Voices from the Frontlines

Ali, a fisherman in the coastal town of Vlorë, has seen his daily catch dwindle over the past few years. "The waters are warmer now, and the fish are gone. This used to be a reliable livelihood, but it's getting harder to support my family," he laments. Meanwhile, in the fertile plains of Fier, Drita, a farmer, struggles with erratic weather patterns. "One season, there’s too much rain, and my crops are flooded. The next, there's a drought, and nothing grows. It's a constant battle," she explains, her face etched with worry. 

Tirana today hit 40 degrees Celsius. Eleni, a 67-year-old woman I met on the street, lamented about the health issues caused by the heat. "I can hardly breathe," she told me.

Local governments across Albania are hearing similar stories from their residents. The challenges posed by climate change are not only environmental but also deeply social and economic. Municipalities like Elbasan, Durrës, Kukës, Krujë, Fier, Vlorë, Gjirokastër, and Përmet are at the forefront of this battle, facing the urgent need to adapt to changing conditions to protect their communities and economies.

UNDP's Role in Climate Adaptation

Recognizing the critical need for local action, the UNDP, with funding from the Green Climate Fund, has initiated a project to develop Local Adaptation Plans (LAPs) in these eight municipalities. This project aligns with Albania's broader National Adaptation Planning (NAP) process, aiming to integrate climate change adaptation into national and local development planning.

Over the past two years, 570 stakeholders, including 293 women, have been engaged in the LAP development process. This initiative seeks to raise awareness and foster a deep understanding of climate adaptation's importance, ensuring the sustainability of long-term development.

The Challenges Ahead

Albania's climate challenges are significant. The country is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events such as floods and droughts. The severity and frequency of these events are increasing as global temperatures rise, posing threats to agriculture, water supplies, and key industries like hydropower and tourism. Additionally, Albania's coastal position makes it particularly susceptible to sea-level rise, flash floods, and forest fires, which account for 90% of its natural hazards.

Despite ongoing socio-economic progress, Albania remains highly exposed to climate hazards, as evidenced by its 80th ranking in the ND-GAIN Country Index. This index reflects both the country's vulnerability to climate impacts and its readiness to adapt.

Building Local Capacity

From July 2022 to October 2023, the UNDP project has focused on building the capacity of municipal staff. Training sessions and technical assistance have equipped local officials with the skills to collect and analyze demographic, economic, and climate data. This data has been crucial in developing climate scenarios, assessing risks and vulnerabilities, and crafting evidence-based adaptation plans.

These Local Adaptation Plans identify specific adaptation measures tailored to each municipality's unique challenges. Key measures include strengthening institutional frameworks, enhancing technical and scientific capabilities, and implementing bio-engineering interventions to mitigate natural hazards like flooding, erosion, wildfires, sea-level rise, and droughts.

An integral aspect of these efforts has been the inclusion of a gender perspective, ensuring equitable participation and decision-making in adaptation strategies. This approach recognizes that climate change impacts different demographics in varied ways and that inclusive solutions are essential for effective adaptation.

Aligning Local and National Priorities

Local Adaptation Plans have been instrumental in aligning local priorities with national objectives, empowering communities, and building resilience. The final phase of their consultations, which began in Elbasan and were extend to the other seven municipalities, aimed to finalize these draft plans. The goal was to prioritize adaptation measures and ensure stakeholder consensus on effective climate action.

The Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro emphasized the urgency of local adaptation efforts during a recent National Conference. "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," she stated.

Monica Merino, UNDP's Resident Representative in Albania, echoed this sentiment, highlighting 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," she said. As a result, 314 measures have been identified, 48 of which are of high priority, targeting sectors such as tourism, urban development, agriculture, transport, and energy.

A Collaborative Effort

The mayors and representatives of the eight municipalities involved in this process have shown a strong commitment to adopting and integrating the Local Adaptation Plans into local budgets. They have shared the specific climate challenges their communities face and discussed the proposed adaptation measures to address these issues.

Gledjan Llatja, Mayor of Elbasan Municipality, acknowledges that addressing climate change is a shared responsibility between local governments and citizens. This recognition drives urgent action to protect public health and the environment. The municipality is committed to reducing carbon emissions and achieving neutrality through initiatives such as photovoltaic installations, forest management and afforestation, installing hydrants for firefighting, and fostering community engagement to safeguard natural resources.

Ermal Dredha, the Mayor of Vlora Municipality emphasized that the local government is actively working to protect and manage the environment. Efforts include increasing afforestation, safeguarding key areas like the Sode Forest, and combating the irresponsible use of plastics that pollute the coastline.

Alma Hoxha, the Mayor of Përmet Municipality, emphasized that by integrating climate impacts into our policies and plans, we aim to reduce risks, build protective systems against floods and erosion, and proactively implement adaptation measures, as demonstrated by the recent approval of our adaptation plan by the Përmet Municipal Council.

Flamur Golemi, Mayor of Gjirokastër Municipality, highlighted the ongoing challenges of wildfires and landslides and stressed that the municipality is dedicated to improving readiness and raising community awareness in response to past fire incidents. The Local Adaptation Plan will allow the implementation of climate-resilient interventions, secure donor support, and underscore the importance of proactive and collective action. 

Matthew Kennedy, a climate science expert, said: "Understanding local climate scenarios and vulnerabilities is essential for prioritizing adaptation actions that can significantly mitigate the negative impacts of climate change,".

Laureta Dibra, the project manager, says: “It remains critical to assess local risks and vulnerabilities and share best practices to improve local adaptation planning. Municipal ownership was the key element in successfully identifying and prioritizing adaptation measures. By engaging local stakeholders and fostering a sense of responsibility within the community, we can ensure that our adaptation plans are not only effective but also sustainable.”

The Path Forward

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.

Strengthening partnerships between local, national, and international actors is crucial for effective climate adaptation. The collaboration between municipalities, the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, and the UNDP demonstrates a concerted effort to address climate change challenges and build a resilient future for Albania.
Through these coordinated efforts, Albania is taking significant steps toward mitigating the impacts of climate change and ensuring sustainable development for its communities. 

The stories of Ali Drita and Eleni and many others like them, underscore the urgent need for these actions and the hope that comes with a proactive, inclusive approach to climate adaptation.