Perceptions of young people from Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro on climate change
This report represents a major component of the project “Youth Awareness on Pressing Climate Change and Sustainability Issues” funded by the Western Balkans Fund and implemented by Academy of European Integration and Negotiation (AIEN) from Albania Institute for Development Policy (INDEP) from Kosovo and MSJA- Dr Martin Schneider-Jacoby Association from Montenegro.
As candidates, potential candidates and negotiating countries for EU accession, Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro have standing obligations towards EU Integration and Acquis Communitaire transposition. Strategies for Environmental protection and Climate Change are either approved or in draft form; complementary legislation for air quality, reduction of other greenhouse gasses, waste management, energy efficiency and renewable energy Action Plans, are all in the process of transposition. These countries are as well motivated to respect the Paris Agreement and to achieve EU2020 and EU2030 goals in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission reduction, to increase energy efficiency and energy production from renewable sources.
Since Climate change impact our region as a whole and manifold areas of life, the Questionaire and its resulting Report intend to engage young generation from various backgrounds to provide them with the adequate information on our countries performances and the risks in the region, to motivate them to change their everyday ife behaviours towards to adapt and mitigate the climate changes and environmental challenge of today and tomorrow.
The Report will be useful to various stakeholders. Firstly, to young people in the 15-29 years old group age. Engaging in a questionnaire while learning new information is a direct form of awareness raising. Secondly, it is useful to the government and policy makers of the field of education and energy and environment. By measuring the general awareness among young people, policymakers can better tailor their education and awareness raising campaigns. High schools and Universities can also benefit from the results. These institutions can introduce this questionnaire or use its results in extracurricular activities or as part of their curricula. Also, they can use this data to understand the gaps in education. The results of this report can be useful also to other researchers into similar fields (NGOs; Think tanks, Media etc.) by seeding other project ideas and initiatives and further developing this topic, locally, nationally and regionally.
Perceptions of young people from Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro on climate change