The two-day conference, hosted by the Albanian Academy of Sciences in partnership with George Mason University in the United States and Italy’s Ramazzini College, brought together researchers, public health specialists and institutional representatives from Albania and abroad.

Participants discussed the effects of environmental quality and climate change on public health, with speakers highlighting the links between air and water pollution, food safety, emerging infectious diseases and broader environmental challenges.

Vasil Tole, vice president of the Albanian Academy of Sciences, said issues such as air and water pollution, food security, climate change and emerging infectious diseases could no longer be treated as isolated problems and required coordinated responses from scientific institutions, policymakers and society.

Eugena Tomini, Albania’s deputy minister of health and social protection, said the environmental crisis and climate change were profoundly affecting human health, adding that a healthy environment could help prevent nearly one-quarter of the overall burden of disease.

Xheladin Draçini, rector of the University of Medicine in Tirana, said environmental change, urbanisation and social factors were exerting an increasingly significant influence on public health, while scientific research remained essential to developing evidence-based and sustainable solutions.

Speakers also stressed the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation and the “One Health” approach, which recognises the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health.

The conference continued with presentations by Albanian and international researchers on recent developments in public health, environmental protection and occupational health, with discussions focusing on air, water and food quality, pollution and the health impacts of climate change.

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Speaking at an international conference organized by Luarasi University, Sejko outlined the country’s economic progress and upcoming challenges, underlining that Albanian economy continues to demonstrate stability and growth, even as global challenges persist.

However, Sejko noted that the country has still a long way to go to build an economic structure oriented toward high-value-added sectors.

Central Bank Governor said that inflation has dropped significantly to 2.2% this year, down from higher rates in 2022. Economic activity has increased by 18.3% since 2019, while unemployment has fallen to a historic low of 10.7%. Employment has grown by 3.9%, accompanied by a 15.4% rise in average wages.

He said the ageing population and the elevating shortages of the labour force is a complex challenge with consequences on the Albanian economy as well as on the European and global economies, adding that the process affects both the labour market and the long-term prospects for economic growth and the sustainability of the pension system and public debt.

Governor Sejko also highlighted climate change impact on key sectors, including agriculture and tourism, underlining that the two sectors, in addition to directly affecting the economic activity and employment, represent also a great potential for the development of the Albanian economy in the future.

Foreign direct investment has also seen consistent growth, reflecting Albania’s improved credit ratings and investor confidence. Key industries, such as tourism and agriculture, have benefited from these developments, further strengthening the economic outlook.

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In the series of activities, FAO national and international experts presented adaptation measures and recommendations for several sectors, including agriculture and crops, forestry, livestock, lagoons, pastures and meadows, fisheries and aquaculture.
“The agriculture, forestry, fisheries, wetland, and ecosystems sectors play an important role in building the resilience of society and the country at large to climate change,” Assistant FAO Representative in Albania, Arben Kipi said.

“There is still much work to be done, and we can use the potentials of Albania’s rural areas,” Kipi said.

Expert recommendations include the use of greenhouses to protect crops and vegetables from hail, modern irrigation systems (rain pipes and drip irrigation), diversification of farm animals, and livestock mix, such as; sustainable food system during winter grazing and pastures in spring-autumn.

FAO is supporting the Government of Albania define and implement its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, particularly in the agriculture, forestry and other land use sector. //a.i/