The COP25 Madrid Conference has been facing increasing pressure from environmental groups and governments of many small countries affected by climate change to force countries to take emergency measures to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In this context, the EU countries are under increasing pressure to take rapid steps towards reaching the Climate Green Deal until the next Glasgow 2020 summit. The European Commission has presented an outline of its European Green Deal. According to the proposed timeline, the EU’s increased 2030 climate target – the flagship initiative of the package – will be presented by summer 2020. This timeline will require Member States to agree on a much higher 2030 target at the European Council in June 2020, which will be key to enable the EU to lead the way towards bold climate ambition internationally.

In the Paris Agreement, all countries committed to submit new increased 2030 climate targets to the United Nations, at the latest by the climate summit, COP26, taking place in Glasgow in November 2020.  Given the climate emergency and its capacity and responsibility to act, environmental groups is putting pressure on the EU to increase its 2030 climate target to 65% emission reductions and agree to go net zero emissions by 2040. Tabling a new, substantially increased 2030 climate target by summer 2020 would leave very little time for EU Member States to negotiate and endorse it in time.

At the Paris Summit, Albania has committed to reduce 11.5% greenhouse gas emissions  by 2030, using 2016 as a reference year, which is equivalent to 708 kT of CO2 emissions (carbon ‐ dioxide emission reduction). The discussion among the experts of the main sectors responsible for the emissions, assess that our country still has the capacity and real potential to grow its target even further. The use of renewable energy sources, the increase of energy efficiency in the transport, construction, etc. or concrete measures for extensive reforestation and good waste management are just some of the sectors in the country where development and progress of this has clear environmental objectives.

Measures to address the climate crisis should also be taken seriously by small countries like Albania, because climate change knows no administrative boundaries. Moreover, countries like ours have scarce and limited capacities to cope with the devastating economic, social and environmental effects of climate change.

The Resource Environmental Center, Albania has launched the establishment of a platform of Albanian environmental organizations, which, with the support of climate counterpart organizations such as Climate Action Network Europe, aims to have Albania joined with other European countries in setting the most ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.