The Ministry of Tourism and Environment, in collaboration with the UNDP, held a National Conference to present eight Local Adaptation Plans for Climate Change. These plans, developed for the first time under the guidance of municipalities, outline essential measures to adapt to climate change.

The Ministry of Tourism and Environment, in collaboration with the UNDP, held a National Conference to present eight Local Adaptation Plans for Climate Change. These plans, developed for the first time with municipalities taking a leading role, outline essential measures to adapt to climate change.

Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro highlighted the urgency of local adaptation efforts, stating: "Climate change presents significant challenges for our economies, communities, and local ecosystems. The adoption and implementation of these plans constitute decisive steps toward a sustainable future, and they serve as an example of how coordinated efforts can yield positive results. This year, we started with a key focus on forests. We designated 2024 as the Year of Forests, with a reforestation and awareness program across the country involving 50 participating municipalities, 156 reforestation activities, and about 300,000 saplings planted in just the first four months of this year."

Monica Merino, UNDP's Resident Representative in Albania, emphasized the importance of local-level interventions: "The impacts of climate change are more noticeable at the local level, where communities directly face the consequences. This is why the National Adaptation Planning project introduces strategic interventions at the local level. As a result, 314 measures have been identified, 48 of which are of high priority, targeting five key sectors: tourism, urban development, agriculture, transport, and energy."

The mayors and representatives of the eight municipalities involved in this process—Vlora, Elbasan, Përmet, Gjirokastër, Durrës, Fier, Krujë, and Kukës—presented their commitment to adopting Local Adaptation Plans and integrating them into local budgets. They discussed the specific climate challenges their communities and economies face and the proposed adaptation measures to address these issues.

Matthew Kennedy, a climate science expert, presented the Local Adaptation Plans, underscoring the impacts of climate change on local communities. "Understanding local climate scenarios and vulnerabilities is essential for prioritizing adaptation actions that can significantly mitigate the negative impacts of climate change," said Kennedy.

A Technical Panel, featuring experts and senior municipal representatives, discussed the process of identifying and prioritizing adaptation actions. They emphasized the importance of assessing local risks and vulnerabilities and sharing best practices and methodologies to improve local adaptation planning.

The Local Adaptation Plans are expected to be approved by municipal councils before COP-29. Some key priority measures will be integrated into the National Adaptation Plan, facilitating access to national and international financial resources.

Additionally, the conference underscored the importance of strengthening partnerships between local, national, and international actors to achieve effective adaptation to climate change.
About the National Adaptation Planning Process

The National Adaptation Planning (NAP) process is an initiative funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme. It aims to:

• Reduce risks and vulnerabilities to the impacts of climate change across Albania through medium- and long-term planning for adaptation at the national and local levels.
• Strengthen institutional capacities and enhance the technical skills of stakeholders for analyzing climate information, assessing risk and vulnerability at the local level based on evidence, understanding the potential climate impacts on priority sectors in 8 municipalities, and identifying and prioritizing adaptation opportunities.

Eight municipalities (Elbasan, Durrës, Kukës, Krujë, Fier, Vlorë, Gjirokastër, and Përmet) were selected through a multicriteria analysis, identifying them as the most affected by climate change and extreme weather.

In compliance with Law no. 155/2020 “On Climate Change,” municipalities must draft and develop adaptive policies and measures to reduce the risk and impacts of climate change, enhance capacities, and ensure equal gender inclusion in decision-making processes for community adaptation and renewal. Municipalities must ensure they are adapting to climate change by integrating the Local Adaptation Plan into their decision-making processes and proactively implementing the LAP.

This initiative is part of the National Adaptation Planning Process (NAP), funded by the Green Climate Fund and implemented by UNDP, involving the municipalities of Vlora, Elbasan, Përmet, Gjirokastër, Durrës, Fier, Krujë, and Kukës.