From the 23rd to the 25th of June 2010, the first workshop in Europe under the global Territorial Approach to Climate Change (TACC) Initiative took place in Tirana, Albania. The event brought together 25 participants from regional authorities and from national government in Albania. It was supported by UNEP within the context of the TACC initiative, a collaboration of UNDP, UNEP, UNITAR and UNHABITAT. UNITAR supported the workshop through the development of training material and participation of a resource person.

In opening the workshop, the Secretary General of the Albanian Ministry for Environment, Ms. Myrvete Pazaj acknowledged that “climate change is a significant threat to Albania and [that] a concerted and coordinated effort is needed to address it effectively.”

The workshop had the objective to raise awareness, build capacity and facilitate knowledge sharing concerning climate change action and fostering a green economy at the sub-national level. A range of topics relevant for addressing climate change issues at the sub-national/regional level were covered through presentations, as well as sharing of knowledge, experiences and solutions. Topics included Climate Change Science, International Policy, Mitigation, Adaptation, Finance, and Governance. The workshop also featured a methodology to develop integrated plans at the sub-national/territorial level to address climate change. The scientific discussions revealed that uncertainty in matters of climate change should not prevent taking action.

The Territorial Approach to Climate Change (TACC) is a global initiative involving UNDP, UNEP, UNITAR, and UNHABITAT and regional associations to support a bottom up approach to climate change action. Sub-national authorities can complement national-level efforts to pave the way to a low carbon economy and climate resilient development that ensures sustainable energy and food security, robustness of infrastructure services, and the creation of clean jobs and economic opportunities.