Development of an Initial Methodology Framework for Climate-Proofing Laws and Policies in Kosovo

The GIZ Programme “Circular Urban Development - Kosovo4Green” supports central government and municipalities in modernizing waste management by establishing integrated solutions and introducing circular economy approaches, climate-sensitive urban development and ensuring cross-sectoral coordination under the new climate law for effective climate policy implementation. As part of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) signed between the Republic of Kosovo and the EU, Kosovo is required to align its national legislation with the EU acquis, including chapter 27 ‘Environment and Climate Change’ and the programme aims to contribute to EU's "Green Agenda for the Western Balkans" (2020) goals by promoting the climate action, circular economy and biodiversity as three of its five pillars.

Despite recent progress, the current situation in Kosovo shows that climate-proofing of laws and policies is still at an early stage. While strategic documents such as the Climate Change Strategy and the newly adopted Climate Change Law provide an important framework for climate action, the systematic integration of climate considerations into sectoral laws and policies remains limited. Existing legislation in key sectors such as water, agriculture, infrastructure, and spatial planning has been developed with limited consideration of future climate risks and climate resilience. 

adelphi supports GIZ in developing a structured, practical, and Kosovo-specific methodology that supports institutions in systematically integrating climate mitigation and 
adaptation considerations into laws and policies and to develop capacities to improve technical capacities, data availability, and inter-institutional workflows for climate 
mainstreaming.