Albania

Energy and Environment

Global RSS Press Releases for this area Ongoing Projects for this area

Together, the Government of Albania, and UNDP have committed to support the use of renewable energy sources, protect biodiversity, and streamline commitments to international environmental conventions - specifically those related to Biodiversity, Climate Change and Land Degradation. UNDP supports the Climate Change Unit within the Ministry of Environment [Forestry and Water Administration].

The Climate Change programme works with the Ministry through producing required reports to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol.  The reports enable the Government to sell its lack of carbon emissions, or carbon credits, to industrialized countries that produce excess carbon emissions, a form of activity referred to as the Clean Development Mechanism.  This particular type of foreign investment, called “Carbon Finance,” also allows Albania to continue reducing its own carbon emissions for further credits to sell on the international market.

UNDP promotes Solar Water Heating in the marketplace, with a project that foresees the installation of 70,000 m2 of solar panels in Albania, with a cumulative green house gas reduction potential of 1.5 million tons over the next 20 years.

UNDP through the Climate Change Programme and GEF, are addressing the first ever attempts in Albania at climate change adaptation with a project aimed at protecting vulnerable ecosystems and local livelihoods by identifying and mainstreaming adaptation response measures into development programming in the Drini-Mati River Deltas.  

By implementing the Stockholm Convention, Albania is also taking measures to eliminate or reduce the release of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) into the environment, and manage contaminated sites.

The Governments of Albania, FYR of Macedonia, and Greece are working together to protect globally significant biodiversity in the Prespa Lakes Basin. The three countries are integrating and coordinating ecological, economic and social goals to reduce pollution in the lakes, and are introducing environmental management practices. 

In addition to the technical and financial support given to Government counterparts, UNDP provides support to a number of non-governmental and community-based organizations working on specific environmental concerns. 

UNDP is also supporting eco-tourism as a way to protect the environment and cultural assets while providing economic and job growth opportunities for primarily rural communities.