TIRANA, July 15 /ATA/ Albania and Germany will strengthen cooperation in the management of climate change risks through a program aimed at climate change resilient urban development in our country.

Minister of Tourism and Environment, Mirela Kumbaro, and the Ambassador of Germany to Albania, Karl Bergner, signed the "ALBAdapt" agreement with the aim of improving the information system for the meteorological service and the climate through the establishment of an early warning system according to international standards.

"The measures to be taken are not just theoretical. Municipalities, the community, institutions, agencies and the government must take multiple actions in order to prevent this from happening. That's why we have come together, it's not just an Albanian issue. The whole Mediterranean has such problems and Albania is at the heart of this territory. Thanks to the cooperation with the German Embassy, with our important partners, we are starting a new action in this direction", said Kumbaro.

"We are glad to help Albania cope with climate change. Climate change is a fact and we must adapt to the consequences. With this project, we also help the Meteorological Service with more accurate forecasts in order to save lives amid extreme weather conditions", said Ambassador Karl Bergner.

This project aims to increase the adaptive capacity and climate resilience of Albania through the generation, coordination and effective use of climate information in the form of a national hydro meteorological service and a functional national framework for climate services, an early risk warning system, encapsulated in an "integrated" climate information and warning system (CIEWS).

In terms of adaptation measures, the aim is to support municipalities in investments for sustainable and climate-resilient solutions. Thanks to the support of Germany, Switzerland and the Green Climate Fund (GCF), over 36 million euros will soon be made available to prepare Albania for climate change.

The agreement between the Albanian and German governments supports Albania's ongoing efforts towards the Green Agenda and the approval of this agreement marks the start of work on the "Albadapt" project, Albania's most important adaptation project in the field of climate change.

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