Ongoing Projects

Policy and investment planning in FOLU in Albania to support the utilization of the climate change mitigation and sustainable development potential of the sector

Albania’s forests and pastures cover approximately 65% of the national territory—46% forests and 19% pastures—constituting one of the country’s most critical natural resources. These ecosystems support both environmental integrity and socio-economic development, with forests playing predominantly productive roles and pastures supporting seasonal livestock activities. This land use sector—Forestry and Other Land Use (FOLU)—is vital for […]

Implementation plan for revising and achieving the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) of Albania

Albania has a national legal basis for climate change; the Ministry of Tourism and Environment is the National Focal Point to the UNFCCC, responsible for the national climate change agenda; an Interministerial Working Group, composed of governmental stakeholders and directed from the Ministry, is the cross-sectorial coordination instrument of the agenda; within the transparency and […]

Elbasan Climate-Neutral Innovation in Mobility (eCIM)

Elbasan’s journey towards climate neutrality faces significant challenges, particularly in the mobility sector. The eCIM initiative aims to shift the city away from its car-dependent model towards one that prioritizes active transportation and climate resilience. By reimagining urban spaces to favor pedestrians and cyclists, and by promoting sustainable mobility options, eCIM seeks to reduce the […]

Climate Bridges – Network in Action

The Western Balkans region is actively pursuing EU accession while developing climate action initiatives. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and North Macedonia are at different stages of EU membership negotiations, each facing challenges in climate policy development and implementation. These challenges primarily stem from limited administrative capacity and insufficient coordination between civil society organizations and […]

“EU for Circular Economy” in Gjirokastër-Vlora South waste management zone

Waste management is a major challenge in Albania and contributes significantly to GHG emissions. This in turn harms the country’s tourism potential which constitutes 18% of the GDP. Therefore, the government has declared waste management a strategic and priority sector. The EU4CE-REWAM project is being implemented on a sub-national scale with the final recipients being […]

Protection of environment through integrated waste management in Durres municipality

Durrës municipality is Albania’s second-largest city and faces significant waste management challenges. The system operates through basic collection services using municipal trucks and workers, with waste primarily disposed at landfill. The city struggles with increased waste volumes during tourist seasons and lacks waste processing facilities. While initiatives supported from different sources are helping modernize the […]

Green and sustainable energy in Elbasan buildings – GREENELB

Elbasan’s journey towards climate neutrality faces significant challenges, particularly in the building sector. The city’s first greenhouse gas inventory highlights that buildings are major contributors to emissions, with electricity consumption accounting for 28.3% and non-electric energy adding another 15.9% of total emissions. Private residential buildings are the primary source, responsible for 96.8% of these emissions. […]

Achieving biodiversity conservation through effective management and enhanced resilience to climate change in the existing protected area of the North Albanian Mountainous Region

This project contributes to UNEP’s Programme of Work 2022-2023 and implements part of a GEF 7 Project focused on biodiversity conservation and climate change resilience in Albania’s northern mountainous region. It aims to develop a valorisation study for the Albanian Alps National Park to support effective management planning and sustainable financing of the protected area. […]

Balkan for Optimising Opportunities, Sustainability and Transformation of Civil Society

BOOST aims to enhance democratic, economic, and social development within the Western Balkan region. The project is a comprehensive, long-term program designed to bolster the capacities of civil society across various thematic areas such as youth empowerment and entrepreneurship, rural development and environmental conservation, as well as the preservation of cultural heritage and community advancement. […]