Albania

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5 June 2009 – Students of “Petro Nini Luarasi” School in Tirana came together to talk about climate change and send a message to their peers—Your Planet Needs You!!- Plant a Bulb! The event was organized by the United Nations Development Programme, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Water Administration, and the Albanian Energy Corporation and Association for New Policies on Environmental Protection and Local Development. Around 2000 students were given a bulb to install at home and convey the message to the peers, friends and relatives.

The event aimed at raising awareness on energy savings and climate change by substituting the incandescent lamps with high efficient fluorescent ones. This will bring in turn reduction of GHG emissions contributing as such to the climate change mitigation. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) use 80% less electricity to produce the same light as normal bulbs, cutting greenhouse gas by over 50%. By substituting only one bulb at home, one can saves up to 16 kg of CO2 each year. The students talked about climate change issues and debated with the panellist over the energy efficiency issues.

Gulden Turkoz Cosslett, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Albania said, “On this World Environment Day, the United Nations encourages everyone, young and old, to take concrete steps toward making the planet greener and cleaner. Switch off the lights. Take public transportation. Recycle. Plant a tree. Clean up your local park and know that your planet needs you!"

Reflecting upon World Environment Day, 16 year old Barbara Halla said “I’ve realized that although I am only one person I can make a difference. What I do and how I act can also be a chain reaction that positively affects other people, making them aware of the need to protect the environment."

The latest UN report on climate change has confirmed the warming of our climate, which affects human activity, social and economic life. Such impacts range from sea level rise, melting of ice caps and glaciers, severe weather events, droughts, flooding, warming, and changing in ecosystems. Albania, like other countries in the world is not immune to such impacts, despite different contributions to the greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate change is expected to affect Albania with increased temperatures, less precipitation and sea level rise. This may hinder progress in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, if not addressed on a timely manner.

To address the climate change related issues, the Government of Albania has formed a partnership with the United Nations Development Programme, and supported by the Global Environment Facility, the Austrian Technical Cooperation and other donors is implementing a series of projects in the areas of climate change mitigation (energy efficiency, renewable, carbon financing) and adaptation (adaptation policies in the Drini-Mati river deltas, carbon neutral territories). Swiss and Italian Governments are supporting the creation of a functioning market for solar water heating.

An interview with Ms. Adriana Micu, Head of Crosscutting Cluster: Environment, Gender, CSOs at UNDP Albania can be viewed here. Ms. Micu discusses UNDP`s support to the Government of Albania in the protect of biodiversity, and the streamlining of commitments to international environmental conventions - specifically those related to Biodiversity, Climate Change and Land Degradation.

Photo: UNDP Deputy Country Director, Ms. Vibeke Risa, talking to students of “Petro Nini Luarasi” School in Tirana on World Environment Day 2009.

Millennium Development Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are eight international development goals that 191 United Nations member states have agreed to achieve by the year 2015. Goal 7 the Millennium Development Goals sets out to:1. Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes; reverse loss of environmental resources.