World Vision Albania study: 52% of young people are concerned about climate change in Albania

Press Release - World Vision Albania study[1]: 52% of young people are concerned about climate change in Albania

52% of young people are concerned about climate change in Albania, while 46% of children participating in the World Vision Albania study express that they have limited knowledge on climate change. Climate change is one of the major current global concerns that require immediate action. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change[2] has cautioned that global warming by above 1.5°C by 2040, will have major social and environmental impact. Not recognizing the issue is a major problem for the present and the future. Furthermore, the opinion of children, adolescents, and young people in Albania about climate change is worth listening to.

As an international organization that works on the development and long-term support for children, adolescents, and young people, World Vision Albania engaged in 2023 in a regional study led by the Middle East and Eastern Europe Regional Office of World Vision. The study called: "Climate Crisis: Perceptions of Children and Youth on Climate Change and Environmental Transformation in Albania", aimed to understand how children and young people articulate knowledge related to climate and the environment. It also explored children and young people’s level of concern about climate change, the level of understanding about the consequences of climate change in their lives, and also the level of preparedness for action in case of disasters related to climate change. 332 children, adolescents, and young people from six regions of the country participated in the study.[3]

The lack of knowledge and awareness risks not being reflected in behavior and attitudes that address climate change issues now and in the future. Furthermore, the less we know about the climate crisis, the more profound the problem will become, deepening social inequalities and affecting the lives of children and young people. This, in turn, increases the risks to health, education, and economic well-being and threatens the achievement of long-term sustainable development goals. Therefore, it is crucial to take concrete steps and actions, involving children and young people, to mitigate these negative effects.

For more information, please contact: Vasilika Bargjo ( vasilika_bargjo@wvi.org ) – Senior PR & Communications Officer, World Vision Albania

[1] https://www.wvi.org/publications/research/albania/children-and-young-peoples-perceptions-climate-change-and

[2] PNNK – IPCC

[3] Shkodër, Dibër, Kurbin, Durrës, Tiranë, Korçë.