TIRANA, Dec.15 – Albania’s leaders have hailed the agreement reached Saturday in Paris at the end of a major UN conference on climate change, according to statements from the foreign and environmental ministries.
Albania, one of Europe’s most at risk countries from the detrimental effects of climate change, hopes deal will delay or prevent further problems with shoreline erosion and flooding.
The COP21 conference on the implementation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change concluded with 191 countries agreeing to do their part in keeping the rise in temperature averages “below 2 C.”
On Monday, Environment Minister Lefter Koka explained some details on Albania’s commitments to fulfill the required standards.
He said old cars and low quality fuel were the main sources of pollution for Albania. He added authorities would impose new standards to be respected in the near future.
Albanians have been told to get ready for higher requirements and their vehicles might not pass the annual test for emissions.
“The Paris Agreement establishes a long-term and sustainable global framework to reduce global emissions of greenhouse gas, where all countries, without exception, engage in a serious and ambitious attempt to implement clear, consecutive objectives and report on the progress of their implementation through a rigorous and standardized review process, which would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change,” said the foreign ministry statement.
It added that Albania, as a partner that provides concrete contribution to the joint efforts, “presented its national objectives in October 2015 and is fully committed to rigorously implement the commitments to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) by 11.5 percent, by the year 2030.”
