as well as agriculture.
The total GHG emissions of Albania were 7,834 kt of CO2 in 1990, 7,620 kt in 2000 and were projected to be between 11.000 and 12.000 kt in 2012. Currently Albania is a low emitter of
greenhouse gases with 3.5 tons per capita compared to EU 9.9 tons per capita but they are projected to increase in the coming years (mainly from transport followed by agriculture and waste
sector).
Albania associated itself with most of the formal EU positions in Climate Change in the international context. It has associated with the Copenhagen Accord, but it has not yet put forward a
mitigation commitment by 2020. In line with its commitment a list of sector NAMAs (in line with EU sector approach) are prepared two of which are in the process of registration as country’s
voluntarily commitments towards UNFCCC and EU climate policy: (i) Implementation of the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan in the residential, public and commercial sector; and (ii)
Fuel switch/using of non‐hazardous waste as fuel in the cement industry.
A policy document on ‘Climate Change adaptation’ is prepared guiding the strategic planning related to climate change adaptation. Climate change adaptation measures are being introduced
in Drini Mati River Deltas through a UNDP intervention.
Albania is already beneficiary of international support from various partners including the UNDP, GIZ, ADA, Switzerland as well as recipient of World Bank loans. It is particularly worth
mentioning that the government is currently entering a new phase of implementing EU IPA support through budget support. While the field of environment is not part of the initial six
priority sectors (social policies, water, public administration, property rights, competitiveness) these areas will most certainly include elements of environmental support that will further be
explored. This new way of delivering EU assistance will put the government in the centre of coordination and prioritization of interventions and will also hold it accountable for absorption
and implementation capabilities.
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