EcoAlbania has launched a series of meetings on “Policies for Energy Efficiency and Energy Performance in Albania” with members of youth forums from the main parties in the country. On June 22th 2018, during the meeting organized by EcoAlbania in Tirana with the participation of young people from the Eurosocialist Youth Forum of Albania (FRESSH), representatives of EcoAlbania, EDEN Center and Mr. Erjon Tase from the Academy of Political Studies discussed legislation and policies of energy efficiency and performance, as well as the actual problems with regard to their implementation.
During the meeting with FRESSh members
© V.Kabili
This meeting was held as a continuation to the public education campaign on energy issues in our country. The members of the forum were first introduced to the Environmental Watchdog Network, its working area, “Together – An eye for the environment” project, as well as some key findings of the study on energy poverty in Tirana.
The conducted research on energy poverty situation in five Albanian cities drew attention among participants. Methodology used, target groups, data collection and processing were details on which they were further informed. In addition, this group of youngsters expressed their interest on topics such as diversification of energy production sources, creation of new infrastructure for sustainable production, as well as concrete possibilities Albania offers for solar and wind energy production.
E. Tase, Executive Director of Academy of Political Studies talking on issues of legislation enforcement © V.Kabili
The expert E. Tase explained the possibilities of economic development related to law implementation and measures on energy efficiency. “The diversification of energy resources is on one hand the basis for economic development by keeping prices under control and lowering costs for the consumer, and, on the other hand, by reducing negative impact on the environment in terms of gases emission and the deterioration that energy production through hydropower plants only brings along.”– he said. Mr. Tase emphasized the problems and delays in the implementation of the relevant legislation for energy efficiency and performance.
The importance of existing legislation, its enforcement, improvement of policies related to energy and environmental matters, inclusion in the Socialist Party program of these topics, as well as their commitment as future policymakers to make it possible, were some key moments in the discussion which followed.
In the frame of the education campaign with future policymakers, EcoAlbania will conduct meetings with youngsters of the Youth Movement for Integration (LRI) and the Youth Democratic Party Forum (FRPD) to discuss relevant legislation, the need for its improvement, as well as incorporation of environmental and energy issues in their Party programs for the upcoming elections.
This activity was organized by EcoAlbania within the framework of the “Together – an eye for the environment” project and is financially supported from the Swedish Embassy on behalf of the SENiOR-II program implemented by Regional Environmental Centre – REC Albania.
