TIRANA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Albania has adopted two important aspects of environmental policies aimed at keeping the country clean, Albanian minister of tourism and environment Blendi Klosi told reporters Wednesday.
The new policies foresee toughening the law on anyone who commits an environmental crime, and a massive education initiative geared towards young people to keep Albania clean.
"The penal measures against those committing environmental crimes will toughen, while the massive education for a clean environment will be a priority of the ministry of tourism and environment," Klosi said while addressing a conference.
According to him, those who pollute the environment, the country's common wealth, and commit an environmental crime, has to be punished.
He informed that Albanian authorities would soon start talks with the big polluters in Albania in order to tackle air pollution.
Referring to the national action "For a clean Albania" that was launched last summer, Klosi invited citizens to join in institutional efforts to build a culture of maintaining the environment for everyone.
Albania is considered a country with high pollution.
According to international reports, the air pollution here has deteriorated, causing a significant number of deaths in Albania.
Some 2,120 people died in Albania in 2016 as a result of deterioration of air pollution, a 2016 report on European air quality by the European Environment Agency showed recently.
According to Beqiri, municipalities continue to perform poorly in terms of pollution reduction and waste management, in spite of the territorial reform, which was expected to increase the efficiency of municipalities in this regard.
