Development Strategy Prioritizes Climate Change Initiatives
Algeria has integrated the fight against climate change as a core pillar of its national development strategy, implementing proactive initiatives for a sustainable future. This long-term approach, supported by a fundamental law, includes comprehensive plans and significant investments in environmental protection.
The fight against climate change is now a central and guiding principle within Algeria's national development strategy, encompassing short, medium, and long-term horizons. This evolution, observed since 2019, marks a shift from a reactive policy to a comprehensive, long-term strategy with quantified and measurable objectives. The nation's commitment is enshrined in the fundamental law adopted in 2020, specifically Article 64, which affirms the citizen's right to a healthy environment within the framework of sustainable development and defines the obligations for environmental protection.
In the immediate term, Algeria is addressing climate change through emergency management, focusing on water and food security, including the extensive development of non-conventional water production. For the medium term, efforts are underway to diversify the energy mix, with a projected program to produce 15,000 megawatts. These steps aim to fortify the economy's resilience long-term, grounding growth in sustainable pillars that prioritize environmental preservation. Algeria faces vital climate challenges, including a temperature increase of approximately 0.3 °C every ten years, a chronic rainfall deficit, and significant water stress, along with risks of desertification and intensified extreme weather events like forest fires and sudden floods.
To counter these challenges effectively, Algeria adopted a National Climate Plan (PNC) in September 2019, designed to guide actions until 2030. This plan comprises 155 actions, balancing priorities with 63 actions for adaptation, 76 for mitigation of greenhouse gases, and 16 transversal actions dedicated to governance and legal frameworks. Driven by the political will of the President of the Republic to mobilize all necessary resources for an energy transition, the PNC has been continually reinforced with new frameworks for climate adaptation. In June 2026, Algeria formally increased its climate ambitions with the United Nations, committing to a 14% reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions by 2035.
Further advancing these efforts, the National Adaptation Plan (PNA), incorporating 211 sectoral measures, was finalized in October of the current year, alongside climate training campaigns at the wilaya level and the development of financial mechanisms for climate risk management. This national endeavor is supported by Sonatrach's program, which has significantly reduced gas flaring from 5.43% in 2020 to 3.19% currently, with an aim to drop below 1% by 2030. Additionally, Sonatrach is investing in carbon sinks. A budget of 150 billion dinars has been allocated to plant 423 million trees over ten years in collaboration with the General Directorate of Forests. Algeria is set to attend the United Nations Climate Conference COP31 in Turkey on November 9, presenting a comprehensive dossier that reflects its substantial efforts and feasible projections.
