National Adaptation Planning (NAP) to Climate Change in Albania.

The country developed the NAP document in close cooperation of relevant line ministries and under the lead function of the Ministry of Tourism and Environment (MTE) within the framework of the Inter-Ministerial Working Group on Climate Change, which was mandated by the Prime Minister of Albania, during 2015 to 2016. The process received support by GIZ, UNDP and EU. The working process ensured ownership and participation of all relevant stakeholders in line with the NAP Technical Guidelines by UNFCCC. The Knowledge on climate change impacts and vulnerabilities available in Albania is comparably good, resulting from the First (2002), Second (2009) and Third National Communications (2016) to UNFCCC. Besides, sector related and regional studies and projects provide important information on climate modelling, impact analysis, vulnerabilities and potential adaptation measures in Albania. The key vulnerabilities can be condensed as follows: Hydrological systems: Changing precipitation affects water resources and availability in terms of quantity and quality; Agriculture: Negative impacts of climate change on crop yields will be more common than positive impacts and result from changes of temperature, precipitation, hydrological systems (including irrigation), soil quality, erosion, and extreme events; Energy: The high share of hydropower implies impacts of changes in the hydrological systems on energy production; Health: Main impacts result from heat waves and vector increase through changes of temperature and precipitation; Social vulnerabilities: Inequalities and social vulnerabilities produced by uneven development processes aggravate risks from climate change; Climate related hazards and disasters: Increasing incidences of floods, droughts and other extreme events exacerbate other stressors, often with negative outcomes for infrastructure, production sectors and peoples’ livelihoods, especially for marginalized communities; Ecosystems: Changes in climate cause impacts on natural systems, which can be observed already as of now along the coastal lagoons and estuaries as well as in river basins; Tourism: sector is exposed to numerous direct and indirect impacts from climate change. Sealevel rise will threaten coastal tourism infrastructure and natural attractions. Quite in contrast to existing knowledge on impacts and vulnerabilities, committed action for reducing vulnerabilities is still quite rare. A participatory Stocktaking Workshop on 19 February 2015 identified considerable gaps between existing adaptation approaches and needs. The NAP process should provide added value and assist in closing gaps.
The NAP process for Albania follows the following principles: NAP is understood mainly as long-lasting process for which this document provides the framework elements such as principles, goals, indicators, priority actions and process elements; It provides a framework for targeted mainstreaming; It establishes an implementation framework mainly through priority actions supported through access mechanisms to finances, outreach and involvement, capacity development and monitoring; It is a catalyst for participation and awareness rising. An effective steering of the adaptation process will be ensured through outcome-oriented goals and indicators. They limit complexity by reduction on core indicators characterizing the adaptation progress and by building on existing goals and indicators, e.g. those defined in the NSDI. This NAP document identifies indicators, which, however, need further specification within the development of a concise Result-Based Monitoring System. Regarding the main results of the adaptation process at subject level, the NAP defines 3 key objectives: Goal 1: Damages through floods are reduced; Goal 2: Agricultural resilience against floods is enhanced; Goal 3: Drinking water quality is secured despite impacts from climate change. The time-line for achieving these goals is defined as 20 years (until 2035). Mainstreaming climate change adaptation into relevant sector plans and policies is a key principle for the NAP process in Albania. Mainstreaming activities have already been pursued for several sectors, for the overarching National Strategy for Development and Integration (NSDI) as well as the EU IPA country strategy paper The EU accession process can be understood as a strong promoter for climate change adaptation, taking into consideration the mainstreaming approach of the EU Adaptation Strategy and within the IPA Process as stipulated in the EU-IPA II Strategy Paper. Mainstreaming should be organized as a long-term process which will address also future policy and plan developments. The implementation framework of the NAP document is provided, inter alia, through a limited number of so called Priority Actions (or ‘umbrella projects’). They do not intend to cover all necessary adaptation activities but concentrate on measures with strategic and leverage functions. They are sub-divided into overarching and steering actions as well as into selected sector-related actions of paramount importance for climate resilience in Albania: Overarching Actions/implementation framework-Steering of the adaptation process in Albania; -Overarching mainstreaming initiative; -Climate finance readiness; -Implementation monitoring system; Communication and outreach initiative; Initiative for capacity development on climate change adaptation. Sector-wise and cross-sector strategic actions: -Climate Resilient Irrigation, Drainage and Flood Protection; -Integrated Water Resources Management; -Adaptation in the Agricultural Sector; -Implementation of Adaptation Strategy for Health Sector; -Integrated Cross-Sectorial Plan for the Coast (ICPC) Initiative for Municipal Climate Change Adaptation Plans Adaptation in tourism; -Upgrading civil defense preparedness and disaster risk reduction; -Building the Resilience of KVLS through Ecosystem-based Adaptation.