Assessment of Climate Change Mainstreaming in Spatial Planning at the Central Level in Kosovo

Abstract Spatial developments contribute to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions and disordered land use. At the same time, climate change impacts have spatial implications, influencing the land uses and settlements development, and damaging habitats, ecosystems, infrastructure and other assets. Considering its regulatory character and multi-sectorial approach, spatial planning is gaining an increasingly important role in climate change management. As such, it could be better utilized in increasing climate resiliency and achieving decarbonization targets in Kosovo as well. While Kosovo is prone to natural hazards such as floods, landslides, droughts, and wildfires, the future climate change could further impact the economy, infrastructure, buildings, energy, health and wellbeing of its communities. Assuming that climate change considerations are not sufficiently integrated in spatial planning policies at the national level in Kosovo, this research assesses the extent that the Law on Spatial Planning and the Spatial Plan of Kosovo (also referred as the Spatial Planning Strategy) address those considerations. Upon the identified gaps, this research provides recommendations for better climate change management, risk reduction and resiliency building. Considering that the Spatial Plan of Kosovo has expired, and the Kosovo’s institutions are currently reviewing and considering the updating of the Law on Spatial Planning, the findings of this research could better inform and orient climate change mainstreaming in spatial planning at the central level.