Climate changes to pose major risks, WB warns

TIRANA, Nov. 27 – Climate extremes in the Western Balkans will pose major risks to agricultural systems, energy, and human health, according to a climate change report published by the World Bank.
“From the Western Balkans to Siberia, from Europe to Central Asia, the impacts of extreme climate events, such as floods, droughts, and forest fires, are already being felt, all with significant human and economic cost, as well as environmental impact,” said Laura Tuck, World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia.
The report describes the Drini-Mati River Delta in Albania as one of the most vulnerable coasts in the region.
Evidence from Albania and Macedonia in the Western Balkans, show an increased vulnerability of heat related strokes and mortalities, says the report.
Albania regularly suffers from floods, which are problematic for agriculture when they delay the planting of crops or destroy harvests. Projections up to 2050 for Albania indicate that flooding events could increase in both frequency and intensity under the influence of climate change. Yield changes in the Albanian agricultural sector are projected to be most severe for rain-fed grapes and olives, with yield declines of up to 20 and 21 percent respectively compared to the baseline (2000-2009) under 1.81у of warming. However, under this scenario wheat yields are projected to increase by up to 24 percent due to an extended growing season and more moderate temperatures in the winter, the report shows.