ISSUE 78 Sustainable Mediterranean MEDITERRANEE DURABLE I BIΩΣIMH MEΣOΓEIOΣ I MEDITERRANEO SOSTENIBLE I

Climate Change: The rapidly increasing challenge for the Mediterranean

1 SUSTAINABLE MEDITERRANEAN | ISSUE 78 Guest Editor’s Corner

As dawn rose over snow-covered Kyoto, (Japan) degree of risk of overstepping the 1.5°C limit – a 2100 – with the ‘collapse of civilisation as we actions - casting a shadow of doubt on prospects sleep-deprived delegates, observers and my fel- level which would limit the risk of giving certain know it’ foreseen some time before that. for a successful COP 26 outcome. low journalists cheered and clapped as the fi- Earth tipping points an additional push. Needed nal all-night session of the UN Framework Con- emission cuts will not only require a decarboni- The UK-hosted ‘live’ COP 26 in Glasgow this No- If urgent comprehensive global action is essen- vention on Change’s COP3 (December sation revolution - by phasing out fossil energy vember (with doubts persisting whether the UK tial, so by definition are its components - region- 1997) adopted the text of the . The – but at the same time maximising efficiency and health situation and/or vaccination shortfalls in al and national action. world’s then leading emitter, the USA (now over- sufficiency, achieving climate-friendly behaviours developing countries will force postponement) is taken by China), refused to ratify. However it came and diets as well as -friendly carbon re- billed as ‘the last chance’ to keep the 1.5°C pos- So thank you, Prof. Scoullos, for this timely pub- into force in 2005 mandating modest greenhouse moval through afforestation and land use change sibility open – if total emission reduction com- lication to mobilise Mediterranean citizens and gas emission cuts by 37 industrialised nations while assuring the safe operation of Earth sys- mitments on the table there suffice to deliver the governments and for honouring me with the priv- between 2008 and 2012, subsequently extended tems. On 27 May, the World Meteorological Or- 45% target...and thus make possible the achieve- ilege of being its guest editor. to additional cuts between 2012 to 2020. ganisation warned that the global temperature ment of the net zero target by 2050, current- could ‘temporarily’ reach +1.5°C during the ly adopted by 131 nations accounting for 70% of Thank you also, Haris Paliogiannis, MIO-ECSDE’s How many, if any, of those present could have next five years. world emissions – though barely 20 have so far Junior Policy Officer for your tirelessly energetic imagined that 23 years later the world would be actually tabled related formal plans. Sufficient fi- support as editorial assistant and skilful drafting on the brink of an irreversible climate catastrophe On May 18, the International Energy Agency is- nance to support developing nations’ mitigation of all the remaining boxes. – as ceaselessly warned by the current Pope and sued a report setting out 400 measures needed and adaptation needs looms as a deal maker, or other religious leaders, the UN Secretary-Gen- to reach net zero in 2050 – which included per- breaker. The UK-hosted G7 Summit (11-13 June) eral, countless scientists, environmental activ- manently ending all further investments in fossil failed to deliver significantly improved financial Vanya Walker-Leigh TSSF ists – now including millions of highly informed, fuels exploration or capacity development during commitments to support developing nations’ es- Εconomist and journalist outraged schoolchildren regularly taking to the this year, 2021. sential mitigation and adaptation world’s streets? Eighty-four revised Nationally Determined Con- While the 2015 (negotiated at tributions (NDCs) (updating post-2020 commit- COP 21) called for “holding the increase in the ments made in 2015 ahead of the negotiation of global average temperature to well below 2°C the UNFCCC’s 2015 Paris Agreement) so far ta- above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts bled with UN Climate add up to a cut by 2030 to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C” scien- of just 12-14%...and that includes the revised US tists now insist that 1.5 is the maximum ‘safe lev- NDC announced by President Biden at his Lead- el’. Attainable only by cutting global greenhouse ers’ Summit on Climate, following the US return gas emissions by 45% below 2010 levels by 2030. to the Paris Agreement from which President We have already reached +1.22°C. Trump had withdrawn. Even including other an- nouncements made at the summit (but not con- As the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Re- tained in formal submissions to the UN) we cur- This issue of Sustainable Mediterranean has been funded by the EU LIFE Programme (Operating Grant of MIO-ECSDE). The contents only reflect the authors’ views. The Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) is not responsible for any use that may search recently warned, the world faces a high rently remain on the path to 2.9°C or more by be made of the information it contains.

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Mediterranean nations towards the UfM Ministerial Meeting, and climate Contents change COPs

CYPRUS Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Prof. Kostas Cadis 35 Prologue: Prof. Michael J. Scoullos, Chairman of MIO-ECSDE 8 JORDAN Some thoughts on the global warming effects in the Mediterranean, Prof. Christos S. Minister of Environment, HE Dr. Nabil Masarweh 38 Zerefos, Secretary General, Academy of Athens; Climate Envoy for Greece 12 GREECE Secretary General for Natural Environment and Water, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Prof. Konstantinos Aravossis 42 Regional organisations and networks Director General for Sea and Coastal Protection of the Ministry of Ecological Transition, UN ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME / MEDITERRANEAN ACTION PLAN (UNEP/MAP) Italy, Dr. Carlo Zaghi 44 Interview with Dr. Gaetano Leone, Coordinator 14

Box 1: MAR1 & MedECC: Bridging the gap between research and decision-making 18 The and the Mediterranean LEAGUE OF ARAB STATES Interview with HE Dr. Kamal Hassan Ali, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic 20 Affairs EUROPEAN COMMISSION (EC) 23 ’ Statement on Climate Change, Frans Timmermans, Box 2: CLIMATE: The Mediterranean Hotspot by Dr. Grammenos Mastrojeni (UfM) Executive Vice-President 48

UN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR WESTERN (UN-ESCWA) 26 EUROPEAN UNION (EU) The Arab Region’s priorities and needs, Dr. Rola Dashti, Executive Secretary Message from the EU Presidency, João Pedro Matos Fernandes, Minister of Environment and Climate Action, Portugal 52 PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF THE UNION FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN (PA-UfM) Box 3: The new EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change 53 Message from Bruno Coimbra, Chair of the Committee on Energy, Environment, 30 and Water Box 4: The EU’s new Agenda for the Mediterranean 54

CIRCLE OF MEDITERRANEAN PARLIAMENTARIANS FOR SUSTAINABLE EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK (EIB) DEVELOPMENT (COMPSUD) 32 Financing regional Climate Change action, Ricardo Mourinho Felix, Vice-President 56 Message from Prof. Moh Rejdali, Chairman

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Energy, water, agriculture, forests, cities, Biosphere Reserves Biosphere Reserves: open laboratories for climate impacts biosphere reserves UNESCO REGIONAL BUREAU FOR SCIENCE AND CULTURE IN , Ana Luiza Massot Thompson-Flores 82 Energy Future: Fossil or Renewable based? Cities The Mediterranean’s future Cities and Climate Change: The battle against the is being played INTERNATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY AGENCY (IRENA), Rabia Ferroukhi out in the cities & Diala Hawila 60 MedCities, Josep Canals Molina 84 Mediterranean energy prospects OBSERVATOIRE MEDITERRANEEN DE L’ENERGIE (OME), Dr. Houda Alaal 64

Water and Irrigation The voice of civil society Our Water Future: Are we intelligent enough to adapt? GLOBAL WATER PARTNERSHIP-MEDITERRANEAN (GWP-Med), Vangelis Egypt’s civil society Climate Change advocacy Constantianos 66 ARAB NETWORK FOR ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT (RAED), Dr. Emad Adly 86 Irrigation and Climate Change EURO-MEDITERRANEAN IRRIGATORS COMMUNITY (EIC), NATIONAL Croatia’s uneven progress towards greener energy FEDERATION OF IRRIGATION COMMUNITIES OF (FENACORE), EKO-KVARNER, Vjeran Pirsic 90 Andrés del Campo 70 Morocco’s Climate Change commitments Agriculture and Food CLUB MAROCAIN POUR L’ENVIRONNEMENT ET LE DEVELOPPEMENT Towards more sustainable Mediterranean food systems (CMED), Prof. Mohamed Ftouhi (CMED) 94 INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR ADVANCED MEDITERRANEAN AGRONOMIC STUDIES (CIHEAM) / BARI INSTITUTE, Dr. Nicola Lamaddalena 72 Spain’s Nationally Determined Contribution falls short of needed policies FRIENDS OF THE EARTH SPAIN, Cristina Alonso Saavedra 98 The challenges of Mediterranean food systems in the decade of action GLOBAL FOOTPRINT NETWORK-MENA Program, Dr. Alessandro Galli 75 Mediterranean youth in Climate Action MEDITERRANEAN YOUTH CLIMATE NETWORK (MYCN), Hajar Khamlichi & Forests Anna Rizzo 100

Forests and Climate Change Box 5: CAN Europe and CAN Arab World NGOs appeal to UfM Energy Ministers 104 FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION (FAO), Silva Mediterranea, Dr. 78 Gianbattista de Dato & Dr. Giovanni di Matteo Epilogue: Prof. Michael J. Scoullos, Chairman of MIO-ECSDE 106

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Addressing effectively this situation, necessitates respect and shared responsibilities. Deepening urgent deeper, faster and more substantial trans- of cooperation, including technology transfer and formation to a sustainable future. High-level, North-South sharing of good practices regarding global and regional political initiatives (e.g. the climate change, have been suggested in the ar- Prologue United Nations Sustainable Development Goals ticles included in the present edition. It is worth (SDGs), the , the Barcelona mentioning that many of the still existing gaps Convection and its system, the 2030 GreenerMed between these inseparable “neighbours” are of- n the first two decades of the 21st century tre of the four facets of the sustainable develop- Agenda of the UfM), propose systemic and tech- ten bridged or filled by CSOs, with their few and we have experienced unprecedented devel- ment tetrahedron of environment, economy, soci- nological change as a solution, while other lead- inadequate means. I opments in a rapidly changing world. Among ety and the enabling governance in an abstract ing international initiatives and upcoming events them, climate change has become for humanity a way, but it is inextricably linked with a cluster of (e.g. COP 15 of the UN Convention of Biological Nevertheless, if the Mediterranean continues on major threat that requires elaboration and adop- fundamental, for our life, issues such as health, Diversity, COP 26 of the UN Framework Conven- the current path and pace, the natural “safety tion of urgent mitigation and adaptation mea- the security of the water-energy-food-ecosys- tion on Climate Change, IUCN World Conserva- net” provided by ecosystem services and social sures to be implemented at the same time and in tem nexus, extreme poverty, hunger, deepening tion Congress), offer a decisive momentum and fabric will be weakened to the extent that we will parallel on many different fronts. inequalities, displacement, migration and justice, opportunity not to be lost in order to address the need to adapt to a scenario of collapse of every- but also, the other colossal existential issue of climatic crisis holistically and step up our efforts thing that still provides us security. This is undoubtedly a big challenge for all levels biodiversity loss, all of which are both drivers and to achieve climate neutrality. of governance. In the Mediterranean, we have al- consequences of the changes we witness. The Mediterranean region is a great example ready experienced the impacts of climate change In the Mediterranean region in particular, despite where strong, particular and specific warnings more than in other parts of the world. We have The magnitude and complexity of accumulat- the progress made during the past years, we are related to climate change are already loud and just concluded the second hottest decade in re- ed older and emerging problems are due to a still far from achieving and fully implementing the clear. These include, for example 5 to 20 mm/ corded history, during which the “hottest-ever” combination of governance factors, negligence, SDG objectives related to climate change. We year observed in the Eastern Med- year title was surpassed eight times! greed and arrogance and remind us of conditions also far from strengthening convergence of liv- iterranean, as well as devastating , ex- leading to calamities of Biblical and Mythologi- ing standards across the Mediterranean states tensive forest fires and heatwaves, damaging In addition to that, it was made clear to humanity cal dimensions. by revising unsustainable practices and changing the vital, terrestrial, freshwater and marine eco- that climate change is not only placed in the cen- attitudes to more precautionary approaches and systems. For the latter, heatwaves under specif- solidarity. The pandemic, even if it has acted for ic meteorological conditions may result to unex- some people as a “wake-up call”, has made these pectedly fast warming of marine waters. SDGs more difficult to achieve by 2030. Further- more, recovery measures to address the pandem- For instance, in summer 2006 and in only 14 days ic’s socio-economic consequences and the mode (8-26/07), surface waters in the Balearic region of their enforcement, will determine whether the warmed from 22°C to 30°C resulting to the mass Mediterranean moves towards a sustainable de- mortality of at least 28 marine species of in- velopment model by 2030 or locks in unsustain- vertebrates (bivalves, ascidians, bryozoans) with able pathways, instead. More importantly, achiev- sponges and cnidarians (gorgonians, etc.) mortal- ing the SDGs and combating climate change ity rates reaching 75% and 90% respectively. In will require fundamental societal and economic the same areas and period, a meteotsunami was transformations to foster adaptation. recorded in the harbour of Ciutadella in Menorca which caused yachts crushing into each other and The Mediterranean region includes “organical- then sinking as it drained away, causing tens of ly” a considerable part of the European Union, millions of euros in damage. Meteotsunamis are the most committed group of countries to the originated by atmospheric conditions. Current re- scope of decarbonisation. The knowledge, ca- search suggests that climate change could sig- pacity and solidarity of the latter remain deci- nificantly increase their frequency and strength sive for the support of the Southern Neighbour- in the Mediterranean, particularly during sum- hood under conditions of mutual understanding, mer periods when fast winds of dry air from Afri-

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ca can be racing through the atmosphere some is vital. Developing new local niche jobs and mar- regenerate to a better future without forgetting The present special issue of “Sustainable Devel- 1,500 meters up even under calm conditions at kets for youth and women in the renewable en- that the future we want is the one that we, our- opment” is devoted to Climate Change, edited ground level. ergy and sectors while min- selves, create. by our Guest Editor and Senior Climate Change imizing the gap between the skills of the labour Advisor, Ms Vanya Walker-Leigh, whom I sincere- Under high temperatures and abrupt changes, the force and the evolving needs of green/circular in- MIO-ECSDE, bringing together the majority of ly thank, provides a unique opportunity to distin- ice and snow cover of mountains becomes thin- dustry and sustainable enterprises, remain areas the region’s environmental, cultural and devel- guished authors from some of the major region- ner, lasts for shorter periods, and melts rapidly, with a clear need for structural changes. Educa- opment organisations with permanent links also al organisations, institutions and stakeholders to and in synergy with the increasing heavy rainfalls tion for Sustainable Development (ESD) with fo- to academia, the region’s Parliaments through present their policies and actions and share their results to accelerated erosion and fertile soil cus on all aspects of climate change holds such COMPSUD, Education through MedIES, and views on this urgent and “burning” for the Medi- loss, contributing to desertification, large scale power to transform the world towards more eco- strong representation in various EU, UNEP/MAP, terranean problem, contributing also to the dem- floods, silting of dams and destruction of eco- logically sustainable and climatic and socially UfM, UNESCO, UNECE, and LAS working/ex- ocratic dialogue around climate change, at a crit- systems (due to longer dry periods even during resilient models. The Mediterranean is home to pert groups and activities, has been an effective ical moment considered as a “turning point” for winter), droughts and rapid increase of suspend- some of the most powerful and pioneering initia- North-South channel, contributing to the intro- climate action by the international and Mediter- ed solids and unsolidified sediments in lakes, tives in this field and is the only ecoregion world- duction, promotion and implementation of im- ranean community. wetlands and estuaries. Furthermore, all models wide having a Strategy and Action Plan on ESD portant regional policies and strategies. agree that it is perhaps the world’s second, af- that require the due attention of authorities and ter the Arctic, most vulnerable, climate change donors to bear the fruits they are able to. The flexibility, openness and careful way in ap- hotspot, being at the same time a major biodiver- proaching difficult issues such as the climate-re- sity, cultural and tourism hotspot. Another ally in climate change mitigation is res- lated ones and even controversial aspects of toration. The UN Decade on Ecosystem Res- relevant policies, have resulted in the wide ac- Achieving regional energy efficiency, increasing toration (2021-2030) set to launch during this ceptability of MIO-ECSDE’s role, views, ap- the size of protected terrestrial and marine area year’s summer, highlights that there has never proaches and proposals. networks, reaching climate neutrality and pro- been a more urgent need to restore damaged moting new models for sustainable management ecosystems than now. As nature-based solutions, of tourism, all reveal a very complex and often ecosystem restoration can effectively combat cli- conflicting picture. Policy makers will face such mate change. Although restoration takes many Prof. Michael Scoullos, D.Sc., Ph.D., issues in the coming years and, to date, most of forms, full restoration of historical baselines is, these technical issues are still insufficiently ad- in most cases, not achievable and this fact needs dressed in “silos” and not in an integrated way. to be included in our understanding of adapta- It becomes apparent that, the already hard to tion. Nevertheless, revitalisation of natural pro- achieve climate related SDGs at the global lev- cesses provides invaluable benefits by expand- el, require even more focused coordinated and ing sequestration and maintaining carbon stocks cohesive actions at the regional and peripheral in soils and vegetation. • Chairman of MIO-ECSDE level. • Chairman of GWP-Med Finally, restoration and proactive prevention of Moreover, the migration crisis exacerbates, further damage need to include the colossal • Team Leader of the EU-funded Water and through the Mediterranean, the abovementioned capital for the entire humanity that the Mediter- Environment Support mechanism in the ENI challenges that also call for action at the global ranean region holds in the form of tangible (but Southern Neighbourhood region and regional level. also intangible) cultural heritage. This old, resil- • Director of the UNESCO Chair & Network on ient region, so many times greeted as the “cra- Sustainable Development Management and The fight against climate change remains a gen- dle” of so many important civilizations, the birth- Education in the Mediterranean (National and erational challenge. In our efforts to devise new place of the three most important monotheistic Kapodistrian University of Athens) narratives of change, it is of paramount impor- religions, of philosophy, democracy and modern tance that this change is just, socially inclusive education and science should find the strength • Chairman of the Hellenic National Committee and democratic. The role of youth and women in and means to collectively address effectively the MAB/UNESCO the process of forming new low-carbon blueprints climate change challenge and prove its ability to

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intense forest fires and the threat to a number Mediterranean forest fires have cost lives and of ecosystems. The natural phenomena that have property; agriculture has suffered from the drop Some thoughts on the shaped so many civilizations in the Mediterra- in underground water levels which also threaten nean are also becoming more extreme. They are certain parts in the Mediterranean with deserti- global warming effects expected to become more frequent and intense. fication. We have seen changes in the past decades that in the Mediterranean resulted in more transport of Saharan dust to the Just in the case of Greece, the cost of doing noth- northern Mediterranean shores and beyond and ing about global warming will add up to more we have seen gale force winds occurring more than 700 billion euros by the end of the century1. frequently. Similar damages can be calculated for every oth- Prof. Christos S. Zerefos er Mediterranean country. Adaptation could re- Secretary General, Academy The period of Khamsin weather with winds from duce by half these amounts and mitigation will of Athens; Climate Envoy for the Sahara blowing off the northern shores of Af- be achieved only if everybody participates in the Greece rica combined with the recent gale force winds global effort inscribed in the Paris Agreement turned the “Ever Given” container ship, which and the European and global documents tack- blocked the Suez Canal until the water level rose ling global warming. due to the tide. There was a multimillion-dollar hourly cost to the shipping industry affected by the incident.

he Mediterranean is undergoing global what every Mediterranean needs to do, which has warming and facing its consequences but not progressed enough until now. People need T with particularities caused by its topogra- to understand that all inhabitants of our planet phy and its quasi-enclosed sea. need at this point to drive electric, switch to heat pumps, eat less animal products and drastical- Climatologically speaking, it is a hotspot in terms ly reduce their consumption of natural resources of the expected increase of air and sea surface (economise water and reduce waste). temperatures in the decades to come. Already, Mediterranean air temperatures have been in- The consequences of global warming in the Med- creasing by more than 1oC above their preindus- iterranean have been felt in a bitter way in the trial mean. The 1.5oC target as the maximum safe past few decades. Sea level rise, which has in- level above the pre-industrial global average, a creased by over 30 cm in the past century is ex- safe level to limit global warming, looks a little pected to increase by another 30 cm in com- difficult but not impossible to achieve. Per cap- ing decades. This is a region-wide threat. First ita emissions of greenhouse gases, or in carbon because of the intrusion of salt water into land equivalent, range between 2-5 tonnes of carbon masses and second because the shore mechan- per year in the Mediterranean, depending on the ics show that sandy beaches can be threatened country. This is the result of the increase of emis- by the mean sea level rise. sions from industry, transport and households 1 “The Environmental, economic and social impacts of climate change in Greece”, Climate Change Impacts Study Committee, Bank of Greece, and the reduction of the rates of removal of CO2 The increase of phenomena in the warmer environment. seen globally, is also evident all over the Medi- ISBN 978-960-7032-49-2, pp. 1-136, 2011. https://www.bankofgreece.gr/publications/ClimateChange_FullReport_bm.pdf “Greek tourism and climate change: adaptation policies and a new growth strategy”, Climate Change Impacts Study Committee (CCISC), Bank terranean, with more frequent extreme rainstorms of Greece, ISBN 978-960-7032-66-9, 2014. https://www.bankofgreece.gr/Publications/CCISC_Tourism%20and%20climate%20change_Fw%20 A second reason is the insufficient education on and extreme weather in general, resulting in more Ch1.pdf

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able Development 2016-2025 (MSSD) under the sation on climate change, at the Co-ordination Barcelona Convention. Unit and Regional Activity Centre levels? What were the main points of the climate We now know that climate is already changing at change related decisions taken at the Barce- Regional a faster rate in the Mediterranean Basin com- lona Convention COP 21 (Naples 2019)? And pared to global trends. Heat waves are expect- what decisions on climate change would you ed to intensify. Summer rainfall will likely be re- like to see adopted at the next COP? duced by 10 to 30% in some areas, increasing existing water shortages, desertification and de- UNEP/MAP has a mandate to carry out a range organisations creasing agricultural productivity. of environmental assessments and prospective studies that provide insights into climate change Sea water temperature is expected to rise be- impacts. The Integrated Coastal Zone Manage- tween +1.8°C and +3.5°C by 2100 with impacts on ment Protocol (ICZM) of the Barcelona Conven- and networks vulnerable marine and coastal fauna and flora. tion adopted in 2008 which entered into force Sea-level rise, projected at 3 centimetres per de- in 2011 is a legally binding instrument for coast- cade, poses threats to coastal infrastructure and al protection, including through the reduction of economic activities along the highly built Medi- the impacts of climate change. Interview with Dr. Gaetano Leone terranean coast. There is also the spectre of ex- tra-tropical cyclones – sometimes referred to as The MSSD adopted under the Barcelona Con- “Medicanes” – inflicting disaster on some parts vention provides an inclusive strategic frame- Coordinator*, Mediterranean of the basin. work for all stakeholders and partners, includ- Action Plan of the United ing the private sector, to translate the UN 2030 Nations Environment Impacts of climate change are exacerbated by Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Programme (UNEP/MAP) demographic and socio-economic drivers of en- SDGs into progress towards a low-carbon and - Barcelona Convention vironmental degradation that the report on the resilient Mediterranean region. Furthermore, the Secretariat State of the Environment and Development in the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Frame- Mediterranean (SoED 2020) - prepared by our work for Marine and Coastal Areas, adopted by Regional Activity Centre Plan Bleu - explores in the Contracting Parties together with Coastal detail. If current trajectories continue unabated, Area Management Programmes (CAMPs) provide we are headed for a crisis that would dwarf the an operational framework for adaptation in the one caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Mediterranean context.

The main challenge is ensuring that deci- More recently, the Naples Ministerial Declara- n your view, what are the most severe and retariat supports jointly with the Union for the sion-makers consider the evidence in order to tion adopted at the December 2019 Barcelona challenging climate change threats to the Mediterranean, climate change will affect both address those threats in an adequate manner. Convention COP 21, identified climate change as IMediterranean? natural ecosystems and human livelihoods. This is at the heart of our work on bolstering the a priority theme for action by the Contracting science-policy interface. Because healthy eco- Parties. Several adaptation-related projects and I would sum up the multiple threats which cli- The scientific secretariat of MedECC is hosted systems act as a bulwark, protecting us against activities implemented by our six Regional Activ- mate change brings to the Mediterranean in one by the UNEP/MAP Regional Activity Centre Plan shocks, greater compliance with and enforcement ity Centres, including PAP/RAC (Priority Actions word: disruption. Bleu based in Marseille, . The First Me- of the Barcelona Convention and its Protocols Programme Regional Activity Centre), are bol- dECC Report (MAR1) issued in December 2018 are our best chance to rescue the Mediterranean stering coastal resilience. In June 2020, UNEP/ According to the network of Mediterranean Ex- fills knowledge gaps and puts scientific evidence Sea and its coastal region from their predica- MAP and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) perts on Climate and environmental Change (Me- at the fingertips of decision-makers. This report ment, while bolstering the resilience of our soci- launched the landmark Mediterranean Sea Pro- dECC), an independent scientific network that was produced in the context of a Flagship Initia- eties and economies. gramme which, among other objectives, aims at the UNEP/MAP – Barcelona Convention sec- tive of the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustain- strengthening climate resilience and water secu- What are the current activities of your organi- rity in the region.

* From July 2021 Ms Tatjana Hema is the Coordinator of UNEP/MAP

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The UNEP/MAP Medium-Term Strategy (MTS) in the Naples Ministerial Declaration adopted at to ESCWA, the Commissions for Africa and Eu- with the post-2020 Biodiversity Framework under 2016-2021 included Climate Change Adaptation our COP 21 in December 2019. rope - UNECA, UNECE) take part in the delib- the CBD (tabled for adoption by the UN CBD as one of its cross-cutting themes, recognizing erations of the Mediterranean Commission on COP 15). the importance of strengthening the resilience The conference could also provide opportuni- Sustainable Development, the multi-stakeholder of the Mediterranean natural and socioeconom- ties for bolstering the science-policy interface advisory body to the Contracting Parties to the Under the SPA/BD Protocol of the Barcelona ic systems to climate change by promoting inte- by highlighting the findings of the latest UNEP/ Barcelona Convention. Convention, the Contracting Parties have estab- grated approaches. In preparation of the MTS MAP knowledge products, such as the State of lished a growing network of Specially Protect- 2022-2027, climate resilience is considered as the Environment Report in addition to the Me- Are there other leading multilateral organi- ed Areas of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMIs). one of the main themes: this new strategy is to dECC First Mediterranean Assessment Report sations with which you collaborate on climate Overall, there are 39 SPAMIs among the 1,233 be submitted for adoption at COP 22 (Antalya, which, as already mentioned, we support jointly change (whether regional or global e.g. the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and other ar- Turkey, December 2021). with the UfM. World Bank)? ea-based conservation measures located in the Mediterranean. MPAs are recognized as provid- A Union for the Mediterranean Ministeri- Is UNEP/MAP planning to be represented at In addition to providing secretariat services to ers of nature-based solutions to climate change al Meeting on Environment and Climate Ac- the United Nations Framework Convention on the Barcelona Convention, UNEP/MAP also has by providing a range of ecosystem services that tion is planned in the coming months. How Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP 26? In this memoranda of understanding with several mul- buffer impacts and increase the ecological, so- will UNEP/MAP prepare for the climate action connection, is your organization participating tilateral environment agreements and regional cial, and economic resilience of coastal commu- component of the conference? or associated in any way with the revision by organizations that work on climate change. Cur- nities. Barcelona Convention Contracting Parties of rently, we are working with our UN partners on UNEP/MAP has had a bilateral MoU with the their Nationally Determined Contributions as the rollout of the UN Decade on Ocean Science A strengthened network of effectively managed UfM Secretariat since 2012. The implementation per the Paris Agreement? for Sustainable Development and the UN Decade MPAs will be a key part of the post-2020 SAP- of the MoU is followed up on a regular basis and on Ecosystem Restoration. Both endeavours have BIO. In consultation with UNEP, our work in this we participate in each other’s events to enhance Reflecting UNEP’s global mandate in the Medi- a strong climate change component. Our latest field will feed into the forthcoming conferences synergies. We are in the process of updating the terranean, the UNEP/MAP – Barcelona Conven- collaboration with the GEF in the context of the of UNCBD, UNFCCC and the IUCN World Con- MoU to strengthen our co-operation including tion system works to enable science-based de- MedProgramme will deliver a substantive contri- servation Congress. climate change. The upcoming UfM Ministerial cision-making, capacity support and institutional bution to the Mediterranean region. Meeting will provide an important policy forum strengthening on relevant climate-related themes. Given the growing extent of ‘school strikes for where we will advocate for a green renaissance We will contribute to UNEP’s participation in Nature-based solutions for climate change climate’ (Fridays for Future) worldwide, does in the context of the recovery from the COVID-19 UNFCCC COP 26. UNEP/MAP also provides le- have emerged as a key proposal at the UN Cli- UNEP/MAP have working relations with youth pandemic and where we will work with our part- gal instruments and implementation frameworks mate Action Summit of 2019 and are expect- groups? Do you foresee more? ners in the UfM Secretariat to build on exist- that enable nature-based solutions, coastal re- ed to figure prominently at UNFCCC COP 26. ing instruments and tools provided by the UNEP/ silience and advocates for climate-smart devel- How prominently is seen to depend on what is UNEP/MAP is committed to ensuring that the MAP – Barcelona Convention system. opment that protects marine and coastal eco- agreed at the preceding COP 15 of UN Con- voice of Mediterranean youth be heard. On 23 systems, including through NDCs. Mediterranean vention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Kun- October 2019 in Naples, UNEP/MAP and Ita- This important policy forum should build on what NDCs can be a practical and important step to- ming, China this autumn. Can you highlight ly convened a COP 21 preparatory meeting with the Contracting Parties have already achieved wards initiating the green renaissance which we specific activities of your organisation on this young delegates nominated by the Contracting under the Barcelona Convention. For instance, are advocating in the context of recovery from topic and whether you will be submitting com- Parties. The young delegates had participated in this conference could serve as a platform for ad- the COVID-19 pandemic. ments/proposals to these two COPs and/or to an InforMEA course on the UNEP/MAP – Barce- vocacy for the ratification of the ICZM Protocol your membership? lona Convention system. On 4 December 2019, – which is closely linked to climate change ad- Does your organisation also conduct joint ac- one of those delegates, Ms Federica Gasbarro aptation – by the ten Parties still to do so and tivities on climate change with the League of Our work in the Mediterranean is linked to glob- from Italy, delivered a vibrant message calling for greater compliance through adequate nation- Arab States or the UN Economic and Social al processes. The UNEP/MAP Specially Protect- upon the Contracting Parties to press ahead on al policies. It could also highlight the Regional Commission for West Asia (ESCWA)? ed Areas Regional Activity Centre (SPA/RAC) is the path to , including through ade- Climate Change Adaptation Framework (adopt- aligning the post-2020 Strategic Action Pro- quate climate action. A number of our UNEP/MAP ed by Contracting Parties in 2016) and build on The three UN Economic Regional Commissions gramme for the Conservation of the Biological partners work closely with youth on themes per- the strong expression of political will contained sharing the Mediterranean Basin (i.e. in addition Diversity in the Mediterranean Region (SAPBIO) taining to climate action.

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UNEP recently named Lefteris Arapakis, a young man from Greece, Europe’s Young Champion of event organized at the ‘Our Common Future un- the Earth. Lefteris founded Enaleia, Greece’s der Climate Change’ conference in Paris, in July first professional fishing school. Its mandate is Box 1 2015. Their work is inspired by the Intergovern- to instil sustainability in fishing practices and to mental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which enlist fisherfolks’ help in removing plastic litter aims at providing the world with a scientific view from the Mediterranean. We are determined to MAR1 & of climate change and its political and econom- seek ways to support Lefteris and other talent- ic impacts. ed youth around Mare Nostrum. We will seek to MedECC: strengthen our links with youth groups among The report assesses drivers of climate and oth- UNEP/MAP Partners and beyond as we continue Bridging the er environmental changes, associated challenges to advocate for a green renaissance in the Med- for key sectors, focusing on water, food, energy, iterranean. gap between ecosystems and ecosystem services, develop- ment, health and human security. This initiative After your forthcoming retirement from UNEP/ received the Council of Europe’s North-South MAP do you visualise continuing your commit- research and Prize, as a model of collaboration between coun- ment to Mediterranean issues in some way? decision- tries of the North and South of the Mediterra- CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE nean by facilitating data sharing through existing The Mediterranean is far more than a profession- IN THE MEDITERRANEAN BASIN or new platforms. al assignment for me, but rather a central dimen- making Current situation and risks for the future sion of my identity. Yes, I will do whatever I can to First Mediterranean Assessment Report It also contributes to the implementation of the by MedECC (Mediterranean Experts on Climate and environmental Change) contribute to the sustainability of this extraordi- The First Mediterranean Assessment Report Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Develop- nary place that we love and call “home” – in ways (MAR1), issued last November and supported ment (MSSD 2016-2025) as a Flagship Initiative, that are appropriate for a former UN official. by the Secretariat of the Union for the Med- the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Frame- CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN BASIN | MedECC 1 While I am optimistic and positive about the fu- iterranean and Plan Bleu, highlighted the work for the Mediterranean Marine and Coastal ture (this region still enjoys unique cultural rich- unprecedented challenges to the region’s Areas (UNEP/MAP), the 1st UfM Ministerial Dec- ness, access to advanced research and knowl- well-being due to accelerating changes in laration on Environment and Climate Change, as edge, a vibrant civil society and especially youth, their environment, including climate change, a major deliverable, as well as the proposal in- access to financial resources, inventiveness and land use change and urbanization, pollution, cluded in the ‘Agenda of Positive Solutions’ ap- creativity), I am also scared of the consequences sea-level rise and biodiversity loss. Despite proved at the COP21 of the Barcelona Conven- of the on-going multiple crises, including climate many scientific studies, no sufficiently coor- tion Contracting Parties. change and populism. We all need to contribute dinated comprehensive synthesis and assess- what we can to find responses. ment of risks of recent trends has been un- MAR1 will take central stage at the Convention’s dertaken so far. COP 22 which will adopt the UNEP/MAP Medi- Interview questions by the guest editor um-Term Strategy (MTS) 2022-2027. Synergies The report was compiled by the network of with other policy dialogue structures are devel- Mediterranean Experts on Climate and En- oped, especially with the Mediterranean Com- vironmental Change (MedECC), an open mission on Sustainable Development (MCSD) and independent network of more than 600 and Plan Bleu Focal Points. scientists working towards a regional sci-

ence-policy interface about climate and en- compiled by MIO-ECSDE Secretariat vironmental changes in the Mediterranean Basin. MedECC was launched during a side

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anism aims to strengthen the institutional and tors related to the inevitability of climate change legislative frameworks, promote modern energy because of previous emissions and the limited Interview with HE Dr. Kamal services in poor areas, improve energy efficiency impact of mitigation actions in the Arab region, and rationalization of consumption in oil, gas and the conditions of the natural, economic and so- Hassan Ali electricity production, develop renewable energy cial environment, as well as the effective impact uses and many other activities. of adaptation actions to save lives and reduce the risks associated with climate variability and Assistant Secretary-General No Arab head of state/government spoke at change. These activities include awareness rais- for Economic Affairs, League the virtual UN/UK commemoration of the Vth ing, strengthening institutions, enhancement of of Arab States (LAS) anniversary of the adoption of the Paris Agree- capacity building to identify vulnerabilities, the ment on 12 December 2020. Only eight (Co- advancement of planning and technology trans- mores, Djibouti, Lebanon, Mauretania, Moroc- fer and targeting climate damage reduction or co, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia) have committed avoidance. There are also sectoral adaptation to enhanced ambition in their revised Nation- programmes for water, land, biodiversity, agricul- ally Determined Contributions as members ture, forestry, industry, energy, transport, building of the 103-nation Climate Ambition Alliance. and construction, population, human settlements Only six (Comores, Djibouti, Lebanon, Maure- and health. The focus of these programmes is in tania, Somalia, Sudan) have joined the 123-na- particular to provide the infrastructure necessary tion ‘Race to Zero’ (achieving net-zero green- to reduce the potential risks and improve the ef- house gas (GHG) emissions by 2050) launched ficiency of natural resources management using by UK and Chile climate champions in June. monitoring and surveillance systems, early warn- In your view, what are the most severe and What are the current activities of your organ- ing and appropriate technologies, readiness to challenging climate change threats to the isation concerning climate change and how is Firstly, I am sure that all Arab counties take the confront disasters, capacity building and so on. Arab world’s social structures, development it preparing for UNFCCC COP 26? And how are I commitments under the Paris agreement very se- prospects and biodiversity? climate change issues being incorporated into riously and give it high priority. Secondly, I think Does your organisation conduct joint activi- COVID-19 recovery strategies being proposed this is a very sensitive issue and we believe that ties on climate change with the Union of the Climate change presents a major challenge for by your organisation? such a decision has to be taken by each member Mediterranean, the UNEP/MAP and the UN Arab countries. The region will be one of those country according to its situation. Our rule is to Economic and Social Commission for Western more vulnerable to potential impacts due to the From the outset, the League of Arab States real- harmonize and facilitate the way towards taking Asia? If so, can you please describe the main threat to coastal areas, increased and ized that facing the potential impacts of climate common action in favour of Arab countries as a points? desertification, water scarcity, increasing salini- change required international action and soli- group. ty of groundwater as well as the spread of epi- darity within the framework of the UN Sustain- All those organizations are our partners and we demics, pests and diseases in an unprecedented able Development Goals, based on the principle Also, in this connection, is your organisation do have many joint activities on climate change way. There will be severe implications for agri- of common but differentiated responsibility ben- supporting ongoing work by Arab governments and related issues. The main joint activities are cultural yields, vegetation, biodiversity, food se- efiting all countries. Our organization attaches to revise their Nationally Determined Contri- capacity building, studies, preparing the common curity. Climate change implies a major threat to special importance to helping developing coun- butions? position for the negotiations. We also have joint vital economic interests, the poorest will be hit tries most vulnerable to climate change. With- activities with UN Climate and other structures. hardest perhaps giving rise to migratory flows in the framework of strengthening joint Arab ac- The Arab League is supporting all ongoing work from affected areas to other locations whether tion and international solidarity in dealing with in a common strategic vision to achieve Arab pri- Nature-based solutions for climate change within or between countries, neighbouring or fur- climate change issues and preparing to confront orities in climate change, so we have a techni- have emerged as a key proposal at the UN Cli- ther afield. Such flows would result in increased its potential impacts and reduce the risks of its cal Arab experts and negotiators group prepar- mate Action Summit of 2019 and are expected pressure on the environment and resources, also economic, social and environmental impacts, the ing for this issue. to figure prominently at COP 26. How prom- with possible implications for public health due Council of Arab Ministers responsible for envi- inently is seen to depend on what is agreed to growing air pollution, extreme heat waves and ronmental affairs sought to find an appropriate Adaptation actions have become a priority to at the preceding UN Convention on Biological spread of infectious diseases. mechanism to increase the ability of Arab coun- deal with the issues of climate change during the Diversity COP this autumn. Can you highlight tries to take appropriate measures. This mech- first half of this century, based on objective fac- specific activities of your organisation on this

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topic and whether you will be developing a diversity of priorities in selecting the appropri- joint Arab League approach to the two COPs? ate instrument. However, I would say that this di- versity enables discussion of all possible instru- Biodiversity is a very important issue for the Arab ments and their economic and social impacts. In Box 2 countries and there are expert committees deal- this regard, the cooperation between the League ing with these issues working on developing a and the Islamic Development Bank is very good joint Arab approach to the COPs. We have carried in terms of supporting research and joint discus- Climate: The out several joint activities with the secretariat of sions. We are looking forward to deepening our the UN CBD and our related Arab organizations cooperation in the near future. Mediterranean such as the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development and the Arab Center for the Stud- Currently not a single Arab nation is repre- hotspot ies of Arid Zones and Drylands. These activities sented in the 60-country Coalition of Finance have focused on developing human skills to deal Ministers for Climate Action. What is your view with the impact of climate change on biodiversi- and can your organisation encourage its mem- Dr. Grammenos Mastrojeni, ty, enhancing the capacity of Arab negotiators in bers towards membership? Senior Deputy Secretary related issues before the COPs and developing policies for preserving genetic resources, reha- I believe that this decision would be taken by General, Union for the bilitating degraded forests and grasslands. country representatives according to their evalu- Mediterranean (UfM) ation of the role of the coalition. Regarding the current situation amid COVID-19, work is continuing on by video conferencing in or- There is one passing reference to climate der to develop a vision for the needs of the re- change in the Sharm El Sheikh Declaration is- gion in financing both mitigation and adaptation sued by the EU-Arab League Summit in 2019. measures taking into consideration the severe Is there is any formal collaboration on climate consequences of climate change on the Arab re- change issues between the two? What are the gion. main points and future prospects? The Mediterranean region has been identified as around the Mediterranean: the agricultural revo- In this context it has been reported that an Current cooperation with the EU on climate one of the main climate change hotspots in the lution. It was the moment in which human beings all-inclusive Arab States and change is limited to joint workshops and capac- world. It faces huge climate related vulnerabili- shifted from being users of their territories to a Access Strategy will be developed in collab- ity building. However, we are looking forward to ties, such as extreme weather events, an increase position of managers of lands. And it happened oration with the Arab States. The Strategy is deepening our cooperation in the near future. of desert areas and the rise of sea level. These first around the Mediterranean because here we to be endorsed at the highest political level. This could be in different areas including but not phenomena are impacting the quality of the air had a very special, extremely favourable climate: What is the current state of play on this ini- excluding discussing any issues that could bridge we breathe, the access to freshwater resourc- with this large internal sea acting as a stabilizer, tiative? And what does your organisation con- the gap between some respective negotiation es, the land availability for agriculture and live- climate around it was mild and predictable. We sider could be the role of green bonds, ‘suk- positions and also provide technical assistance stock, urban infrastructures and tourism and now could start agriculture because we could count kuk’ instruments, Special Purpose Vehicles on climate change to least developed countries – clearly and dramatically – also health, economy on stable, predictable cycles of nature to plan and other structures designed to attract pri- and to the responsible section in the LAS Sec- and security. But the biggest mistake would be on, but the now destroys vate investors, both Arab and non? retariat. Such mutual cooperation could involve to face those impacts as a collection of separat- this fundamental advantage, we cannot count on facilitating technology transfer on mitigation and ed problems or – even worse – localized ones. In a stable nature anymore and this will reshuffle in- As we said, climate finance is playing a very adaptation to countries needing it and mutually essence, climate change is undermining the very terests while making us all more fragile: a dan- crucial role in adaptation measures; one of the sharing best practices basis of the Mediterranean civilization and re- gerous situation if we do not act together, at once main instruments is green bonds issued by some gional balances. If nowadays mankind lives in or- Arab countries. The experience was promising ganized societies it is not due to the industrial and could be continued in the future. There is revolution, but to a more ancient one that started no doubt that Arab countries have different eco- nomic structures and situations making for a wide Interview questions by the guest editor

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That is why UfM aims at making things happen the COVID-19 crisis was not an unpredictable fairly distributed and yet performant, gender be grounds for co-benefits that couple economic now since we do not have any more time to just variable; it started and spread because of fail- and youth protective and yet technologically ad- recovery and employment with health protective sit and think: governments, business, finance, ures in human policies. Basically, it came due to vanced growth: one that ends up a 360-degree societies and ecosystems. common people, we all have to join hands and our mismanagement of the ecosystem, it hit more health frame. recognize that there is – at the same time – a those areas severely afflicted with pollution, and With one problem: were, we, as institutions to huge threat and a huge opportunity coming with is becoming a structural threat due to unfair and In few words, recognizing that one action solves convince and take on board all other institutions, accelerated climate change over the Mediterra- unbalanced distribution of wealth and resources. the root causes of three fragilities is the vision it simply does not work as a top down imposed nean. Various actions are considered based on of the Union for the Mediterranean, aiming at change of pace. Live societies, actual business, the objective truth described by science, as turn- But transmissible diseases, climate change im- one health – individual, social, environmental and real world finance need to recognize that it is ing science into concrete choices is our method. pacts, and domino effects of economic failures economic – in one space that we all share as primarily their game. UfM, our members, our part- And science outlines the fundamental reality that know no boundaries, so that leaving behind the the meeting crossroads of three continents. As ners, can look ahead; but who joins in? inspires us: climate change is a threat if we face weakest - in a condition of poverty acting as in- the only regional organization covering this com- it divided, fighting each other for decreasing re- cubator of instability and contagion - goes to the mon space, UfM therefore has a plan: not a one- sources; it becomes the greatest ever opportu- detriment of all. of-a-kind dream, but one that is consistent with nity of fair and accelerated development, justice the after COVID-19 strategies emerging within and peace, if instead we recognize that no sin- This lesson, valid at a planetary scale, is none- our partner organisations and stakeholders, with gle nation or community, not even the strongest theless a more urgent one for the Mediterranean whom we are gearing up to join forces. There is a or the richest around our Sea, has enough means region, where all the conditions of fragility and clear circular link between climate, energy secu- to face climate change impacts on its own. We exposure are concentrated. Around our Sea, con- rity, economy, justice and health. The same caus- need each other, we need to put together con- necting Europe to Africa and Asia, overintense es of climate change are fostering asymmetry temporary and old and traditional technologies relations and contacts overlap a tragic asymme- and poverty, with higher health risks, in weaker mastered by different peoples; we need to count try in means and development; so that, clearly, economies (climate change is caused by concen- on our neighbour’s stability and good health to leaving behind the weakest implies we will all lag tration of resources, not development) and their stay safe, not on its demise to feel stronger. In behind. On top of it, the health and wealth threat further deterioration caused by COVID-19 crisis the end, our common home planet is sending us multiplier represented by climate change is es- will even further aggravate climate change, in a a deep message: finally make justice and peace! pecially intense over the Mediterranean basin, dangerous feed-back loop: we urgently need to Mother nature is compatible with development, with warming progressing 20% faster than the break the cycle. not with unbalanced and unfair growth. And this global average. implies fundamental changes, a new “normal” for All sectors count. Among others – just one ex- the world and our region. So here, around our shores, we face exceptional- ample of a new approach - UfM looks at tackling ly intense health insecurity, climate change, and health insecurity, water and sanitation gaps, cli- Would it make sense to rush back to “normal”, if development unbalance: three different prob- mate change, enlargement of infectious diseas- normal was the problem? COVID-19 - just to men- lems to tackle - we would be tempted to con- es areas, destabilization of health infrastructure, tion the most recent and vast environment relat- clude – all three competing to secure scarce air pollution, disruption and cross-contamination ed problem - is leaving grief and scars worldwide, recovery funds and actions. But the truth is dif- of ecosystems, all through agriculture and man- both human and socio-economic. But it is also ferent: the very same actions that build individual ufacturing systems that absorb CO², while con- obliging us to awareness: that, if not all, some- health also protect and boost environmental, so- solidating food security in a way that surrounding thing fundamental went wrong in a system de- cial, and economic recovery. The Euro-Mediterra- ecosystems become health protective. New con- signed to create prosperity and that instead is nean region needs to build a development strat- cepts, new business models, new administration facing insecurity. egy based on the promotion of local, regional strategies to perform this change of paradigm and circular economies which are now recognized are there, and do not need to be invented. Ener- Science had warned us now over a decade ago: as an engine of sustained and yet sustainable, gy, infrastructure, urbanisation, industry, can all

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The Arab Region’s priorities and needs

Dr. Rola A. A. H. Dashti UN Under Secretary- General and Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN-ESCWA)

he Arab region is facing numerous chal- mulate programmes and policies, support region- lenges caused by climate change, includ- al platforms to build consensus, promote compre- T ing water scarcity, food insecurity, ecosys- hensive responses to climate-related challenges tem degradation and socioeconomic difficulties and deliver knowledge products, regional data which are affecting the region’s ability to chart a and statistics. path towards achieving the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Centre has allowed ESCWA to intensify its outreach to a number of stakeholders (includ- In an effort to address these challenges, Arab ing line ministries, international organization, na- countries are conducting climate change impact tional governments, development banks, farmers assessments, implementing adaptation and mit- and cooperatives, local governments, universities, ing regional climate modelling, hydrological mod- ments, planners, policymakers, civil society and igation measures to operationalize their NDCs training and research institutes) by facilitating elling, integrated assessments and sectoral im- researchers with region-specific knowledge for under the Paris Agreement (currently being re- access to a wide range of scientific outputs that pacts. Built on several other ESCWA reports, the advancing climate adaptation to ensure synergy vised for submission to UN Climate) and raising inform the regional dialogue on climate change Arab Climate Change Assessment Report, pro- between the national-level NDC review process awareness on climate action. ESCWA has under- adaptation related to water resources, smart ag- vides a scientific basis for Arab States to update and national development planning and sectoral taken various normative initiatives, technical co- riculture, ecosystems, health and extreme climate and review their NDCs through regional projec- policies. To guarantee a swift shift from science operation activities and capacity building efforts events. tions and assessments based on an internation- to policy, RICCAR outputs were used to formu- to address the challenges of climate change in ally validated Arab domain. late adaptation strategies and led to the estab- collaboration with the League of Arab States as A key pillar of the Centre is the Regional Initia- lishment in 2017 of the Arab Climate Outlook Fo- a strategic partner. tive for the Assessment of Climate Change Im- ESCWA has also scaled up regional networking rum to generate seasonal consensus statements pacts on Water Resources and Socio-Economic to enhance scientific knowledge sharing through and a collective understanding of regional cli- In June 2018 ESCWA established the Arab Centre Vulnerability in the Arab Region (RICCAR), which the RICCAR Regional Knowledge Hub. The Hub mate variability and extremes. for Climate Change Policies to provide its mem- has established a knowledge base on climate data portal allows interactive visualization of RIC- ber States with technical assistance and advisory change impacts and vulnerability at the regional CAR maps and provides access to the RICCAR The Centre has also enabled ESCWA to institu- services, strengthen institutional frameworks, for- level through a science-based process address- data repository. The Hub also provides govern- tionalize its partnerships with various organiza-

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tions including the Global Centre on Adaptation, In preparation for COP 26, ESCWA is engag- the World Bank and the UNFCCC. For example, ing with Member States and stakeholders to ESCWA, UN Climate and the League of Arab step up the implementation of the Paris Agree- States are implementing a climate needs-based ment, working with member States, regional part- finance project to inform and facilitate the de- ners and UN Climate to build capacity and ex- velopment of Arab climate finance mobilisation change experiences at the technical level, with and access strategy to catalyse climate finance an emphasis on priorities such as NDC reviews and investment for the implementation of prior- and transitioning to the Enhanced Transparency ity mitigation and adaptation actions in national Framework. plans and NDCs. Moreover, ongoing collabora- tion with the Islamic Development Bank aims to ESCWA is also focusing on regional priorities mainstream climate action within national devel- such as facilitating efforts to develop a collab- opment planning and provide guidance on align- orative regional work plan to close adaptation ing the five-yearly NDC review cycles with cli- knowledge gaps under the UNFCCC Lima Adap- mate-resilient development strategies and plans. tation Knowledge Initiative. MENA ( and North Africa) is the first global region to en- In coordination with UN Climate and other or- ter the second phase of this initiative, which is of ganizations, ESCWA convened a regional con- critical importance given that adaptation is a key sultation in October 2020 attended by techni- priority for Arab countries. ESCWA aims to ad- cal experts from Arab Governments responsible vance national climate priorities while facilitating for NDC preparation and communication. Partic- multilateral negotiations by providing national ipants discussed the NDC updating process and knowledge bases to inform proactive participa- related challenges and needs, as well as the les- tion, so as to reach mutually agreeable outcomes sons learned from the region on ongoing efforts which reflect the region’s needs and priorities. to update or develop NDCs. Capacity building and support were also provided to Arab technical experts on the Enhanced Transparency Frame- work of the Paris Agreement including tracking progress towards achieving NDCs and adapta- tion action with a view to informing the 2023 global stocktake under the Paris Agreement.

Since 2013, in collaboration with the League of Arab States and other partners, ESCWA has held 13 capacity-building workshops for Arab climate change negotiators on various issues including adaptation, mitigation, finance, technology and capacity development. Participants reviewed a mapping study of NDCs submitted by Arab coun- tries and discussed common regional interests and priorities. The mapping exercise provided in- formation on various climate-related topics such as adaptation activities, mitigation contributions, emissions reduction, costs of implementing adap- tation/mitigation measures and economic diversi-

fication. Photo Credts: Pixabay

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izens’ representatives we can be a contributing and economic resilience and the European Green force along with civil society, business and all Deal were highlighted in the implementation of Message from Bruno Coimbra others on the frontline of climate change, inspir- the national recovery and resilience plans. ing climate action and effective change so as to achieve sustainable development results. On the road to COP 26 we will commit to working Member of the Assembleia with international partners, participating in the Da República (Portuguese We are also closely following the work of the Por- parliamentary process to support a green and Parliament), Chair of the tuguese EU Presidency in the first half of 2021 to resilient recovery and making our governments Committee on Energy, affirm the European Union’s position as a leader commit to submitting ambitious Nationally De- Environment and Water of in the fight against climate change and support- termined Contributions as well as to setting out ing the implementation of the European Green long-term strategies to reach net-zero emissions. the Parliamentary Assembly Deal with a view to generating green growth. There can be no social or economic development of the Union for the without protecting the environment and safe- Mediterranean (PA-UfM) Within the framework of the parliamentary di- guarding natural resources. In order to ensure mension of the Presidency of the Council of the a sustainable future for the Mediterranean Re- European Union and as a part of the Declara- gion and to secure peace, stability and prosperi- tion signed on 29 June 2020, the Trio Presiden- ty, these issues must be tackled. cy committed to promoting the consolidation of EU’s ecological, economic and social resilience. The role of parliamentarians in adapting inter- Furthermore, a new dimension was added to the national commitments to regional conditions, in ast September I was elected Chair of the Many studies show that the Mediterranean Re- European Semester Conference - the Inter-Par- overseeing the implementation of national strat- Committee on Energy, Environment and gion has become significantly warmer over recent liamentary Conference on Stability, Economic egies and in stimulating regional cooperation to L Water of the Parliamentary Assembly of years and above the global average with tem- Coordination and Governance in the EU held on achieve common goals is central to these efforts. the Union for the Mediterranean for the 2020- peratures forecast to continue rising throughout 22 February 2021 - where in the context of EU’s We are committed to being a part of the solution. 2022 mandate. this century. Global environmental change has economic recovery issues such as climate, social been the cause of natural disasters, water scarci- As difficult as the present circumstances are, I ty, land-use changes, increasing urbanisation, ag- am determined to make my mandate a fruitful one ricultural intensification, pollution, declining bio- and together with the Vice-Presidents of the Eu- diversity and habitat loss, but also of conflicts ropean Parliament and of the Parliaments of Al- and people displacement, increasing the chal- geria and Tunisia, to provide impetus to the par- lenges facing a population already stricken by so liamentary dimension of action to mitigate and many serious problems. adapt to climate change in the Mediterranean. On the 25th anniversary of the Barcelona Decla- The central themes we have selected for this ration, we are reminded that an enhanced part- mandate – climate change, renewable energies nership in the Mediterranean is crucial to over- and , pollution in the Mediterra- come the region’s challenges, aggravated by the nean as well as the effects of the refugee crisis global pandemic and requiring a common region- on water and energy infrastructures – are fully in al response. line with the priority announced by the PA-UfM Presidency currently held by the European Parlia- In the run-up to the 2nd UfM Ministerial Meet- ment which is “the fight against climate change in ing on Environment and Climate Change, the in- the Mediterranean Region”. It could not be time- volvement of Members of Parliament through the lier. For the Mediterranean, the time to act is PA-UfM is crucial due to our role in overseeing now. public policy in this area. In our capacity as cit-

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in irrigation, seawater desalination and the Without a regional platform it becomes apparent reuse of treated wastewater project that the role of Parliaments is crucial in linking Message from Prof. Moh Rejdali international commitments to regional policies • the National Plan and fostering multilateralism to counteract com- • the National Plan against global warming mon challenges. Many of the conditions of the Chairman, Circle two shores of the Mediterranean are contrasting. • the Moroccan Green Plan for Agriculture of Mediterranean In order to face the climate change threat to our Parliamentarians for • the National Strategy for Biodiversity region, the Euro-Mediterranean nations need to Sustainable Development build a common climate change platform based • the Moroccan Plan for Sustainable Mobility on the promotion of local and regional particu- (COMPSUD), Member of the larities. COMPSUD with its close link to region- House of Representatives of The political evolution of the preceding COPs al Governments, NGOs, Media and Academia can Morocco; Mayor of Temara; only shows that 2021, and particularly COP 26, provide a collaborative framework to open public Professor at L’institut will be a decisive moment to achieve significant dialogue on challenges, impacts and solutions to Agronomique Et Vétérinaire progress in complying with the Paris Agreement. climate change. Hassan II of Rabat We expect all Parties to follow Morocco’s exam- ple and raise their national ambitions and ar- Apart from being a climate change hotspot, the rive with commitments on climate change mitiga- Mediterranean holds considerable potential for tion. This year’s focus on nature-based solutions renewable energy given its geographical position to limit the global temperature increase to less and renewable energy resources. Morocco has than 1.5°C by preventing GHG emissions is some- become a leading force both continentally and thing to be anticipated. What is more, President worldwide in the field of renewable and green Biden’s decision to re-join the Paris Agreement in energies. Although the North and the South of one of his first acts after his election will ramp up the Mediterranean basin display different energy OMPSUD, as a Circle of Parliamentari- (CCPI) 2021, a position reaffirming our commit- action in the battle against climate change. dependence, availability of energy resources and ans of Mediterranean countries, benefits ment to the fight against climate change. Since energy demand, energy security is critical for all C from sharing experiences – good and bad the UNFCCC COP 22 in Marrakech (2016), the This is specifically relevant in the case of the Mediterranean nations. This can only be achieved – among its members, and with competent other Moroccan government has already implemented Mediterranean Sea given its high vulnerability through transfer of energy transition, hydrogen stakeholders, in order to stimulate the introduc- a series of projects and programmes as well as to climate change, as well as its natural capi- production and technolo- tion, reorientation of policies and implementation strategies on climate change adaptation. tal. However, without an inseparable and unified gies, capacity building activities as well as the of appropriate actions and initiatives of govern- regional platform on climate change, the Med- dissemination and use of accessible data. ments. These are useful for national and region- Morocco is successfully continuing its progress iterranean region will fail to progress towards al concerns, and in the present case, for climate in climate policies, as well as in the integration a low-carbon future by taking concrete actions The natural capital of the Mediterranean must action. of climate change into public policies and devel- to mitigate the impacts of climate change. The be preserved at all costs to enhance resilience opment plans and law enforcement in all climate upcoming UfM Ministerial Meeting and the new to climate change. There lies the answer to cli- Allow me to say that Morocco is currently Africa’s change related issues. In this regard, some note- Declaration on Environment and Climate Action mate neutrality. The Water-Energy-Food-Ecosys- leader in terms of efforts to combat the effects of worthy steps Morocco has already taken regard- to be adopted will mark a significant milestone in tem (WEFE) Nexus approach that is one of the climate change, enhancing the country’s commit- ing climate change adaptation are: the efforts towards a resilient and more sustain- key objectives of COMPSUD is an important tool ment to the Paris Agreement. Through our revised able Mediterranean region. In addition, the Med- to address the climate challenge. We have all the Nationally Determined Contributions as members iterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development ingredients for a green Mediterranean renais- of the 103-nation Climate Ambition Alliance, by • the National Climate Plan 2030 2016-2025, the Regional Climate Change Adap- sance such as solidarity, natural resources, tech- nology and access to knowledge. Regional coop- 2030 we intend to reach a renewable energy tar- • the National Sustainable Development tion Framework and the preparation of the UNEP/ eration, a common vision and coordinated actions get of 52% of our electricity supply and reduce Strategy 2016-2030 MAP Medium-Term Strategy 2022-2027 can pro- GHG emissions by 42%. Furthermore, the King- vide an operational framework for adaptation in hold the key to transitioning to a sustainable fu- dom of Morocco was featured among the top ten • the National Water Strategy the Mediterranean context. ture for the Mediterranean. countries on Climate Change Performance Index • the national programme for water storing

32 33 SUSTAINABLE MEDITERRANEAN | ISSUE 78 MEDITERRANEAN NATIONS TOWARDS THE UFM MINISTERIAL MEETING, BIODIVERSITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE COPS Mediterranean Prof. Kostas Cadis Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and the nations Environment, towards the UfM Ministerial ccording to many studies, the Eastern and the Union for the Mediterranean Ministerial Mediterranean and Middle East region is Meeting on Environment and Climate Action. A particularly vulnerable to the effects of Meeting, climate change and has been described as a “Cli- The Cyprus Climate Change Initiative is based on mate Change Hotspot”. the results of an International Conference held in Cyprus in May 2018, focused on the topic “Cli- The countries in this area have expressed their mate Change in the Mediterranean and the Mid- biodiversity and concern about the impact of climate change in dle East”. Organised by the Cyprus Institute, the the region, as well as their willingness to con- conference attracted important international fig- tribute to the implementation of the Paris Agree- ures and scientists from more than 30 countries, ment. This willingness is articulated by the Cy- highlighted the role of regional cooperation in climate change prus Initiative for the development of regional tackling climate change in the region and the im- cooperation to address climate change in the portance of shaping policies based on scientific wider Mediterranean area - a regional approach knowledge. Based on the main concepts of the we propose to the climate change crisis. Conference, the President of the Republic of Cy- COPs prus Mr. Nikos Anastasiades announced the Ini- Countries involved are Greece, Egypt, United tiative which affirms Cyprus’s position, while -ex Arab Emirates, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Qatar, pressing its excellent relations with the countries Kuwait, Lebanon, Bahrain, Oman, Palestine, Sau- of the region. di Arabia, and Syria. The aim of this Initiative is the cooperation of Cy- Actions for the implementation of this Climate prus with neighbouring nations to draw up a Re- Change Initiative, including dissemination of re- gional Action Plan to achieve their commitments sults, are underway. During this year, our Initia- under the Paris Agreement. This Regional Action tive will be presented by the delegations of the Plan will be based on the proposals of the sci- Republic of Cyprus at forthcoming internation- entific community and will include practical, tar- al meetings, including the UNFCCC COP 26 geted, science-based and cost-effective mea-

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sures to address the effects of climate change believe that maintaining the productivity of rural ed climate change effects. The National Action ban planning can help mitigate these effects by in a wide range of sectors considering the par- ecosystems and agriculture should be based on Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change has been promoting green urban infrastructure. For exam- ticularities of our region. Under the Regional Ac- the implementation of policies and tools derived formulated to implement this Strategy, which in- ple, trees can effectively reduce the temperature tion Plan the countries concerned will be able from scientific data and high-quality research, in cludes measures for the sectors expected to be in urban environments through evapotranspira- to formulate and implement appropriate national which we should invest more (and in a more tar- most affected by climate change: agriculture and tion and shading. Planting various native species policies and measures. Among other things, joint geted manner) in order to achieve the required livestock, forests, biodiversity and ecosystem can moreover have a positive effect on local bio- projects and/or bilateral and multilateral collab- innovation. services, aquaculture, water resources, coastal diversity, providing for example shelter for spe- orations may arise, as well as alignment with oth- zones, tourism, energy, infrastructure, transport cies such as birds and insects. er relevant international - regional centres and/or Investing in research to address the effects of and public health. Conventions for the purpose of mutual coopera- climate change is an important pillar for adapta- tion, exchange of knowledge and support. tion of the agricultural sector. Research and de- The Strategy and Action Plan were both devel- velopment of adaptation tools are a high priori- oped with the participation of the scientific com- The Initiative is structured in two components: ty for Cyprus; a number of research programmes, munity and other stakeholders (social partners) the scientific and the political. The scientific such as “LIFE Adapt2Clima” and “ORGANIKO and are the first steps in an ongoing and flexi- component includes the establishment of Scien- LIFE+”, can make a decisive contribution to the ble process of designing and implementing ap- tific Teams involving over 200 scientists working development of national and regional policy for propriate adaptation measures at the national in 13 scientific fields. Through their research and the adaptation of Mediterranean agriculture to level. This approach is aligned with the gener- scientific meetings, they will formulate their sug- climate change. al objectives, guiding principles and means of gestions for the measures to be included in the implementing a modern, effective and sustain- Regional Action Plan. These suggestions will be The Agricultural Research Institute of our Ministry able development strategy, as identified by the processed and approved accordingly within the of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environ- United Nations Framework Convention on Cli- framework of the political component of the Ini- ment conducts thorough and long-term research mate Change, the EU Climate Change Strategy, tiative, during high-level meetings to take place with the aim of creating genotypes adapted to the European Directives and international gov- in 2022, first at the level of relevant ministers the effects of climate change, with particular em- ernance. The design and implementation of this and then at heads of state level. phasis on water scarcity and rising temperatures. Strategy could be an example of good practice Thus, a significant part of our livestock feed pro- for other countries. Through the implementation of this Initiative it duction is now based on varieties used during is expected among other things that the coun- the prolonged drought Cyprus has faced in re- Nature-based solutions tries of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Mid- cent years. and Biodiversity dle East will: Lessons and achievements The European Union’s Biodiversity Strategy • promote appropriate actions to reduce that Cyprus can share with its for 2030 promotes the implementation of na- emissions and adapt to Mediterranean neighbours ture-based solutions for climate change mit- climate change igation. Respectively, at the national level, the The effects of and the National Strategy and Action Plan for the Bio- • create the necessary conditions for more wider region are already visible. Extreme weath- diversity of Cyprus include actions for the resto- resilient and competitive economies er events such as floods and prolonged droughts ration of ecosystems and the expansion of pro- • improve their access to financial instruments are expected to increase and intensify in many tected area coverage which contribute to climate and mechanisms for climate change action areas of the Mediterranean, with adverse effects change adaptation and mitigation. These solu- on the environment and ecosystems, the economy tions are extremely important in tackling chal- • create new employment opportunities and society, human health and well-being. lenges such as floods, heat waves and pollution, especially in urban areas. A key focus of the Cyprus Climate Change Initia- Considering these facts, Cyprus has prepared tive is to protect food security. Tackling climate its National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate In the Eastern Mediterranean, where rising tem- change is crucial to eliminate the food crisis fac- Change which aims to strengthen our capacity peratures and extreme heat waves are expected, ing both our region and the planet at large. We to adapt to the already observed and project- the integration of nature-based solutions into ur-

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Declaration on Environment and Climate Action. the Agenda 2030 for a Greener Med, we should Technical cooperation on GreenerMed has in fact all work together to achieve the main activities HE Dr. Nabil Masarweh already begun, in view of the two-year delay. identified by countries and stakeholders which in- clude supporting the transition towards a green, In addition, the enhancement of the Nationally circular and socially inclusive economy; prevent- Minister of Environment, Determined Contributions under the Paris Agree- ing and reducing pollution on land, air and sea; Jordan ment remains an important goal. Our efforts in as well as protecting, preserving, managing and that direction should be reinforced on the basis restoring natural resources in the Mediterranean of the potential the NDCs can bring to our coun- region within an integrated ecosystems approach, tries in terms of development, green growth and including terrestrial, marine and coastal dimen- . sions.

As Jordan shares the co-presidency of the UfM Jordan is committed to achieving its environment with our partners the European Union, I would and climate action goals at the national lev- like to emphasize the importance of access to el within a regional and global context. Jordan’s climate and environment-related finance for our Prime Minister, HE Dr. Bisher Al Khasawneh, is- Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries. sued a letter on 26 January calling all ministries Our region needs to foster matching between the and national institutions to include the NDC Ac- financial availability and the economic needs in tion Plan and Green Growth Action Plan in their n view of the upcoming Union for the Medi- On the occasion of the UfM Ministerial and the our countries and reinforce the attractiveness of respective development plans. The NDC Action terranean Ministerial Meeting on Environment launch of Phase II of the H2020 Initiative, it was the region. Plan will be mainstreamed in the Executive De- and Climate Action followed by the UNFCCC renamed H2020 Initiative “Towards a Cleaner I velopment Plan (EDP), the government’s national COP 26 Conference planned for November 2021, Mediterranean”, thus expanding its approach and The recent European Commission Joint Commu- development plan for the upcoming three years. the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan would like to scope - from the Mediterranean Sea to the Med- nication on the renewed partnership with the Through its NDC Action Plan, Jordan is actively emphasise its commitment towards the Mediter- iterranean region and also encompassing land- Southern Neighborhood has just been approved identifying transformative investment opportuni- ranean and the whole Globe. sea interactions and supporting the shift from and provides new opportunities within the eco- ties related to climate change mitigation and ad- depollution to pollution prevention and sustain- nomic package of support. The Communication aptation. Cooperation on environmental matters has a able consumption and production, as a crucial includes a dedicated Economic and Investment long-standing tradition in the Mediterranean re- step towards a green, low-carbon economy. Plan to spur the long-term socio-economic re- The Ministry of Environment of Jordan has been gion. Fourteen years of co-operation started in covery of the Southern Neighbourhood. taking solid action to support Jordan’s green 2006 with the 3rd Euro-Mediterranean Ministe- The upcoming Ministerial Meeting and the new growth transformation. rial Conference on the Environment (Cairo, No- UfM Declaration on Environment and Climate Ac- We know it is a great challenge given the overall vember 2006) and the launch of the H2020 Ini- tion to be adopted will mark a significant mile- current context. But the UfM is a unique platform In 2020 we developed the Green Growth Nation- tiative for the Depollution of the Mediterranean stone in the efforts towards a greener and more of 42 countries represented on an equal foot- al Action Plan 2021-2025 (GG-NAP) which lies Sea. Since then the Mediterranean has gone a sustainable Mediterranean region. ing and the dialogue is making good progress. at the heart of our continuous efforts and ambi- long way forward. A clear, ambitious, UfM political declaration will tions to support national environmental and cli- Thus, the option of bringing the voice of the Med- help the mobilisation of private and public funds mate action while also achieving our sustainable As from 2014 and with the approval of the first iterranean to the global level through an ambi- for green, decarbonised grants and investments economic growth objectives. The plan covers six UfM Ministerial Declaration on Environment and tious, clear and strong UfM Declaration is in our at all levels (regional, sub-regional, national, and sectors; Agriculture, Energy, Waste, Water, Tour- Climate Change, the UfM countries have joined hands. sub-national). That can be one of our decisive ism and Transport and was drawn up in cooper- forces to promote and pioneer a new proactive contributions to the stability and sustainability ation with the government institutions responsi- regional approach to environment, fully integrat- The “2030GreenerMed” Agenda and its imple- of the region. ble for governing the six green economy sectors. ing sustainable consumption and production and mentation plan as well as the Climate Action It was endorsed by the Cabinet of Ministers as a resource efficiency as well as the climate change Work Plan, whose text has already been infor- On the other hand, the UfM Ministerial will help national document towards transition into green dimension, both adaptation and mitigation. mally agreed between responsible Ministers, will to create a convergence of policy and financial re- economy. be the operational pillars of the 2021 Ministerial sources around the GreenerMed priorities. Under

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Through a deeply collaborative approach, we lenges together with our environment and climate were able to identify 86 priority enabling poli- change challenges calls for all of us to work in a cy actions and projects which can trigger green collective manner. The refugee influxes resulting growth. Many of these actions are ready for the from the instability and political conflicts in the support of donors, partners and private sector in- region add to the existing challenges in terms vestors. In addition, Jordan is now in the process of putting more burdens on resources, infrastruc- of updating its NDC towards achieving its global ture, the economy and the environment. commitment of a 14% reduction in its by 2030, a big part of which is con- Our collective responses will determine how fast ditional upon international support. we recover and how well we handle these press- ing challenges. These national efforts are in line with the region- al and international efforts which aim to tackle We have in front of us a stark reminder of the our challenges. But the unprecedented time that need for tangible cooperation and we must show we are all going through due to the COVID-19 that we are up to the challenge. pandemic, with all its economic and health chal- Photo Credts: Unsplash

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With regard to adaptation, Greece is implement- Athens were set up to further support implemen- ing an ambitious integrated National Climate tation of this Greek initiative. Prof. Konstantinos Aravossis Change Adaptation Strategy through Regional Adaptation Plans, based on the distinctive char- We would like to invite all Mediterranean coun- acteristics and different needs of each Greek Re- tries to commit to the Greek proposal and work Secretary General for gion. An adaptation monitoring and evaluation in partnership towards the protection of the cul- Natural Environment mechanism is also being developed national- tural heritage of the Mediterranean Region which and Water, Ministry of ly, the results of which can be shared with other is very rich and of great importance at a global Environment and Energy, countries in the South-East Mediterranean coun- level. Greece tries with similar characteristics, since there is an urgent need to intensify cooperation in this field, especially since the Mediterranean basin has been identified as one of the two most vul- nerable regions to climate change globally.

In this regard, Greece looks forward to the 2nd UfM Ministerial Meeting on Environment and Cli- mate Action that could provide an additional platform for coordination in the region, comple- aising climate ambition and intensifying a parallel stimulus package for the just menting ongoing global and regional efforts to climate action at global level is now more transition of the lignite producing regions of address environmental and climate change chal- needed than ever, in order to ensure a the country. R lenges in order to promote sustainable, green, green, fair and sustainable recovery of our econ- • Intensive promotion of renewables: with a low-carbon and circular resource-efficient ap- omies and societies from the pandemic and also target of at least 35% of RES in gross final proaches in the Mediterranean. minimise the risk of any future global disasters. energy consumption, while for the share of RES in electricity consumption the target At the international level, Greece firmly supports In our recovery stimulus packages, it is essen- exceeds 60%. the EU’s position for increased climate ambition tial to integrate the environmental dimension and and fair contribution of all major emitters world- to ensure that any ongoing efforts to limit envi- • Improving energy efficiency: with a target of wide to the achievement of the Paris Agreement ronmental degradation will not be undermined. 38% reduction in final energy consumption by objectives. Greece has an ambitious climate policy aiming 2030 compared to consumption recorded in towards a zero-carbon society by 2050 in line 2017. To succeed in this, the renovation rate Being deeply concerned with the impact of cli- with the targets set by UN SDGs Agenda 2030, of the building stock is foreseen to reach 12- mate change on our cultural heritage, Greece the Paris Agreement and the EU Green Deal. 15%. has developed the proposal “Addressing climate In this context, Greece adopted at the end of Promotion of clean transport: electromobility change impacts on cultural and natural heritage”, 2019 a revised National Energy and Climate Plan, • is expected to reach a 30% share in new which was launched with the supporting partner- with a very ambitious goal of 56% GHG emissions registrations of passenger vehicles by 2030. ship of UNESCO and the World Meteorological reduction by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. Organization (WMO), at the UN 2019 Climate Ac- • Interconnection of the Greek islands with tion Summit, in New York. So far, more than 70 In order to achieve by 2050 we the mainland electricity grid and operation UN member states committed to this proposal have laid out an ambitious plan that entails sev- of innovative storage systems in the non- as well as WMO, UNESCO and the Council of eral actions that are also incorporated in our Na- interconnected islands: this will assist the Europe. In December 2019, the proposal and its tional Recovery and Resilience Plan, such as: optimal integration of RES in the electricity follow up were presented at a side event at UN- network, it will reduce charges and rates for FCCC COP 25 in Madrid, while in 2020 a Flexi- • Decommission of all lignite-powered consumers and will help to further reduce ble Mechanism and a Coordination Unit hosted in electricity plants at the latest by 2028 with emissions, while improving security of supply.

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ing atmospheric phenomena the increase in the holder involvement of environmental associations seawater temperature also facilitates the pen- and their networks such as MIO-ECSDE. Policies Dr. Carlo Zaghi etration of invasive species into the Mediterra- involving the entire basin cannot succeed without nean, causing massive damage to current eco- a stable and structured dialogue with Mediterra- systems. nean social and economic actors. Director General for Sea and Coastal Protection of In order to face these threats to our sea and The efforts being made in the Mediterranean in- the Ministry of Ecological coasts, Mediterranean nations must share a com- tersect with an especially relevant international Transition, Italy mon approach which has as a fundamental cor- agenda. 2021 is in fact a crucial year for the cli- nerstone the Barcelona Convention adopted mate and the environment. The reduced format within the framework of the UN Environment Pro- UN Environment Assembly took place in Febru- gramme. ary. Other events, still uncertain due to the pan- demic, include COP 15 of the UN Convention The central role of the regional conventions gov- on Biological Diversity, the COP 26 of the UN erning the basin is obvious if the transfrontier na- Framework Convention on Climate Change and ture of problems to be faced is considered, since other leading international events such as the In- these go beyond the abilities of single States to ternational Union for the Conservation of Nature deal with them. Congress, the launch of the UN Decade for Eco- system Restoration and that of the UN Decade ccounting for only 0.82% of the world’s bon dioxide emitted each day by anthropic sourc- At the COP 21 of the Barcelona Convention host- of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. oceans, the Mediterranean is richly en- es and regulate the climate by means of ocean ed by Italy in Naples in December 2019, Parties dowed with biodiversity as well as a nat- currents. On the other hand, seas and oceans are A adopted an important decision giving a central As regards COP 26, deferred from 2020 to 2021 ural and cultural heritage of inestimable value. undergoing the effects of climate change as well place to the issue of climate change, rendering due to the pandemic, Italy is a leading actor in However, the basin is currently under heavy hu- as of the rise in the global average temperature. it, for the first time, a key element of the Me- its role as conference co-president with the Unit- man pressure rendering it one of the planet’s dium-Term Strategy 2022-2027. It is worth em- ed Kingdom. most vulnerable seas. Without actions to mitigate global heating the in- phasising that Italy strongly supported this initia- crease in the Mediterranean temperature above tive as well as that promoted by the International Preparatory events will be organised of key rel- According to 2018 estimates, the population of pre-industrial levels could reach 2.2°C by 2040. Maritime Organisation (IMO) for the designation evance to determine the success of COP 26 in its coastal states is around 512 million, 6.7% of The consequences would be especially evident of the Mediterranean as a Sulphur Emission Con- Glasgow. They are the Youth4Climate followed by the world population, of which one-third is con- even in Italy, where according to ENEA (the Na- trol Area. the pre-COP in Milan at the end of September centrated in coastal zones. tional Agency for New Technologies, Energy and and the beginning of October. Sustainable Economic Development) thousands Presented to COP 21, the First Mediterranean As- Moreover, the basin accounts for 20% of world of square kilometres of coastal zones could be sessment Report on the state of and present risks Thanks to Youth4Climate-Driving Ambition, 400 hydrocarbons shipping, with unavoidable risks for submerged by sea level rise in coming decades. of climate change in the Mediterranean, compiled young people, one of each gender from each of marine and land-based ecosystems as well as by the independent Mediterranean Network of the 197 UNFCCC Contracting Parties will debate the high pollution levels along the main shipping The rise in temperature and sea level rise will Experts on Climate and Environmental Change, so as to gather ideas and proposals to be sub- routes (the port of Trieste alone handled 43 mil- damage habitats and marine species as well as in collaboration with UNEP/MAP and the Union mitted to the pre-COP. Youths will meet minis- lion tonnes of crude in 2019). having negative impacts on economic activities, for the Mediterranean, represents an important ters and negotiators to debate and confront each coastal infrastructures, port cities or those lo- tool for the region’s nations to adopt common ini- other on the main issues being negotiated. In addition to pollution, excessive fishing and cated on low river deltas. The increase in green- tiatives to mitigate climate change-related risks, shipping traffic, the Mediterranean is especially house gas concentrations in the atmosphere safeguard marine biodiversity and preserve ma- A country open to dialogue and convinced sup- sensitive to climate change. causes a significant increase in seawater acidity rine and coastal ecosystem services. porter of multilateralism, Italy will make every ef- levels with subsequent effects whether in terms fort to impel all Parties to raise the level of their As we know, the relationship between the marine of the reduction of CO² absorption capacity or of Work arising out of the Barcelona Convention is ambition, seeking to favour a balanced approach environment and climate is fundamental. On the negative impacts on especially sensitive marine highly valuable, not only due to the participation between the positions of developed and devel- one hand, the oceans can absorb 40% of the car- organisms and ecosystems. Apart from intensify- of governments and the active dialogue with the oping nations. scientific community but also to the broad stake-

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Italy is also this year’s G20 president, which en- Stewardship of natural capital, currently in strong ables putting in play important synergies to reach decline, entails the need to invest large amounts ambitious results. The outbreak of the pandem- of financial resources and identify instruments ic can give a push towards the construction of a which can offer integrated and efficient respons- greener more sustainable and equal society. The es to counter both the effects of climate change recovery plans issued by governments to counter and the loss of biodiversity. the effects of the pandemic crisis offer the op- portunity to reorient development policies and In this context, nature-based solutions can play measures towards a recovery rooted in sustain- a fundamental role, yielding significant results in ability and resilience. terms of greater resilience of marine and land- based ecosystems, thereby generating new jobs Finally, it should be recalled for the relevance of and integrating the goals of biodiversity manage- adopted decisions, that the next Conference of ment with those of economic development and Parties of the UN Convention on Biological Di- social cohesion. versity will issue the new post-2020 Global Bio- diversity Framework. Translation from the original Italian by the guest editor Photo Credts: Unsplash

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We have already seen what is happening to us scene: ‘yes we will be climate or carbon neutral with 1 degree increase. Changing weather pat- by 2050, and by 2040 we will get going.’ That terns, droughts, floods, . Combined with will not work. Then the changes will be too rad- the other crisis, which is the biodiversity crisis, the ical and society will not be able to accommo- The European risk of losing 1 million species. It is without any date those changes. But only if we start now, and doubt linked to the pandemic. Our distance to I mean this literally, we can actually reduce our our natural environment is not well defined any- emissions step by step so that we reach climate more. Viruses that would normally be absorbed neutrality in 2050. by our natural environments now reach humanity Union and the almost immediately with the known effects. EU Climate Law So we need to fix things. The fundamental issue we need to tackle is that we need to learn, as Science has taught us that we need to up the Mediterranean humanity, to live within the boundaries that our ante, we need to do more. Up until recently, be- planet sets us and that means changing almost fore the European Green Deal, our commitment everything. was reducing our emissions by 40% as compared to 1990 in 2030. Now we are increasing that to Frans Timmermans’ statement When we devised the European Green Deal, our 55%, and this is now set, at least politically, into * citizens responded very positively. That convinced law, because we have found an agreement be- on climate change everyone across the political spectrum, with the tween the Council and the European Parliament exception of some extremes, that really making on the European Climate Law. an effort to become the first climate neutral con- Executive Vice-President Of tinent by 2050, would be supported by our citi- It’s a Law of Laws. It’s a law within which we have The European Commission zens. to operate with all the other proposals we will In Charge Of The European have to submit shortly, to make sure we increase Green Deal; Commissioner I have to thank the Friday’s for Future movement our efforts to reduce our emissions. If we achieve For Climate Action Policy - that is the spark that got things going. They this, and this can be done, then I think we are on convinced their parents and their parents started a clear path to climate neutrality by 2050. talking to each other, etc. That’s how we got to the European Green Deal. Now what is the Eu- A year ago, this sounded a bit of a lonely place ropean Green Deal and why is it important today to be because around the world very few were also within the crises we are in? And why is the following this example, but if you have seen what Climate Law in that context so important? has been said during the Earth Day Summit, or- ganised by president Biden, the commitments are To get out of the crisis as soon as possible, we coming from all over the place now to work to- The EU Green Deal national level, right down to the local level. Ev- need to embrace the opportunities that the in- wards carbon neutrality if not climate neutrality. ery individual, every citizen has a role to play in dustrial revolution is offering us and at the same time confront the climate crisis and the risk of I think the world has turned a corner and is real- hat I would like to share with you is my this. The good news is that if we all commit to . The European Green Deal is our answer ly set to try and make an effort to get where we sense of urgency. Our collective need that transformation, we can come out successful- to those combined challenges because it offers need to be. Why is Europe leading this? I think to act. ly. The bad news is, if we are divided, if we’re not W a clear path to climate neutrality by 2050. And we are leading this because over the last twen- convinced, if we believe others should be doing it gives us a clear indication of what needs to be ty years, we have seen an increase of our econo- At the global level, that is why we need to make more and we should be doing less, then I fear done between now and 2050 to get there in a my by over 60%. And at the same time, we have a success of COP 26 in Glasgow in November. we will not be able to limit the rise of the global way that is feasible. seen a reduction of our emission of 20%. We have At the European level, there are so many things temperature to below 2 degrees. proven, in fact, that there is a possibility to grow we can only do collectively as Europeans. At the Some will argue, we see it in the international your economy and at the same time reduce your

* The present statement is based largely on Frans Timmermans’ statement at the Irish Climate Summit 2021 (30th April 2021).

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emissions. I think we’re one of the very few places move towards electric vehicles is moving much We need to improve the enabling conditions, in- It is always bad form to end on a negative note, in the world where this has been demonstrated. faster than anybody would have anticipated. But cluding through the Action Plan on Financing but one thing I want to leave with you, and that is But to get where we need to be, we need to im- still, I believe we need to become stricter in our Sustainable Growth and EU Taxonomy Regula- something that I think about a lot. This is not just plement quite a lot of measures in our Fit for 55 emission standards to stimulate the production tion for green investments. This is a very conten- about doing the right thing for the environment. package that we will present before the summit. of electric vehicles. There are two things keeping tious issue that we are debating these days in This is not just about renewing our economy. This electric vehicles away from people. First the price Brussels. is also a highly geopolitical issue. If we don’t fix Now what is in that package: of the vehicle, it is still seen as a luxurious vehi- this at the global level and at the European level, cle today, but that will change within five years We need to look very carefully at the State aid there is no doubt in my mind that our children will First of all, we need to reform and strengthen the I can assure you, and the lack of charging infra- rules on climate, energy and environment to en- be fighting wars over water and over food. I think European System (EU ETS), structure. We need to stimulate both, we need to sure that they are in line with the needs and ob- that is the real situation the planet is faced with. which is a very successful method of putting a act on both very quickly on European level and at jectives of the Green Deal and the climate neu- It is certainly not inevitable, we can still fix this. price on carbon. The Chinese are introducing it. national level. trality objective. I believe this is a strategy not But we can only fix this, we can only get to cli- In Korea they are also looking at this. This is the just to get us in line with our climate commit- mate neutrality and learn to live within planetary future of how industry, and perhaps even trans- Then of course, much debated, we will make a ments, but also to get us up to a growth path in boundaries, if we start changing now. port, households, especially also shipping, could proposal for a Carbon Border Adjustment Mech- the new economy, in the post-industrial tradition- be looking at putting a price on carbon and that anism so that we tackle the risks of carbon leak- al economy into the digitisation, into living with- price on carbon will stimulate the reduction of age. We wanted to be in conformity with WTO in planetary boundaries, circular economy, which emissions. It is working well, the prices have gone rules. A lot of questions about this come from our has a huge potential. up, the markets expect the ETS to continue func- international trading partners, because whenev- tioning well and we need to strengthen it, we er we talk about this measure, they understand need to reduce the free allowances under the that they have to move into climate neutrality as COP 26 / COP 15 ETS and we need to look at the scope of the ETS well, to avoid being hit by protective measures and enlarging it in different sectors. at the boarders. In that sense, the idea already We really want to make a success of COP 26 in of a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, even Glasgow. It is looking more promising than be- Then we also need to reform the Effort Shar- without it being implemented, is stimulating the fore, but still we have some huge challenges. ing Regulation so that we can set new targets at development into the right direction. Member State level. We have to translate what One that I want to mention, is that we have to we do at the European level to the level of Mem- We will need to review the energy taxation, in- show solidarity with the developing world. If you ber States. cluding to reduce the scope of subsi- look at what is happening in the Pacific, if you look dies. I think fossil fuel subsidies make no sense. If at what is happening in Africa and the Mediter- We need a revised land-use, land-use change you look at the price development of renewable ranean, the devastating consequences of climate and forestry regulation, including to enhance our energy, wind and solar, spectacular! This nev- change are already happening now. We need to . 75% of European forests are in a bad er was predicted well. The International Energy make sure we support those countries in their state and although the area of forestry has in- Agency always got it wrong. The price decrease adaptation and mitigation measures. We need to creased in Europe, sink has decreased, so there and the profitability of renewable energy was al- bring them along, we need to help them leapfrog is a serious problem there. We need to address ways underestimated. If you look at what is hap- a number of developments, especially in the en- this. This has become even more urgent after the pening on solar and on offshore wind, the poten- ergy sector. We need to bring sustainable ener- agreement reached between the co-legislators tial is tremendous. If you look at the price with gy, renewable energy to many of these nations. on the Climate Law, because the Climate Law the potential of creating electrolysers, capability Through solar power, and hydrogen. agreement will force us to increase even more based on renewable energy which would create They have a right to development. But they also the potential of carbon sink. Which means that green hydrogen – which is a tremendous oppor- have the right to development which is sustain- we have to be even stricter in the Forest Strate- tunity for difficult-to-abate sectors. If you com- able. We don’t have the right to tell them that gy, which we will be submitting. bine that, I believe this is the future and we will they should develop, because that would lead to certainly no longer need investments in fossil fu- more emissions. But we have a duty to help them We will also have to introduce more stringent els. We need direct EU financial support for de- develop in a way that helps their young people to

CO2 emission standards for vehicles. I think the carbonisation and environmental objectives. find a future that is sustainable.

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ported as it is a way of protecting biodiversity and tober’s COP 15 of the UN Convention on Biolog- nature, sustaining healthy water supplies, oceans ical Diversity are strongly supported by the EU. Message from the EU Presidency and soils, as well as promoting carbon storage. Portugal is convinced that if we unite efforts, to- The UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration being gether we will succeed in overcoming the envi- launched in June as well as the Global Biodiver- ronmental challenges we face. João Pedro Matos sity Framework proposed for adoption at this Oc- Fernandes Minister of Environment and Climate Action, Portugal Box 3 The new EU strategy on adaptation to climate change

he Portuguese EU Presidency is sparing ly felt by our societies and economies, not only On 24 February 2021 the EC adopted its new EU • smarter by improving knowledge and no effort to conclude the first European in the Mediterranean region but throughout Eu- strategy on adaptation to climate change aim- managing uncertainty; Climate Law. This will be the first legis- rope. ing to shift the focus from planning to implemen- T by speeding up adaptation • swifter lative deliverable of the European Green Deal, tation. The Commission will discuss the strate- implementation across the board; representing a huge step forward in the Union’s For this reason, the new EU Strategy on Adap- gy with the Member States in the Environmental ambition to combat climate change. Adoption of tation to Climate Change is both welcome and Council which is expected to agree to conclu- • more systemic by supporting policy the Law will cement the EU’s climate leadership timely, providing a long-term vision for the Union sions on the new strategy when it meets in June development at all levels and all relevant while providing a clear framework for our climate to become a climate-resilient society by 2050 2021. policy fields; action and ambition in line with the Paris Agree- while making adaptation action smarter, more ment. systemic, faster and also aimed at spurring great- As part of the European Green Deal Action Plan, • and to step up international action for er international action. the strategy aims to reinforce the adaptive ca- climate resilience. The EU is prepared to contribute to an ambitious pacity of the EU and the world and minimise vul- outcome from COP 26 and has been working in- The Mediterranean Basin is one of the world’s nerability to the impacts of climate change, in It will support the further development and im- tensively to deliver enhanced climate action and most richly endowed regions in terms of animal line with the Paris Agreement and the proposal plementation of adaptation strategies and plans ambition across the board. Steered by the goal and plant diversity and is now at risk of irrep- for a European Climate Law. The EU will imple- with three cross-cutting priorities: integrating ad- of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, the EU arable damage due to climate change impacts. ment the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans aptation into macro-fiscal policy, nature-based and its Member States recently presented an en- However, we now have a singular opportunity to and strong partnerships with its neighbourhood, solutions for adaptation and mitigation, and lo- hanced Nationally Determined Contribution to redefine our approach to nature. in particular the Mediterranean region .The strat- cal adaptation action. UN Climate with a higher greenhouse gas emis- egy warns that “exposing today’s EU economy to sions target of at least 55% 2030 compared to Science has shown time and again that na- global warming of 3°C above pre-industrial lev- As a first concrete deliverable of the new Strat- the 1990 level. ture-based solutions tackle climate change, mit- els” – the trajectory the world is currently on – egy, the European Climate and Health Obser- igate natural disaster risks while offering a win- would lead to an annual loss of at least EUR 170 vatory will be launched on Climate-ADAPT, the Climate action is based not only on mitigation, win strategy protecting biodiversity, enhancing Country: Site Code: billion, or 1.36% of the EU’s gross domestic prod- European platform for adaptation knowledge, to but on adaptation, identified as a key priority connectivity and enabling natural biological pro- Site Name: Otok Krk Croatia HR2001357 uct (GDP). better track, analyse and prevent the impacts of for the Portuguese EU Presidency. Portugal is cesses. climate change on human health. among the European countries most affected by The Strategy has four principal objectives: to climate change. Its impacts are being increasing- Ecosystem restoration should be strongly sup- make adaptation compiled by MIO-ECSDE Secretariat

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Box 4 The EU’s new Agenda for the Mediterranean

Twenty-five years after the Barcelona Declara- • Human development, good governance and tion and ten years after the Arab Spring, many the rule of law environmental, political, socio-economic and se- • Strengthen resilience, build prosperity and curity challenges remain daunting in the Medi- seize the digital transition terranean. To address these common challenges the New Agenda for the Mediterranean proposes • Peace and security to relaunch the EuroMediterranean partnership and unleash the region’s untapped potential. This • Migration and mobility reflection resulted in the “Joint Communication • Green transition: climate resilience, energy, on the renewed partnership with the Southern and environment Neighbourhood” in February 2021.

It includes a dedicated Economic and Investment In the area of “Green transition” the Commis- Plan to spur the long-term socio-economic re- sion proposes two flagships regarding actions to covery in the Southern Neighbourhood. Under align with partners’ National Determined Contri- the new EU’s Neighbourhood, Development and butions under the Paris Agreement and support International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), up the external dimension of the EU Green Deal to €7 billion for the period 2021-2027 would be (FLAGSHIP 9 - Green Growth and climate ac- allocated to its implementation, which could mo- tion); and accelerate the transition from fossil fu- bilise up to €30 billion in private and public in- els towards clean energy and enhanced energy vestment in the region in the next decade. security (FLAGSHIP 10 - Energy transition and energy security). The Agenda aims to join forces in fighting cli- mate change and speeding up the green, digi- Taking advantage of the potential of a low-car- tal and sustainable food systems transitions, to bon future, the Agenda will continue to support renew the commitment to shared values. It pro- Mediterranean countries in meeting their climate poses a range of actions along the following key commitments, protect the region’s natural re- policy areas: sources, generate green growth and encourage resource efficiency.

compiled by MIO-ECSDE Secretariat

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We must turn these challenges into opportuni- rica (CAMENA), financed by the Facility for Eu- ties. Almost every country in the region has de- ro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership Financing regional veloped a Green Agenda to underpin their con- (FEMIP). tributions towards achieving the global targets Climate Change action under the Paris Agreement. In the energy sector Cooperation with the Union for the Mediter- for example most MENA countries are commit- ranean has enabled the implementation of im- ted to scaling-up their installed renewable ener- pactful climate operations bearing fruit through Ricardo Mourinho Félix gy capacity, while some countries have particu- projects such as the clean-up of Lake Bizerte in Vice-President and Member larly ambitious plans: Morocco intends to have a Tunisia or the Clean Ocean Initiative, which can of the Management national renewable energy target of 52% of total contribute to initiatives to depollute the Medi- electricity supply by 2030, while Algeria aims for terranean Sea. Committee, European 27%. The UAE has a 24% target by 2021. In addi- Investment Bank (EIB) tion, innovation in clean technology, energy and Going forward, a double trend will influence the transport solutions have soared. There is a need Bank’s operations. On one hand, the EIB has al- to support these initiatives through long-term ready set ambitious targets for climate action investments; all players must act hand-in-hand, and environmental sustainability in line with the mobilising the necessary funding for this aim. EU’s leading climate objectives. On the other, new instruments in partnership with the Europe- With its longstanding experience in the region, an Commission, such as the European Fund for the EIB has the potential to align the EU’s vi- Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) will di- sion on climate with the priorities of the Med- rect the EIB to new focus areas such as digital- s the EU climate bank, the European In- and priorities, specific screening tools (carbon iterranean countries. The Bank’s flagship proj- isation for sustainable development. vestment Bank is one of the world’s larg- price, and assess- ects in the region reveal a strong commitment. est financiers of climate action and envi- ment tool) and some of the highest lending stan- A For instance, upon completion, the Noor Ouar- In pursuit of its ambitious objectives, last year ronmental sustainability. Since the adoption by dards in the financial world. After more than a zazate complex in Morocco will pro- the Bank managed to direct about 30% of its in- the European Council 20 years ago of the EU decade’s leading in this area, the EIB Board of vide electricity for more than 1 million people and vestments outside of the EU towards climate ad- Sustainable Development Strategy, the Bank Directors – consisting of representatives of the reduce national emissions by at aptation and mitigation projects. This will contin- has been involved in investments that protect EU Member States - made a decisive move in least 760,000 tonnes per year. In addition, the ue to expand, not only in terms of the volume of our planet from the negative effects of climate 2020 in approving the Climate Bank Roadmap. depollution of the Kitchener Drain in Egypt will the investment supported, but also of the policy change. This strategy supports the EU Green Deal and a improve sanitation and solid waste services for 6 dimension that will enable the integration of en- sustainable post-COVID-19 green recovery, help- million people, while the installation of rooftop vironmental objectives in a cross-cutting manner. In 2007 the EIB pioneered the Green Bonds mar- ing Europe to become the first carbon-neutral photovoltaic systems on 500 schools in the West No internal financial institutional or public bal- ket, launching the first ever Climate Awareness continent by 2050. The EIB will continue playing Bank will provide energy to 16,000 households. ance sheet alone can cope in isolation with the Bond (CAB). Building on the success of CABs, an instrumental role in extending these initiatives Likewise, the EIB is financing the rehabilitation current needs. In many countries in the region, which have now raised over EUR 33.7 bn, in 2018 to the EU’s Neighbourhood through its lending and expansion of metro and tram systems in Al- the high levels of public debt limit even further the Bank issued its first Sustainability Awareness and advisory activities. exandria and Cairo, contributing to increase the the capacity to act through public investment. Bond (SAB) in line with the UN 2030 Agenda availability and quality of public transport sys- Private investment and financial markets must and the Sustainable Development Goals. The EIB The southern Mediterranean is among the world’s tems in two cities where 30-35% of the coun- therefore play a key role if we want to further ex- took another bold step in 2019 by adopting an regions most likely affected by climate change. try’s population live and work while also reducing pand these initiatives and the impact of the re- ambitious Energy Lending Policy, thus deciding With its pre-existing natural and environmental greenhouse gas emissions due to the expected lated investments. to end the financing of unabated fossil fuel proj- pressures, rising sea levels and extreme tempera- modal shift. ects as from the end of 2021, including natural tures will put an additional burden on the already Channelling financial flows towards the sustain- gas. scarce resources, in particular water. In turn, this Beyond these tangible contributions, the value able projects that are vital for the transition to will influence migration patterns, increasing the added of the EIB also lies in its advice and ex- a low-carbon future, necessarily involves making Climate action has been a key priority for the risk of conflicts while weighing on social struc- pertise, channelled through initiatives such as the financial system greener. We need investors EIB, which has delivered significant climate fi- tures, public services and goods. Climate Action in the Middle East and North Af- who consider climate and sustainability consider- nance volumes, underpinned by sector policies

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ations in their decisions. ESG (Environmental, So- tainable green recovery is increasingly consensu- cial and Governance) considerations are becom- al. The return of the US to the Paris Agreement ing increasingly important for investors. is clear evidence of this and the UNFCCC COP 26 in Glasgow will be an excellent opportunity to Transparency and disclosure on climate-related discuss future avenues in this direction. aspects and risks are also becoming more perva- sive in the market, which is key to enable inves- In 2020, the EIB became the first Multilater- tors to make more informed (and greener) invest- al Development Bank (MDB) to be fully Par- ment decisions. The EIB also plays a fundamental is-Aligned. By 2025, we aim to direct 50% of our role in helping to scale up critical investments investments to climate projects and by 2030 to for the transition, by crowding-in capital towards mobilise over EUR 1 trillion in support of climate sustainable investment, demonstrating opportu- action. All these objectives, encapsulated in the nities and potential returns, thus helping to mo- new Climate Bank Roadmap, will enable the EIB bilise other investors, using its catalytic role and to realise its ambitions in the EU, the Mediterra- reducing the associated risks. nean region and beyond.

To conclude, recent global developments shed light on the importance of tackling the climate change challenge. Amongst the numerous re- flections already made in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to support a sus- Photo Credts: Unsplash

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Rabia Ferroukhi Energy, water, Director of IRENA’S Knowledge, Policy and agriculture, Finance Center forests, cities, biosphere reserves he COVID-19 crisis has contributed to a nual investments of USD 4.5 trillion up to that wider understanding of the potential con- year. COVID-19 recovery plans provide opportu- T sequences of the looming climate crisis. nities to rebuild better, by setting more ambi- Energy Future: tious targets and mobilising investment in transi- The impacts of the pandemic and climate change tioning to a cleaner energy system. know no borders and both put the poor and vul- Fossil or Renewable based? nerable at greater risk than the well-off; both de- At the same time, the call for achieving the UN mand government action on an unprecedented Sustainable Development Goals is louder than scale. The COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated the ever, highlighting the need for a rapid deploy- importance of concerted and decisive interven- ment of renewable energy and the developing The Mediterranean’s tions to safeguard the global public interest, an markets. Renewable energy technologies can approach that is also needed for a global energy provide affordable, accessible and clean energy renewable energy future transition to tackle the climate crisis. services for countries and regions that lack ac- cess to energy or struggle with weak grids. These The energy transition provides ample opportuni- technologies can significantly improve the live- Diala Hawila ties for the COVID-19 recovery stage. Increased lihoods, resilience and welfare of communities. Programme Officer/Policy uptake of renewables, energy efficiency and re- In this context, the urgency of transitioning to a Advice, International lated energy transition technologies represent more efficient renewable-energy based system is Renewable Energy Agency far-sighted investment amid the crisis. IRENA’s clear. post-COVID agenda shows that clean energy av- erage annual investments of USD 2 trillion in the The Mediterranean region is blessed with abun- 2021-2023-recovery phase could create 5.5 mil- dant natural resources, including renewable en- lion additional jobs in renewables and other en- ergy resources that are being exploited but not ergy transition-related technologies than would to their full potential. The region has outstanding be possible with a conventional and more “mut- solar insolation presenting significant potential ed” policy response. for development of solar photovoltaic for pow- er generation and solar thermal for heating. The Another 19 million energy transition-related jobs highest values of insolation appear in the south- would be created by 2030, following average an- ern region where values exceed ~2200 kWh/m²/

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year, while the level of insolation decreases grad- in Morocco, for wind in Spain and Saudi Arabia in order to avoid stranded assets that might re- cluding education and training, industrial poli- ually toward the northern region. Areas border- and for solar photovoltaics in UAE, Egypt, Jordan sult from the development of infrastructure which cies, support for R&D, and collaboration between ing the Mediterranean Sea receive moderate in- and Tunisia. might not serve the future energy system, such as industry and research institutions. Also important solation of ~1600 kWh/m²/year, which could be additional gas pipelines, for example. is the need to minimise the socio-economic cost suitable for solar power development. Similarly, Most of the region’s countries are aiming to in- of transitioning away from fossil fuels. This re- the highest values of wind speed appear in the crease renewable energy penetration in the com- The energy transition also requires levelling the quires a set of labour market and social protec- southern region where values exceed 7 m/s, while ing years. They have specified renewable energy playing field with fossil fuels and phasing out the tion policies. The transition for workers in indus- the lowest wind speed areas appear in the north- targets which, if implemented, could lead to a hundreds of billions of US dollars currently spent tries rendered obsolete needs to be smoothed by ern region except the extreme north of the Med- rapid increase in renewables in their energy mix, on fossil fuel subsidies, to redirect them towards developing opportunities in new industries and iterranean. especially in their power systems. As the share the energy transition. Where possible, policymak- providing re-skilling options for affected workers. of variable renewable electricity increases, flexi- ers should also consider adjusting and imple- In conclusion, policies for using renewables in Further assessment of the technical potential bility measures such as demand response, ener- menting fiscal policies such as carbon pricing, so heating and cooling should not be considered in of solar and wind considering the regional infra- gy storage, green hydrogen and electric vehicles as to internalise the negative impacts of fossil isolation. They should be viewed as part of the structure and socio-environmental constraints, with smart charging can help facilitate integra- fuels. Of course, careful consideration of broader broader socioeconomic structures upon which namely protected areas, land use, topography, tion. Moreover, reinforcements in the transmis- social and equity issues is necessary, particular- the energy system is built and with which it inter- population growth, and proximity to transmis- sion and distribution grids, which may also in- ly for low-income populations, for whom energy acts. A systemic approach is required in the ener- sion lines and roads, will identify feasible areas clude development of regional grids to allow constitutes a larger share of household expendi- gy sector but also in the socio-economic systems to host utility-scale renewable energy projects. extensive electricity trade, can help increase the tures and whose budgets do not offer many op- we have constructed. The region’s nations are at different stages of so- adoption or renewable energy technologies while tions. cial and economic development, with significant allowing for economic development. variation in natural and financial resources and Also essential is a robust institutional coordina- face diverse political and economic challenges. While policy making at the national level will be tion clearly defining roles and responsibilities However, their futures are interlinked as they are central to ensure a smooth energy transition in that translates targets into actionable initiatives. located in a hotspot for climate change – a sit- the region, the importance of regional cooper- Coordination between various governing bodies uation projected to cause substantial threats to ation cannot be overstated. Coordination ac- and stakeholders, including those responsible for their welfare in coming decades. Fossil fuels have tions like sharing and co-developing energy in- and involved in energy and power, industry, agri- been the dominant source of energy in all coun- frastructures and networks, facilitating technical culture, environment and forestry is required. tries; domestic energy requirements continue to exchanges and capacity-building activities and increase in many of the region’s countries leading conducting regional integrated assessments To achieve net-zero targets, the energy transition to significant socioeconomic and environmental could be essential elements towards decarboni- in heating, cooling and transport will be essen- challenges. sation. The European Union’s model, though not tial, as these end uses account for almost three fully transferable to the region, can serve as a quarters of global energy consumption. In con- Along with energy efficiency measures, renewable good example of a determined and consistent trast, policy efforts have so far focused on the energy technologies are offering an increasing- approach towards sustainable transformation. power sector globally. A holistic policy framework ly viable and cost-competitive solution for the is needed, where deployment policies and regu- decarbonisation of the regional power sectors. By the end of 2020, more than 12 countries and lations such as subsidies, grants, tax incentives, The Mediterranean’s abundant renewable ener- the European Union had passed or proposed laws go hand in hand with broader enabling policies gy resources, including hydropower, combined around net-zero emissions by 2050 and had ear- and energy system integration policies. In the with policy mechanisms such as renewable en- marked significant financial resources to green power sector, where renewables have become ergy auctions, are resulting in record low pric- recovery plans centred on renewables. For these cost-competitive with fossil fuel-based electrici- es for solar and wind energy projects. Countries targets to be achieved, they need to be translat- ty, a power market structure suitable for a renew- such as Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Moroc- ed into long-term, integrated energy plans that ables-based system is needed. co, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and UAE are con- coordinate the deployment of renewables-based tracting solar and wind energy capacity through solutions with other energy sources, together To maximise the socio-economic benefits of the auctions. These auctions have already resulted in with measures to raise energy efficiency and de- energy transition, there is a need for an ecosys- record low prices for Concentrated Solar Power velop the needed infrastructure. This is important tem that allows for broader systemic changes, in-

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in recent years thanks to a combination of fa- security and consequently bring about a region vourable policy measures, technological innova- with lesser stress and therefore more stable. Mediterranean Energy Prospects tion, cost reduction and attractive funding pro- grammes. Renewable energy supplied 9% of total Implementing the energy transition posits tech- energy demand in 2018 and could reach 30% in nological advances as a key factor, not only Dr. Houda Ben Jannet Allal 2050. Paradoxically, it is in the North that they through the deployment of renewables but also General Director, will be the most developed with a share ranging through the development of new technologies. Observatoire Méditerranéen from 25 to 44% of energy demand, depending on Among the most anticipated are the large-scale de l’Energie (OME) the scenario, against only 12 to 21% in the South. deployment of technologies for hydrogen pro- duction and those related to carbon sequestra- Growth in electricity demand is expected to be tion. These technologies could take off by 2035 more sustained than energy demand, driven by and hint at the potential to go beyond NDCs and strong growth in the South and the trend to- the proactive scenario where their contribution wards greater electrification of the region’s econ- remains modest by 2050. The Mediterranean can omies. The electricity mix will be mainly based on afford more ambitious targets than those in the renewable energy and natural gas. In addition to current NDCs. promoting the development of renewable ener- gy, the implementation of Nationally Determined Given the history, the current situation and the Contributions under the Paris Agreement would energy prospects of the Mediterranean and the ts geographical position and energy resourc- the whole world by surprise, with a greater im- avoid the construction of more than 100 GW in- challenges, but also and above all the strong es have made the Mediterranean an import- pact on the Mediterranean countries, their econ- stalled capacity – equivalent to half the current ambitions, opportunities and decisions taken by ant transit corridor for global energy markets omies and their energy sector, affecting the short I installed capacity in the South. the European Union, positioning itself as a leader thus positioning its southern shore to be among term and presumably the medium and long term in combatting climate change by setting the am- Europe’s leading suppliers for the past several as well. One of the major challenges facing the region bitious goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, region- decades. The countries of the region are also in- is energy security. Continuing current trends will al cooperation is proving to be very important in terdependent and complementary in terms of the The two shores of the Mediterranean have con- exacerbate the situation. Indeed, if the countries reversing the current trend and achieving a more availability of energy resources, technologies and trasting energy prospects. For the region as a of the North are expected to maintain a rela- ambitious and successful energy transition. demand. Overall, the region is energy deficient whole, primary energy needs are forecast to in- tively stable level of dependence by 2050, the and energy security is a priority for all. crease by almost 40% up to 2050 compared to countries of the South will see their dependence In this context, the launch of three regional ener- 2018, but more than double over the same peri- increase from the current 9% to 31% by 2050 ac- gy platforms under the auspices of the Union for Goals, geopolitical tensions and unrest since od in the South under current trends. In contrast, cording to the trend scenario. The implementa- the Mediterranean with the support of the Eu- 2011 have highlighted the urgency of accelerating more than 25% (350 Mtoe) of this increase could tion of the NDCs would allow the countries of ropean Commission, aims to intensify Euro-Med- the region’s energy transition and the rethinking potentially be avoided. the South to become self-sufficient by 2050 fol- iterranean energy cooperation and accelerate of regional cooperation. More recently, growing lowing a net exporter situation by 2030. progress towards energy development, sustain- energy demand in the South and East, continuing Although on a downward trend, hydrocarbons able, fair and shared energy transition. The EU’s geopolitical tensions and their impact on the oil would still weigh in the energy mix in the Medi- As regards CO2 emissions, the implementation of Hydrogen Strategy and the recent communica- and gas markets, new offshore gas discoveries in terranean in 2050. Given the considerable poten- NDCs is absolutely necessary if the region is to tion on a new agenda for cooperation with the the eastern basin, security of demand and sup- tial for renewable energy and natural gas in the reduce its emissions by 2050 to their 1990 lev- Mediterranean, which includes energy amongst ply, the need to decarbonise economies and the region, a sustainable and environmentally friend- el. Such a reduction would be tantamount to the its priorities, are also key response elements to emergence of multiple options and solutions, in- ly energy future is naturally one that would best North halving its current emissions by 2050 and be supported and strengthened. novation and the intention of the European Union combine these two assets, in addition of course their stabilisation in the South. to play a leading role, have defined the context to energy efficiency. As an association of key energy actors in the in which the current decade began for the Medi- The OME scenarios thus clearly highlight the links Mediterranean, the OME intends to continue its terranean energy sector. After a relatively late start compared to other between achieving climate goals in the Mediter- efforts to promote regional cooperation through parts of the world, renewable energies have reg- ranean and achieving the energy transition. The North-South and South-South dialogue on in- On the other hand, the health crisis has taken istered a strong increase in the Mediterranean benefits go beyond significantly improved energy tersectoral energy issues and work to accelerate

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the transition to sustainable development and a and best practices exchanges and a Think Tank of refer- plans, not least because the adequacy of mon- itoring systems at the service of climate poli- just and prosperous energy future in the Medi- ence in the Euro-Mediterranean Region. The Association itoring systems is yet to be proven. Institution- cy priorities. Adaptation and mitigation targets terranean alongside and in cooperation with its gathers leading Mediterranean energy companies, affil- al settings and regulatory frameworks are also should be jointly addressed through a Water-En- partners. iates and associated members from sixteen countries. It evolving, though not at the same pace as plan- ergy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus approach, also manages the UfM Secretariat’s Gas Platform. ning, nor without shortfalls. However, it is invest- recognising interdependencies and aiming for Editor’s note: according to its website (www.ome.org) ments and actual implementation that are cru- co-benefits, including through managing trade- OME is the Voice of the in the Mediter- translation from the French original by the guest editor cially lagging behind. ‘No news here’, one may offs. Among others, the online ‘2021 WEFE Nexus ranean area; a Platform for energy dialogue, cooperation note, ‘since challenges are far greater than avail- Science Advances Conference: From Science to able capacities’. Practice’ (27-29/9/21, organized by DG JRC, DG Research, PRIMA and the Cyprus Institute) will However, this is an integral part of the problem: provide a discussion and experience-sharing fo- in practice, we continue witnessing an absence rum. of urgency against an imminent and inevitable Water and Irrigation threat. This prevents higher prioritisation and Transparency and public awareness are key for consequent mobilisation, possibly against other closing the science-to-policy gap, for promoting needs that are, rightly and firmly in the top must society-wide acceptance of solutions and intensi- do list of national agendas. Substantial progress fying demand for large-scale action. In this con- will be made only when countries’ top leadership text, the media must actively connect with sci- Our Water Future: and not just the line leads, comprehend the se- entists and policymakers, enriching the dialogue vere and long-term socio-economic impacts, em- and communicating facts, views and analysis to Are we intelligent enough to adapt? bracing available solutions along with the oppor- the public. tunities these can bring. Though the WEFE Nexus is a relatively new agen- Vangelis Constantianos Over the years, several regional policy and action da, elaboration of strategies, plans and invest- Executive Secretary, planning processes have advanced, including ments are advancing at national, basin, coastal Global-Water Partnership within the Union for the Mediterranean, the Bar- and transboundary level, most often with struc- Mediterranean (GWP-Med) celona Convention/UNEP Mediterranean Action tured stakeholder participation, contributing to Plan, the League of Arab States, the Regional climate resilience targets. Contributing to this Cooperation Council and more. Recently, power- process are the work of GWP-Med, the UN Eco- ful initiatives with voluminous investment pack- nomic Commission for Europe and partners in ages have been launched, such as the European the Western Balkans supported by Austria, also Green Deal, the new EU Agenda for the Mediter- in the Drin Basin supported by the Global Envi- ranean and the Green Agenda for the Western ronment Fund as well as the new WEFE Nexus Balkans. Similarly, with the mobilisation of bilat- project of the GEF UNEP/MAP MedProgramme. eral development partners such as and its new 2021-2025 Strategy for MENA. Howev- Furthermore, WEFE Nexus technical solutions er, private sector participation remains limited in include different practical interventions offering rojections make it abundantly clear that today these near-certainties are well understood practice, mostly due to governance and financial tangible benefits against local climate change the Mediterranean will be hard hit by cli- by Mediterranean countries, even when compre- risk issues. impacts. Small/medium scale applications in ru- mate change. hensive impact assessments are missing. They are P ral and urban contexts can improve natural re- also largely realised by the public, even when de- So, how can we do more, better and faster? source management, increase resource use effi- We all know what this means for water: less avail- tails cannot be recalled. ciency, raise crop productivity ‘per drop’ and ‘per ability, lower quality, more extreme phenomena First, we should close the science-to-policy gap. KWh’ and mobilise alternative sources, thus in- and higher risks for livelihoods and economic de- Adaptation planning has advanced at all levels, A science-driven approach should smartly uti- creasing the local water budget, among other velopment, particularly for the most vulnerable. even though it is too early to assess the effec- lise data, evidence, analysis and innovative tools benefits. It has taken 20 years for awareness to grow, but tiveness of strategies and feasibility of action helping to design operational targets and mon-

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On a larger scale, multi-purpose infrastructure in more than two sectors. Examples may be cit- Applying these at scale can create opportuni- The UNEP Report also notes that prioritisation like wastewater treatment combined with re- ed from Mediterranean initiatives, such as the ties for new jobs, from technical to managerial, of gender dimensions in national adaptation pol- source recovery and bi-products production, de- 12-year Alter Aqua GWP-Med exercise with lo- in sustainable agriculture, integrated urban wa- icies and plans remains unclear. Contributing to salination powered by renewable energy, optimi- cal partners on promoting non-conventional wa- ter management, industry, tourism, etc. A circular that is the GWP mid-2020 launch of the Water, sation and multi-purpose utilisation of existing ter resources in islands and coastal areas, sup- economy, sustainable production and consump- Climate, Development and Gender (WACDEP-G) and sometimes aged infrastructure like dams, ported by the Coca-Cola Foundation. tion, blue economy, innovation and digitalisation line within the GWP-Africa managed Global Af- etc. can offer multiple socio-economic benefits provide further background for such “green/blue rica Water Investment Programme (AIP). Initial- jobs”. Investing in entrepreneurship opportuni- ly focusing on Tunisia, this activity contributes to ties operationally linked with WEFE Nexus main- strategically advancing gender equality in the streaming holds the potential of a new dynam- preparation, development, design, governance ic market, particularly through SMEs. Youth and and management of ongoing and new climate-re- women should be the focus of such investments silient water infrastructure investments, institu- securing their equal participation, building ca- tions and job creation interventions. In addition, pacities and putting their employability skills and contributing to the transboundary agenda, into use while creating and assisting the devel- an initiative on empowering women in water di- opment of realistic business plans. plomacy in MENA was launched in March 2021 by GWP-Med and the Geneva Water Hub within the This is timely since the long-term COVID-19 im- UfM framework, building on findings and recom- pacts on the real economy are forecast to be mendations of a comparative study in five MENA harsh, while major investment plans to assist eco- countries. nomic recovery have been announced by govern- ments and international partners. The opportuni- Climate challenges are too big and too criti- ty of a ‘green recovery’ vs an old-style investment cal for half measures. These directly contribute for tackling COVID-19 impacts and the wider job to social and political instability in a highly tur- creation challenges must not be missed, also re- bulent region. The forthcoming UfM Ministeri- sponding to important migration objectives. The al Meeting on Environment and Climate Action recently (end 2020) launched SIDA/UfM - sup- should go beyond the expression of political will. ported project on ‘Making Water Cooperation Building on ongoing and, importantly, new initia- Happen in MENA: Piloting Tangibles’ implement- tives, it should endorse tangible and urgent cli- ed by GWP-Med will provide proof of the tangi- mate commitments, thereby making a substantial bility of integrated technical and employability contribution to COP 26. These should integrate interventions in Jordan and Palestine. and assist coordination of the range of regional instruments and investments, engaging both re- On the financing side, mitigation remains the gional and national partners. clear winner, while according to the UNEP Ad- aptation Gap Report 2020, adaptation finance ‘Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change’, is increasing more slowly than adaptation costs, Stephen Hawking pointed out. It is our time to thus widening the gap. The region’s limited utili- prove it, individually and collectively, facing the zation of climate financing instruments for adap- fundamental reality of climate change. tation, such as the is indic- ative. Since mid-2019, in response to countries’ In partnership with local authorities of Alexandroupolis, Greece, and with financial support by The Co- demand, UfM and GWP-Med are strengthening ca-Cola Foundation, GWP-Med designed the “Water for the City” programme to increase urban fresh- capacities of national authorities and entities to water availability, following a Nexus approach. Existing dam infrastructure was optimized through the access such opportunities, assisting them in pre- installation of custom-made free-standing gates on the spillway, increasing capacity by 14%, without in- paring climate-resilient water projects. creasing the environmental footprint.

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riculture and its by-products and waste could an Commission, which are also aligned with the provide valuable raw materials for pro- priority objectives of irrigation. Irrigation and Climate Change duction. One of the EU objectives is that at least 10% of the energy used for transport should come Irrigation is an important driver for economic and from renewable sources including biofuels in or- social recovery which, in turn, promotes and im- Andrés Del Campo der to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 6%. proves the quality of employment. Irrigation also President, Studies on climate change agree that in Medi- facilitates the green and digital transition in ac- Euro-Mediterranean terranean countries with arid and semi-arid cli- cordance with the ‘European Green Deal’, sav- Irrigators Community (EIC), mates, rainfalls will be torrential, increasing- ing water, promoting the use of renewable energy National Federation of ly frequent, and may cause severe floods. In the and incorporating new technologies and digital- same way, there will also be more prolonged and isation in rural areas. Irrigation Communities of extreme drought events, which is why river basin Spain (FENACORE) management and regulation, part of which is sus- It helps to attract population to rural areas and tainable agriculture, has become an indispens- to overcome the demographic challenge, as this able requirement to mitigate possible damages type of agriculture is the backbone of the devel- caused by both effects. opment of rural lands. In addition, crop diversity and productivity of irrigated areas is greater than It has been proven that the best tool to reduce in rain-fed areas. In our Mediterranean climate, the use of water in agriculture is modernisation irrigated and rain-fed agriculture have and will he fight against climate change has be- total amount of approximately 100 billion euros and investment in irrigation in both convention- always coexist. It is noteworthy however that an come the mother of all battles. An axis would be generated. On the other hand, agricul- al and non-conventional irrigation water infra- irrigated hectare produces on average the equiv- around which not just environmental but tural crops absorb between 7 and 12% of emis- T structure. So, climate change policies should be alent of the output of six rain-fed hectares. economic and social policies now revolve, defin- sions, so it is easy to calculate the economic val- closely linked and coherent with adaptation pol- ing the broad strategic lines to be followed by ue that farmers generate. icies directly connected to water efficiency and A large number of positive externalities that, the main governments of the world. integrated management. Within this framework, without a doubt, make irrigation a true ally in Likewise, if combating climate change goes hand the distribution of future European funds will be the fight against climate change and winning the The EU recently agreed to increase its emissions in hand with a commitment to renewable energies, conditioned by the guidelines set by the Europe- mother of all battles. reduction target from 40% to 55% by 2030 be- agriculture could and should profit from their ap- low the 1990 level. In this scenario, given the plication in pumping and the use of non-conven- urgency of reducing both air pollution and car- tional water resources. It is worth highlighting the bon dioxide in the atmosphere, it should be not- accumulation problem which emerges during the ed that crops, including irrigated ones are true higher production phases. An important technol- CO² sinks. Our point of departure is that irrigated ogy able to accumulate potential energy in suf- agriculture in combination with improved cultiva- ficient quantities is the reversible hydraulic pow- tion methods and practices could gradually be- er plant. come more fully sustainable and contribute even more to addressing climate change. Had farm- In addition to enabling carbon dioxide absorp- ers stopped cultivating fruit trees, olive trees, or- tion, irrigation contributes indirectly to the emis- ange trees, vineyards, etc., and not cared for and sion of oxygen to the atmosphere due to vegeta- protected many of the forests and pastures, such tion photosynthesis while also indirectly helping sinks would have disappeared. to reduce erosion and desertification, two phe- nomena which could be aggravated as a result

Europe annually emits around 4,000 Mt of CO2 of climate change. On the other hand, as car- equivalent. As the average price of CO2 emis- bon dioxide levels have reached their highest sion allowances oscillates around 25 euros per concentration in the last three million years, the tonne, if all the allowances were auctioned, a spotlight is on the combustion of fossil fuels. Ag-

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The Mediterranean approach to the UN Food ranean to accelerate the region’s implementation Systems Summit consists in showcasing the SFS- of the 2030 Agenda. Agriculture and Food MED Platform flagship projects within the Sum- mit and G20 preparatory frameworks. It is envi- In past years, the CIHEAM-Bari institute and the sioned that the SFS-MED Platform will actively International Center for Agricultural Research contribute to the achievement of the UN Food in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) (currently on tempo- Towards more sustainable Systems Summit’s Action Tracks within the region rary relocation to Lebanon from its permanent so as to: base in Syria) have collaborated together on wa- Mediterranean food systems ter use efficiency and water harvesting topics. -CI • Ensure access to safe and nutritious food for HEAM-Bari and ICARDA participated in a com- all (enabling all people to be well nourished mon scientific session within the framework of and healthy; progressive realisation of the the World Conference on Sustainable Food Sys- Dr. Nicola Lamaddalena right to food); tems (Palermo, 2019) called “Solutions for coping Deputy Director, with impacts of water scarcity, land degradation • Shift to sustainable consumption patterns International Center For and climate change on Mediterranean Food Sys- (promoting and creating demand for healthy Advanced Mediterranean tems”. On that occasion, they launched an addi- and sustainable diets, reducing waste); Agronomic Studies tional potential collaborative venture focusing on (CIHEAM) / Bari Institute • Boost nature-positive production at the following key messages: sufficient scales (acting on climate change, reducing emissions and increasing carbon • Food systems should be based on diversity capture, regenerating and protecting critical of farming systems (e.g. combine rain-fed and ecosystems and reducing food loss and irrigation, agro-pastoralism, etc.) energy usage without undermining health or • Food systems should reintroduce cropping nutritious diets); systems which are also the basis for oint actions to support the shift towards Food Systems Summit and in alignment with the • Advance equitable livelihoods and value sustainable diets, i.e., barley instead of more sustainable food systems in the Medi- UN Decade of Action on Nutrition Programme distribution (raising incomes, distributing wheat, introduction of pulses as sources of Jterranean region so as to accelerate imple- (2016-2025), the UN Decade on Family Farming risk, expanding inclusion, promoting full and vegetable protein, good rotation, etc. productive employment and decent work for mentation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustain- Global Action Plan (2019-2028) and the UN De- • These types of solutions are more resilient to all); able Development are being jointly undertaken by cade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030). climate change, have a lower water footprint CIHEAM, FAO and UfM under a recently signed • Build resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks and and help to reduce land desertification and tripartite Memorandum of Understanding. Activities for the 2021-2022 biennium include: stresses (ensuring the continued functionality degradation, while increasing soil health of healthy and sustainable food systems). Within this framework the three organizations • the establishment of a “SFS-MED Partners’ • These food systems will also enable a are establishing a collaborative effort to build Community of Practice” balance between sustainable consumption up a Multi-stakeholder Sustainable Food Sys- In addition, a flagship proposal, led by CI- with sustainable production while also • the organisation of independent Food tems (SFS) Platform in the Mediterranean, aiming HEAM-Bari, is currently under development in promoting better relationships between urban Systems Summit Dialogues as a contribution at promoting a context-specific integrated sus- collaboration with FAO and UfM within the SFS- and rural areas. to the UN Food Systems Summit tainable food systems approach as an innovative, MED Platform. It will address the selected pri- ority challenges of sustainable natural resources multi-sectorial, and science-based response to • the organisation of the 3rd World In 2017 CIHEAM-Bari participated as Special management and food systems through an inte- the different challenges facing the region’s na- Mediterranean Diet Conference on Actions Rapporteur in the UN Committee for World Food grated, holistic and multi-stakeholder approach tions. towards more Sustainable Food Systems in Security (CFS 42) as Chair of the roundtable for context-specific for the Mediterranean and in a the Region the preparation of the policy recommendations context-specific area. It will serve as a case study The SFS-MED Platform will be developed within on Water for Food Security and Nutrition. the UN Decade of Action for the SDGs, consid- • Identification and co-development of the to trigger collaborative multi-stakeholder action ering the preparatory process for the 2021 UN initial flagship projects for food systems transformation in the Mediter-

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Currently CIHEAM-Bari is member of the inter- associated with consortia. Through various Farm- national platform on “The Global Framework on ers’ Associations they can participate in the di- Water Scarcity in Agriculture (WASAG)”, a Part- rect election of the Consortia Governing Boards. The challenges of Mediterranean nership Network established in April 2017 and hosted by FAO Headquarters. It consists of gov- The following projects (among others) are carried food systems in the decade of action ernment agencies, international organizations, out by CIHEAM-Bari, dealing with the issues dis- research institutions, advocacy groups and pro- cussed above: fessional/membership organizations, aiming at Dr. Alessandro Galli supporting governments and stakeholders in the • MADFORWATER - Development and Director of Global Footprint achievement of the water-related targets of the application of integrated technological Network’s Mediterranean- 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development. and management solutions for wastewater MENA Program treatment and efficient reuse in agriculture In that framework, CIHEAM-Bari and other Ital- tailored to the needs of Mediterranean ian partners are currently developing the “Tech- African Countries (funded by the EU-H2020) nical Guidelines for the Design of Modern Irri- • WES - Water and Environment Support (EU- gation Systems” which should be completed and funded regional support project) published during this year. • MENAWARA - Non-Conventional Water Re- One of the priority challenges faced by CI- use in Agriculture in Mediterranean countries HEAM-Bari is the balance between water de- (funded by the ENI-CBC Med) mand (which is increasing) and its supply (which handful of reports published over the last by food production. The way we produce, distrib- is decreasing) in agriculture. Therefore, con- • SPIS-Lab - Promotion of Energy and Water few months by UN bodies, NGOs, interna- ute, and consume food accounts today for about text-specific challenges are associated with: wa- Efficiency through Training and Research on tional organizations and independent ex- 70% of freshwater withdrawals while generating ter scarcity, producing enough food for a grow- Solar Powered Irrigation Systems (funded by A perts have all indicated that the relationship be- 37% of global greenhouse gas emissions - thus ing population; increasing competition for water GIZ) tween humans and the environment is not only representing the dominant Ecological Footprint between people and economic sectors; climate • EO_Time - Earth Observations (funded by the important but downright essential. driver in most world regions. This unfortunately change; increasing degradation of water resourc- EU-EraNetMed program) holds true for the Mediterranean. Food consti- es and ecosystems. In addition, there is the lack of These reports converge in showing that human tutes the primary Ecological Footprint driver in fair and transparent allocation mechanisms that • WAGRINNOVA - Co-innovations across societies are overusing the planet’s resources, the region, ahead of sectors such as transport recognise and protect the interests and rights of scales to enhance sustainable intensification, destroying its habitats and causing biodiversity and housing; accessing food is responsible for all users. The most vulnerable and marginalised resilience and food and nutritional security in to disastrously decline. In this process, the sta- nearly 30% of the combined demand for renew- should be especially considered, along with the water-managed agricultural systems in West bility of the Earth System is being compromised able resources and ecological services of an av- new challenge posed by the ongoing COVID-19 Africa (funded by the LEAP-Agri programme). jeopardizing the very foundations of our health erage Mediterranean resident. crisis. Technical and non-technical issues have to Some ‘greening’ approaches are developed in and economies. The unforeseen outbreak of the be considered to face the above said challenges, this project such as the use of solar energy COVID-19 pandemic has also forced us to expe- Dysfunctionalities characterise each stage of including the ecosystems and the people-cen- for agriculture. rience first-hand how deeply interconnected and food chains across the world. Remarkable in- tred approaches. dependent upon our planet we are. Among other creases in agricultural productivity have been In addition, CIHEAM’s four institutes (Bari, Cha- things, COVID-19 has highlighted the fragilities seen across countries driven by an increased use CIHEAM-Bari Institute has for many years col- nia, Zaragoza, Montpellier) are participating in of our food systems, making us realise that ac- of inorganic chemical , and laborated with the most important water users’ the EU’s “Farm to Fork Strategy” activities. cessing healthy food cannot be taken for granted agricultural machinery. Unfortunately, these have as well as farmers’ associations in Italy. One of and that actions are needed now to secure a fu- compromised the long-term productivity of nat- the leading WUAs in Southern Italy is the Con- ture where all can thrive within planetary bound- ural ecosystems as the worldwide yield of main sortium of Capitanata, which has developed very aries. staple crops are predicted to annually increase advanced technical and governance models to by a mere 0.8% during the period 2007-2050 manage the scarce water resources available to About half of the Earth’s biocapacity is occupied (compared to 1.7% during 1961-2007). local agriculture. Italy’s farmers are obliged to be

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In the Mediterranean, where climate warming is In view of the upcoming Union for the Mediter- predicted to be occurring faster than the glob- ranean Ministerial Meeting on Environment and al average, this reduced productivity will likely Climate Action a radical re-design of the region’s be more marked, affecting ecosystems and food food systems is needed to put us on the right #MoveTheDate WITH FOOD security. Fast rising temperatures are expected track to achieve the UN Sustainable Develop- to cause a near 50% reduction in the average ment Goals for 2030. Within the region, address- ENERGY Growing, processing, and transporting foods maximum fish body weight by 2050 and to alter ing food-related impacts requires increasing re- are energy demanding operations. the climatic conditions of one of the world’s most source efficiency, productivity and resilience (e.g. CITIES FOOD suitable areas for growing durum wheat, already via updating national agricultural policies to The majority of A healthy diet is a with a 1.5°C increase in average temperature over evolve towards pro-agroecological systems con- food produced powerful lever pre-industrial levels. Such progressive degra- tributing to decarbonizing food systems). It also worldwide is for human and consumed planetary dation of environmental conditions in the Med- requires reducing food losses and waste, while in cities. wellbeing. iterranean will likely contribute to the increas- reconnecting producers with consumers (e.g. via ing abandonment of smallholder agriculture and favouring short-chain food systems via local com- growing dependence on imports from outside the munities of practices). region. On the consumption side, re-evaluating diets with Food distribution, consumption and disposal also a view to reducing portions in general and in par- PLANET POPULATION present their own set of challenges. Only about ticular the consumption of meat and other animal Food production is Food is a human right 30% of the world’s population manages to source products can significantly contribute to a transi- an environmentally and necessary for crop-based foods from within 100km. This global tion towards sustainable food systems. This ap- intensive process. #M e growing populations the to thrive. trend holds true for residents of all Mediterra- proach can be launched via introducing sustain- nean countries except France since they rely on ability criteria into national dietary guidelines. Date net imports of biocapacity from foreign countries to satisfy their residents’ food demand. Italy for The above transformations – necessary to achieve example is the largest net importer of food-relat- better and climate-resilient agriculture, sustain- ed biocapacity, primarily importing from France able value chains and healthy lifestyles in the www.footprintnetwork.org www.overshootday.org www.barillacfn.com (wheat and meat products), China (meat prod- Mediterranean region – should be at the core of ucts, vegetables, fruit, nuts) and Brazil (meat the debate this coming July as youth, small-scale products, cereal grains). producers, local groups, researchers, private sec- tor representatives, policy leaders and delegates The way we eat – an ultimate indication of our meet in Rome, Italy for the Pre-Summit gathering food systems’ sustainability – also presents dys- of the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit. functionalities as dietary choices in most Medi- terranean countries have progressively changed: Last but not least, cities have a key role to play in urbanisation, social factors related to city life- this transition as they account the lion’s share of styles, globalisation of food systems and the food demand. They have the power to set, shape of food behaviours have led to and fuel trends. Taking the lead in transitioning a progressive erosion of the traditional Medi- to a fair and sustainable Mediterranean food cul- terranean diet. Mediterranean residents now- ture may be one goal and responsibility they want adays have a dietary preference for processed to take on as they grapple with post-COVID-19 and protein-intensive products such as meat and recovery challenges. high-trophic level fish species. Preventing food waste is also essential to lowering our food Foot- print as globally, from farm to fork, more than one-third of food produced is lost or wasted.

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dation. Historically present, these threats, are for pursuing effective climate change adapta- nowadays accentuated within a context of cli- tion methods and thus for their implementation Forests mate and land-use changes. by stakeholders.

These pressures are also differently exerted in Moreover, analysing a comprehensive trial net- the northern and southern basin: while forest cov- work for testing over 150 populations of the cir- Forests and Climate Change er increases in Mediterranean Europe, in North cum-Mediterranean Aleppo pine under “moder- Africa as well as the south and eastern Mediter- ate” (RCP 4.5) and “pessimistic” (RCP 8.5) carbon ranean forests have gradually declined over the dioxide emissions scenario for the period 2071- Dr. Gianbattista de Dato last 50 years. This decline is driven by population 2100, Patsiou et al. 2020 (but see also Peter- Expert, FAO, Silva growth and direct demand for fuelwood, food son 2020) revealed expected extensive height- and fibre, leading to overgrazing, overexploita- growth reductions for coastal areas of France, Mediterranea tion and forest clearing. proceeds Greece, Spain and Northern Africa. Mesic eco- at an annual rate of around 1.1% in the southern types currently experiencing more favourable and eastern Mediterranean – a higher rate than (wetter) climate conditions are at the highest risk, in tropical countries. increasingly outperformed by dry-adapted east- ern ecotypes, showing higher genetic diversity. The 5th IPCC Assessment Report predicts by the end of the century, an average temperature in- This pattern is contrary to the general expecta- crease for the Mediterranean region of about tion that climate change will have the most sig- 4-6°C with 20-50% less rainfall during the sum- nificant impact in the warmest and driest portion mer months. Expected climate change will also of a species’ range. Similar analyses are under- extend the expansion of Mediterranean-like cli- way for other Mediterranean key-forest species. Dr. Giovanni di Matteo mate conditions to additional areas. Moreover, Technical and Scientific increased areas of unmanaged forest in the north Generally speaking in a climate scenario, a spe- Assistant, FAO, Silva and deforestation and overexploitation in the cies’ capacity to grow and reproduce should de- Mediterranea south will increase the level of biotic (pests and crease from the ‘leading-edge’ (recently favour- diseases) and abiotic (fires, droughts, etc.) risks, able habitats where populations are expanding) reducing the possibilities for adaptation to cli- to the ‘trailing-edge’ (whither populations are re- mate change with potential extended forest die- treating from recently unsuitable habitats), fol- back and forest cover loss. lowing a climate gradient. Conversely, these studies suggest considering not only southern Assessment of the vulnerability to climate Mediterranean forest species to be introduced change of Mediterranean forest ecosystems and into latitudes further north but also their in- forest-dependent communities and their adapta- tra-specific diversity. tion capacity is critical for making decisions and orests provide numerous services, such as resenting 2.2% of the world total. Despite an in- understanding climate change’s impact on social In fact, introducing individuals of higher fitness functioning as carbon sinks while also re- crease of 1.8 million hectares between 2010 and and natural systems. than residents, thus bringing pre-adapted indi- F leasing oxygen, being sources of timber 2015 - an effect of urbanisation and decline of viduals by assisted gene flow (AGF), might in- and wood, food provision, home to many species, rural populations, accompanied by the abandon- Guidi et al. (2018) reported several examples crease the local adaptation in the short and long represent hotspots for biodiversity, regulation of ment of agricultural land and declines in free- where Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment term, providing greater genetic variation for fu- micro-climate, soil protection, water regulation, range livestock numbers - there are 80 million tools in the forest sector have been successful- ture evolutionary processes and facilitating the etc. hectares of degraded land in the Mediterranean, ly applied at a national and local scale, covering adaptation of forests to climate change. including forests. The region’s forest ecosystems socio-economic or biophysical or a combination In 2015, the estimated forest area in Mediterra- are subject to numerous threats such as forest of both issues, with different data availability and However, this option should be adopted with nean countries was over 88 million hectares, rep- fires, overexploitation, deforestation and degra- accessibility. They provided scientific evidence caution: an appropriate knowledge of the genet-

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ic diversity and the evolutionary forces (natural important fora where regional issues can be dis- tions - CBD Secretariat, FAO, IUCN, WRI, GP- To support the implementation of the forthcoming selection, genetic drift and gene flow) acting on cussed. The 7th Mediterranean Forest Week FLR, World Bank, Global Mechanism, Union for UN Decade for Ecosystems Restoration, a FAO- populations need to be assessed by combining scheduled for March 2020 was postponed due the Mediterranean, Plan Bleu, EFIMED, MMFN, led Task Force on Best Practices has been estab- classic demographic parameters (density, size, to the pandemic and new dates and main themes CTFC. The Commitment proposed the establish- lished involving 85 individuals from 32 leading age, etc.) with genetic parameters, as the re- have yet to be announced. ment of a new Regional Mediterranean Initia- global organisations to lay the ground for efforts sponses will likely affect the whole forest com- tive on Forest and Landscape Restoration (FLR) on knowledge capitalisation and dissemination. munity in which trees are planted. The topic of the 7th MFW was “Mediterranean aimed to restore at least 8 million hectares by In the Mediterranean, the focus will be on the forests: Enabling new opportunities for young 2030 in the Mediterranean. capitalisation of good restoration practices (to These issues have been widely investigated by the people and rural populations”. The general ob- share relevant knowledge between restoration scientific community. But the role that the Med- jective was to build a shared vision on the role The FLR Mechanism of FAO is currently manag- practitioners) and on monitoring the restoration iterranean forests can play in the global chal- of young people and rural populations in the ing a project launched in 2018, financed by the investments and efforts building on innovative lenges to fight climate change and reach sus- sustainable management of Mediterranean for- German government and labelled by the Union monitoring tools/approaches currently developed tainable development goals requires cooperative ests in a changing world, identifying opportuni- for the Mediterranean. The project aims to sup- by FAO. research consortia on several topics, including ties offered by forest-based solutions, mobilis- port the restoration of degraded lands to help the benefits derived from non-wood forest prod- ing stakeholders involved in the management of countries achieve positive climate mitigation and In view of the key role of forests in regional cli- ucts, the role of young generations, the control Mediterranean forests, sharing experiences on adaption impacts that will contribute to their mate change mitigation and adaptation, the of new pests and diseases, etc., processing big innovative forest management for possible rep- Nationally Determined Contributions and other forthcoming Union for the Mediterranean Minis- data banks and metadata, capacity building and lication among countries. The MFW would also commitments such as the Bonn Challenge on the terial Meeting on Environment and Climate Ac- for exchanging knowledge. promote landscape approaches for Mediterra- restoration of degraded and deforested lands tion is invited to pledge strong support to the nean forests focusing on restoration and biodi- and the Aichi targets on biodiversity. The proj- Regional Initiative as well as to the UN Decade, Established in 1948, the Committee of Mediter- versity conservation, enhancing forests’ interac- ect has three components: one regional Mediter- thus ensuring that mechanisms to deliver needed ranean Forestry Questions - Silva Mediterranea tion with other land uses such as agriculture and ranean component to enhance national capaci- results are put in place. - is a FAO statutory body, where the Mediterra- pastures. ties to successfully plan, implement and monitor nean member countries of the European Forestry large-scale forest and landscape restoration Commission, the Near East Forestry Commission All these themes are intimately related to the programmes to achieve countries’ NDCs; two na- and the African Forestry and Wildlife Commission tools to reach the goals of the zero-carbon econ- tional components with activities in pilot sites in meet, share experiences and establish coopera- omy and restoring forest ecosystems in which Morocco (Maâmora forest) and Lebanon (Shouf tive programmes. Its role is to insert Mediterra- Mediterranean forests and people can play ac- Biosphere Reserve, Bkassine forest). nean forest questions into a participatory pro- tive participatory roles. cess, acting as a catalyst for their management, proposing related calls for action, and address- There is an urgent need to act to halt land deg- ing its six working groups’ activities on timely and radation and restore degraded lands. The chal- emerging forest topics. lenge is to both conserve the main cultural landscapes and restore the most degraded or Where research is needed, the Committee has threatened ecosystems. In view of the global and established cooperative research networks on regional goals and ambitious new national com- subjects identified during its sessions. Six work- mitments, it is important to identify and proper- ing groups have been established on Forest ly implement low-cost, long-term strategies for Fires, Forest Genetic Resources, Cork Oak and landscape restoration. Non-Timber Forest Products, Urban and Peri-Ur- ban Forestry, Desertification and Restoration of The “Agadir Commitment”, adopted on the oc- Mediterranean Drylands, Forest Management casion of the 5th Mediterranean Forest Week and Sustainable Development. in March 2017 was endorsed by ten countries - Algeria, France, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Morocco, The Mediterranean Forest Week (MFW), coordi- Portugal, Spain, Tunisia, and Turkey – and strong- nated by Silva Mediterranea is one of the most ly supported by several international organisa-

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The symposium explored how UNESCO could one of the five Open Labs that steer and val- more effectively work with UNESCO sites, which idate the SHELTER activities on climate adap- Biosphere Reserves are emblematic sites both in terms of nature and tation. Another transboundary Open Lab is the culture in the region, to increase their resilience Sava River Basin, a major catchment in South- to climate change and extreme events. East Europe, coordinated by UNESCO Regional Bureau together with the International Sava Riv- Biosphere Reserves: open Since then, the UNESCO Regional Bureau has er Basin Commission. been working with its partners around the re- gion to develop concrete projects with partners Another important climate-related line of work laboratories for climate impacts within the network of UNESCO sites (close to of the UNESCO Regional Bureau is the Issue 200), located within the purview of the Bureau’s Based Coalition (IBC) on Environment and Cli- mandate. This large presence on the ground cre- mate Change, made up of 18 UN agencies, led in Ana Luiza Massot ates an unparalleled opportunity for joint action coordination with UNEP and UNECE. Launched Thompson-Flores to tackle the climate crisis, through adaptation in 2020, the IBC provides a regional platform for Director, UNESCO Regional and resilience building, and to significantly help UN agencies to support Member States in Eu- Bureau for Science and contribute to achieving the UN 2030 Agenda for rope and Central Asia in their implementation of Culture in Europe Sustainable Development and the Paris Agree- the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement on ment on climate change. The Bureau has also climate change. The IBC’s main goal is to support been active in addressing the effects of climate Resident Coordinators (RCs) and United Nations change on the Mediterranean Sea, in particular Country Teams (UNCTs) in Europe and Central as part of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Asia on environmental and climate change issues. Commission of UNESCO’s global ocean literacy initiative coordinated by its project office based Within this context, in March 2020, UNESCO and in Venice. UNECE co-led a regional webinar on water and climate change on the occasion of the launch he Mediterranean region has already ex- In addition, UNESCO has been working close- The UNESCO Regional Bureau has been working of the 2020 World Water Development Report perienced an increase in average tem- ly with its Member States to study the effects very closely with managers and experts in UNE- (WWDR) on the same topic. The webinar present- T perature of 1.4°C since the pre-industrial of climate change on UNESCO sites, such as SCO sites in order to promote best practices for ed the results of the WWDR and initiated a dis- era, 0.4°C more than the global average. Europe biosphere reserves, Global Geoparks and World adaptation to climate change. The issue in par- cussion with RCs and members of UNCTs in the and the Mediterranean region suffer each sum- Heritage sites – with many situated on the Med- ticular was a key theme in the series of Man and region that are planning, implementing and mon- mer from an increasingly warming and drying cli- iterranean coast threatened by sea level rise - Biosphere (MAB) summer universities organized itoring water and climate with national authori- mate, already causing loss of life and disruptions and propose ways for these sites to best adapt with MIO-ESCDE over the past 6 years, which ties. Through activities such as these, the UNE- throughout the region. The Mediterranean, where to climate change and to the multiplication of ex- have sought to improve the interaction of young SCO Regional Bureau and its partners provide a large part of the population lives close to the treme weather patterns. UNESCO is also working students and professionals within UNESCO Bio- national counterparts with data, tools and rec- coast, many in coastal sites and cities, is partic- both at the global and regional levels with youth sphere Reserves and exchange knowledge on the ommendations and help assist Member States to ularly affected. and promoting education as key to addressing impacts of climate change on these sites. effectively and efficiently manage their resources climate change through Education for Sustain- in the climate change era. In South-East Europe and the Mediterranean, able Development and . The Regional Bureau is also a partner in EU-fund- UNESCO through its Regional Bureau for Sci- ed projects related to climate change and UN- Climate change, the ‘defining issue of our time’ ence and Culture in Europe and its scientific pro- The regional symposium “The future of South- ESCO sites, notably SHELTER (Sustainable according to António Guterres, UN Secre- grammes - such as the Intergovernmental Hydro- East Europe and the Mediterranean in the con- Historic Environments hoListic reconstruction tary-General, is not going away and its effects logical Programme (IHP), Man and the Biosphere text of climate change: a UNESCO perspective”, through Technological Enhancement and commu- will be dramatic, notably in the Mediterranean. (MAB) and Intergovernmental Oceanographic organised by the UNESCO Regional Bureau in nity-based Resilience) started in 2019. The proj- UNESCO stands ready along with its partners in Commission (IOC) - is contributing to discussions November 2019 gathered 58 attendees includ- ect aims to bring together the scientific commu- the region including MIO-ESCDE, to assist its on how climate change is affecting the region, ing national and regional authorities, youth ac- nity and heritage managers with the objective of Member States and other key stakeholders such notably its water resources and the Mediterra- tivists, experts and scientists, and UNESCO site increasing resilience of cultural and natural sites as UNESCO sites, to adapt to this new reality nean Sea. managers to contribute to a climate-resilient to climate change. The Santa Croce Church in and transform the way we live in order to ensure South-East Europe and Mediterranean region. Ravenna, Italy (UNESCO World Heritage Site) is the health of our planet for future generations.

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The network promotes global action in the field Faced with this scenario, local authorities need of biodiversity protection, through the Biodiversi- greater economic resources and political power Cities ty Protection Community and uses City Develop- to be more effective in improving the lives of its ment Strategy of Tunis as a planning instrument citizens. Municipalities are the first ones needing to build sustainable and liveable urban commu- to implement the 2030 Agenda but they need ef- nities. ficient tools to do so. MedCities as other Medi- Cities and Climate Change: terranean associations, finds its‘raison d’être’ in Another example is the concrete efforts to rein- supporting these efforts. The battle against the climate crisis force capacities of member cities. MedCities has increased capacity-building activities on these As an example, we work with the Centre for Med- topics, i.e. by providing training modules to re- iterranean Integration (CMI) and the Agence is being played out in the cities spond to climate-change related challenges in Française de Développement (AFD) in an initia- cities. Support in access to funding is another tive towards “Enabling Mediterranean Cities to significant line within the organisation, by sup- Climate Action – MedCCA”, in partnership with Josep Canals-Molina porting members in building proposals to apply AViTEM, and the Union for the Mediterranean, Secretary General, for calls related to this topic, such as the Climate in coordination with EU CLIMA-MED. The over- MedCities Change Adaptation Grant Programme, Partner- all aim of this intervention is to increase city-lev- ship for Cities or the City Climate Finance Gap el institutional capacity to manage urban climate (EIB). change risks and develop sustainable climate ac- tion plans. In order to bring this experience to policy frame- works, MedCities has engaged in related consul- MedCities is also an active stakeholder in the tations such as the Union for the Mediterranean UNEP Mediterranean Action Plan/Barcelona consultation on the future of the Blue Economy Convention system. In this regard, the associa- in the Mediterranean region and the EU Consul- tion was actively present in COP 21, highlighting tations on the Climate Change Adaptation Strat- the need of counting with local authorities in or- egy and the Climate Pact under the umbrella of der for all to thrive in achieving common goals. In ore than twenty years ago, local au- of them addressed to replicate the Covenant of the Green Deal. COP 22 this aspect will be reinforced. Multilev- thorities began to take measures con- Mayors model to the Eastern and Southern shore. el governance experiences platforms such as the M sidered unpopular. In 1991, twelve Regarding the rising sea levels, MedCities is part Mediterranean Cooperation Alliance are the per- Mediterranean cities gathered to jointly tack- Regarding direct implementation in member cit- of the team developing, through the EU DG RE- fect partners to states to ensure implementation le environmental and climate challenges, giving ies, MedCities promotes the elaboration of Sus- FORM mechanisms, the Strategies for Coastal of the global and regional agendas. birth to the MedCities network. Nowadays, many tainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) in cities, Protection in southern Spain and the Balearic Is- public representatives have realised that working mainly through the Urban Transports Communi- lands. Our role is to support and facilitate lo- To conclude, the climate crisis is a pandemic that for a healthier, less polluted environment, with ty, an Interreg Med programme. In the field of cal stakeholder engagement with special focus has been around for a long time and will not be less noise and smoke, greener and with more wa- energy transition, MedCities is implementing the on municipal authorities as our member cities of cured by any vaccine but by the perseverance ter on public spaces makes a city more liveable, Rev’Acte project in Tunisia, providing capacity Málaga and Palma with the Nature Based Solu- and spirit of millions of people working together egalitarian and attractive for investment. But, is building in seven cities to adopt measures linked tions approach. to reduce the harm we do to our planet. it too late? to energy efficiency, renewable energy or sustain- able construction. In my opening words I wondered whether it was And this battle starts where more than 75% of Facing the climate crisis, MedCities promotes too late. The answer is probably yes, so now we the total world population will live by 2050 - cit- both mitigation and adaptation measures among MedCities is also implementing Non-Convention- only have time left to act. It is necessary to call ies. its member cities. The organisation provides sup- al Water Resources (NCWR) schemes through out more than certain lobbies do and talk with port to municipalities by either implementing the ValEUr Gabès project, promoting innovating those advanced, persevering politicians who have projects and technical assistance action direct- rainwater harvesting techniques in the Tunisian a medium-term outlook and to work with allianc- ly or by connecting them to broader initiatives city of Gabès. es to be considered. such as CES-MED, MedCCA or CLIMA MED, all

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Contribution in 2017 and in parallel launched the and international information about projects and nation’s Sustainable Development Strategy for events that contribute to the SDGs. 2030. Egypt is currently engaged in the inter- nal process stage of developing its revised NDC In addition, RAED takes a broadly-based ap- The voice of document by the Ministry of Environment and proach regarding the steps the government some other government agencies. should be taking in order to mitigate and adapt to climate change. It advocates for the enforce- RAED has been one of the most prominent lead- ment of more laws binding emitters to specified ers in combating climate change both in Egypt, carbon targets, for more involvement and con- civil society as well as in the Arab region. It has been active in sultations with CSOs as well as for developing working on multiple focus areas such as disaster the capacities of local authorities and concerned relief, water management, fulfilling SDGs, capac- actors to better enhance their efficiency when ity building and governance, waste management working on climate change related activities. Egypt’s Civil Society and of course climate change. RAED constant- ly encourages CSO engagement through devel- RAED has also made multiple national contri- Climate Change Advocacy oping their capacities. It is one of the founding butions such as the Grassroots Socio-economic members of MIO-ECSDE and has participated in Programme for Local Communities Development implementing projects and activities in collabo- Clusters (GRASP) Egypt Project (2017-2019) im- Dr. Emad Adly ration with the Global Network for Disaster Re- plemented in collaboration with Action Against General Coordinator, Arab duction (GNDR), the Norwegian Refugee Council Hunger. The project supported initiatives on recy- Network for Environment (NRC), EU, UNESCO, etc., many of which tackle cling of agricultural and solid waste, energy effi- and Development (RAED) climate change. ciency, rooftop gardening in addition to capacity building and training on climate change aware- RAED assisted in setting up other entities which ness. Another project was implemented on cli- also contribute to climate action, such as the mate-induced displacement in cooperation with above-mentioned ESDF, the Arab Office for the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) to identi- Youth and Environment (AOYE), the Nile Basin fy needs and opportunities to help integrate the Discourse (NBD) and the Arab Network of Na- implementation of DRR policies related to inter- tional Fora for Sustainable Development, recent- nally displaced people, to reduce vulnerabilities ly recognised by the League of Arab States. and improve resilience.

Egypt is highly vulnerable to climate change and among different stakeholders to determine the During project implementation RAED dissemi- These regional and national achievements have faces numerous threats on economic, social and policy gaps in relation to legislation, strategies nates much of the related knowledge and infor- faced some challenges. Knowledge gaps do environmental levels, challenges fueled by its and national planning to achieve sustainability mation across its wide network of members in the present themselves during the implementation of rapid increase in population and finite resource and address what needs to be changed regard- Arab region. This gives it a great advantage in projects such as the gap between science and base. ing climate change policy and climate security. achieving a strong outreach when tackling crucial policy. The process of policy-making does not im- issues like climate change. In addition, RAED’s mediately answer to the technical part and so it Thus, Egyptian CSOs focusing on environmen- More efforts have accordingly been directed to- monthly Newsletter “Montada Al Biah” contrib- tends to be slower, hindering the speed of ef- tally sustainable activities have been recently wards aligning priority actions with the UN Sus- utes to building environmental awareness in the fecting change. Although many Egyptian CSOs shedding more light on climate action and push- tainable Development Goals and the Sendai Arab region through its contents relating to en- work to form meaningful partnerships, there is ing for more policy changes to better combat Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction as syn- vironmental issues and events. The publication still more room for more collaborations and part- the climate change situation. One organisation ergy between these three international commit- is widely disseminated electronically among en- nerships which would ultimately lead to more is the Egyptian Sustainable Development Forum ments is crucial for achieving the desired change. vironmental associations, civil society organiza- projects serving climate change action. (ESDF) established in July 2012. It has recently Within the UNFCCC process Egypt met its com- tions, media agencies and environmental spe- increased its focus on facilitating the dialogue mitments by submitting its Nationally Determined cialists in all Arab countries. “Josoor 2030” is a In conclusion, a general increase in awareness website launched by RAED which publishes local has recently been observed with a noticeable rise

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in national interest concerning the issue. Egypt’s ter. This calls for the right mix of incentives and President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi constantly ad- private-public-partnerships. An integrated ap- dresses the subject during his speeches high- proach is key. In its turn, RAED continues to push lighting the importance of combating climate for more collaboration between countries in the change - also mentioned in the 5th objective of Arab region to better combat climate change. Egypt’s Vision 2030 under the heading of “Inte- This is facilitated through its participation in mul- grated and Sustainable Ecosystem”. In addition, tiple activities which pave the way for that sort the government is working on implementing more of collective integration. One example is RAED’s sustainable transport systems as well as multiple participation in the UfM’s Environment Task Force projects focused on solid waste management. A and the UfM’s Working Group on Environment and National Committee has been set up for the re- Climate Change where it represents Arab CSOs. duction of production and consumption of plas- RAED also participated in the UfM Ministerial tics. Meeting on Environment and Climate Change in Athens in May 2014, as well as in the consulta- These actions have enabled CSOs to contrib- tions for the formulation of the UfM’s post-2020 ute more to climate action. However, still more Environment agenda: the 2030 GreenerMed support is needed to allow civic, private and Agenda. public sectors to interact and collaborate bet- Photo Credits: Unsplash

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els dependence. The Low-Carbon Development largest island, Krk (408 km²) where it is based and Strategy drawn up in 2015 remains a dead letter. for the last nine years has organised the annual Croatia’s uneven progress “Island Krk Energy Conference”. The island’s pop- The new 2021-2030 National Energy Strate- ulation of 20,000 increases up to 120,000 during towards greener energy gy, posited on strong economic growth, is total- the summer, leading to high stress on its infra- ly neo-liberal, with a heavy focus on gas as well structure. The high cost of importing energy from as other fossil-based energies and nuclear. The the mainland and seasonality creates increas- Vjeran Pirsic pressure from the US and Russia shaping the ing problems. The local authority and communi- President, EKO KVARNER, strategy is notable, including for a large offshore ty have shown ambition in climate adaptation by Croatia liquid natural gas (LNG) terminal and regasifi- adopting energy sustainability measures, waste cation unit on Krk island (an EU Project of Com- management and electric vehicles infrastructure. mon Interest and a priority project of the Central A network of local stakeholders has also been and South Eastern Europe Connectivity Initiative) set up with the same goal, through its Strategy originally planned to be onshore. This was strong- for Zero GHG emissions created in 2012. Krk is- ly opposed by EKO KVARNER and like-minded land not only intends to become energy indepen-

organisations as well as by the island authorities. dent but also CO2 neutral by 2030.

Speaking at the terminal’s inauguration on 29 EKO KVARNER is also a sponsor of the first Cro- January 2021, the Director of the Innovation and atian energy cooperative “Energetska zadruga Networks Executive Agency (INEA), Dirk Beckers, Otok Krk” to mobilise prosumers to benefit from said: “The Krk LNG terminal is of strategic impor- jointly negotiating equipment prices, but also KO KVARNER has been active in public als have already been tabled ahead of the start tance for the security and diversification of natu- from competing on the energy market, investing discussions with government organiza- of the consultation. Thus, the democratic process ral gas supply in Central and South-Eastern Eu- in the communal project of the island’s first large tions and in advisory institutions on topics is simulated; there is no real significant impact E rope. It will also ensure the effective integration solar power plant and in creating a virtual power of climate change since 2014. We are a member of civil society. An additional aggravating circum- of other key natural gas infrastructure projects plant in the future. of the Croatian Climate Change Panel. In re- stance of the environmental advocacy situation in into the regional gas market and overall it will en- cent years our NGO helped to publish and pro- Croatia is the fact that a separate Ministry of En- hance the competitiveness of the region”. EKO KVARNER leads community building on mote some books on climate change, we organ- vironmental Protection no longer exists, since its three levels: ised public awareness activities such as lectures functions have been taken over by the Ministry of However, last year’s positive changes in Croa- in universities and local communities. Economy and Sustainable Development. tia’s National Energy Strategy included a clearer • policy formulation with local authorities opportunity for energy independence, including EKO KVARNER coordinated a team of experts Despite Croatia’s major renewable energies po- • civil society activities oriented towards substantial funding and support for the construc- to develop several green plans for the sustain- tential there remains a very strong pro-fossil fu- citizens (educational, workshops...) tion of renewable energy installations. Until 2018 able development of municipalities and counties. els lobby. Although its own mines are ex- applications for rooftop photovoltaics required • cooperation with experts (universities and We actively participated in the revision of Cro- hausted, it now imports coal from South Africa as 66 separate documents, but this has now been energy providers) atia’s Nationally Determined Contribution with- well as electricity generated by fossil fuels-based reduced to three. This was achieved also thanks in the UNFCCC process. However, Croatian pol- power plants located in Bosnia and Serbia. In to persistent pressure from EKO KVARNER and icies and national inventory reports are deficient 2009 the government exaggerated future energy similar organisations, which made an important As the main coordinator of most of the island’s (according to experts) and lacking best practice demand to prove the need for more power sta- contribution through the years pointing out the energy transition activities, EKO KVARNER is un- recommendations. tions, while limiting the expansion of renewable problems needing correction. In June 2020 the der contract with EUKI as operative IKRE project energies. There is also strong interest and local government approved new targets allowing up to leader and energy transition optimization man- Indeed, while Croatian civil society is formally research work on technologies such as Carbon 1 GW photovoltaic installations and 1 GW wind ager. Its mission is to create as many RES proj- very much involved in decision making, in reality Capture and Storage. power. ects as possible, in order to minimize and then public hearings are often announced late, e-con- eliminate the use of fossil fuels. A permanent in- sultation is sometimes only open for six days The government continues to pretend it wants to EKO KVARNER has been particularly active in formation office will be set up on Krk to advise while comments are only considered if propos- “go green” while favouring continuing fossil fu- promoting climate change mitigation in Croatia’s citizens on solar systems, but also on circular

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economy and sustainable tourism, to show that bikes, which should soon come into use through carbon neutrality and tourism need not be mutu- a bike-sharing system. ally exclusive. The current strategy for the island envisages In 2020 the Clean Energy Secretariat of the EU about 36.8 MWP generated by new photovolta- Islands ranked Krk among the top ten best prac- ic installations (on roofs), as well as an addition- tices in the whole of Europe related to energy al 4 MWP of ground-based photovoltaic instal- transition. lations in the near future. In addition, the plan also aims at installing 25.2 MWP of wind power EKO KVARNER is currently developing renew- and 250 KWP of biogas plants. This investment, able energy projects based on prosumers and estimated at 89.65 million euros, is expected to on-site energy production. A challenge is how to make Krk completely energy independent in the implement the large-scale penetration of most- coming decades. ly variable renewables into the power grid. Our next steps will be to search for best solutions for As regards the planned UfM Ministerial Meet- a climate-wise energy grid optimization solution, ing we urge a key focus on the energy transition arid planning and consumption scheduling sug- and green transport. Currently the development gestions. of renewable energies in the Mediterranean is not harmonised among countries. What is needed The future vision of Krk includes the use of elec- is the exchange of knowledge and best practic- tric vehicles, solar, wind power and biogas to pro- es, as well as enabling cross-border energy trade duce electricity; smart grid and blockchain tech- (according to the optimal regional meteorolog- nology; self-sufficient households and on-site ical situation). As regards transport, fossil fu- production as the new normal. Krk adopted an els continue to dominate air and road transport, updated version of the “Zero Emissions Develop- while the potential of increased maritime trans- ment Strategy” in 2018 as an impetus for inte- port in the Mediterranean is increasingly neglect- grated and sustainable island development and ed. A return to traditional maritime transport and has an energy cooperative set up since 2012 and the strengthening of Mediterranean connections two energy transition management companies. in contrast to the dominant transport methods

Island Krk Energy coordinates the construction would contribute to reducing CO2 emissions. process as well as the production and transmis- sion of clean, solar energy from the future 5W solar power plant (Barbičin). The plant will come on line this year with co-ownership in this project and facility available to all islanders, or compa- nies incorporated in the island. Smart Island Krk was subsequently established to focus on smart processes and digitization.

The use of LED technologies has reduced elec- tricity consumption from 1.02 million kWh in 2010 to 734,864 kWh in 2018. With transport emis- sions accounting for 53% of its total, an electro- mobility programme was developed by building 12 EV charging stations for vehicles, and more

recently eight charging stations for 80 electric Photo Credts: Unsplash

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and similar waste, improvement of sanitation, liq- in the areas of water, energy, waste, and trans- uid and wastewater treatment, encouraging clean port management. Morocco’s climate transport (extension of tram lines in major cities such as Rabat and Casablanca). One of the SNDD’s seven major axes relates to change commitments climate action by means of the implementation of Morocco’s commitment to the fight against cli- the national policy for combating climate change mate change and the preservation of the environ- at the territorial level (the elaboration of territo- Prof. Mohamed Ftouhi ment is embodied in its 2011 constitution which rial climate plans), as well as through the financ- President, Club Marocain establishes Sustainable Development as a civ- ing of investment projects related to adaptation pour l’environnement et le il right. A framework law containing the national measures, climate change mitigation, carried out charter for the environment and sustainable de- by public and private economic actors. Developpement (CMED) velopment was issued in 2014. It clearly recog- nizes the inherent rights and duties to the envi- Furthermore, it should be emphasised that Mo- ronment and sustainable development relating to rocco ensures that the involvement of public in- both individuals and legal entities. stitutional actors is complemented and strength- ened by the mobilisation of actors concerned In 2019, Morocco published its National Cli- with climate action and sustainable development, mate Plan 2030. It created the “National Com- including the scientific community, local author- mission for Climate Change”, as well as working ities, the financial sector, the private sector and to improve intersectoral coordination and involve civil society. These actors are represented in the non-governmental organizations in decision mak- National Commission on Climate Change, which is ocated in northwest Africa and on the participatory and concerted approach involving ing on climate change implementation and moni- responsible for proposing all measures that may southern shore of the Mediterranean, a economic sectors, the private sector, the scientif- toring of its climate strategy. revise and implement national policy on combat- crossroads of diverse civilizations, Moroc- ic community, networks of environmental NGOs, L ing climate change, including the periodic review co is experiencing economic development and such as the Moroccan Alliance for Climate and Morocco’s energy action was to achieve an am- of the NDC and the preparation of periodic re- significant demographic and urban dynamics Sustainable Development (AMCDD) in which the bitious target of 42% of its installed capaci- ports on the implementation of the results of the within a context of climate change. Moroccan Club for Environment and Develop- ty from renewable energy by 2020, currently at UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement. ment coordinates the Sustainable Development 37%. The target for renewable energy would be This is characterized by a worrying pressure on Goals commission. to reach 52% by 2030. The National Energy Effi- To achieve this involvement, a participatory enti- its natural resources, forest ecosystems and on ciency Strategy, meanwhile, aims for energy sav- ty was created, with the main mission to encour- agricultural development due to the alternation The NDC commitment will be honoured by the ings across all sectors, of around 20% by 2030. age and exchange information and strengthen of years of drought and the scarcity of water re- implementation of adaptation and mitigation the capacity of stakeholders involved in the fight sources. Thus, the average annual per capita wa- measures according to an integrated, participa- For the implementation of this charter, Morocco against climate change. This entity, Morocco’s ter supply has declined from over 2,500m³ in the tory and responsible approach. The investment developed the National Strategy for Sustainable Climate Change Competence Centre, is open to 1960s to about 700m³ today. mentioned above will be oriented towards the fi- Development (SNDD) 2016-2030, issued in July the African continent as part of South-South Cli- nancing of adaptation and mitigation actions, by 2019, which through its seven strategic issues mate Cooperation. This was decided at the Africa As part of its initial Nationally Determined Con- means of a transition to a new mode of develop- converges with the UN Sustainable Development Action Summit, which brought together some 30 tribution, Morocco committed to reduce its GHG ment no longer based on carbon and fossil fu- Goals. It also integrates the “climate change” di- African countries on the side-lines of the COP 22 emissions by 42% by 2030 with 25% as a condi- els but on decarbonisation through innovation, mension into public policies and development in Marrakech in 2016. tional target and 17% as an unconditional one, re- an energy transition to renewable energy (so- plans and projects initiated by state and local quiring an estimated total investment of $50 bil- lar, wind, hydropower) and the encouragement of authorities as well as by the private sector. lion by 2030. Under its revised NDC this target green investment by public and private compa- has been increased to 44.2% by 2030, of which nies. This concerns in particular the energy, agri- Implementation of the NDC is affected through 18.5% unconditional. culture, water resources sectors, the preservation 21 integrated sectoral action plans for sustain- and sustainable management of forests, integrat- able development as well as by a horizontal na- The NDC revision process took place under a ed coastal management, recovery of household tional action plan reflecting state responsibility

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Interior Federation of private enterprises (CGEM)

Foreign Affaires Federation of cement manufacturers (ACP) Component Cooperation Component Private and Federation of Energy Economy and finance Public Administration semi-private sector CDG Development Spatial and city planning, housing Society for Energy Investment (SIE) Education, training, research Integration of CC in sectoral Assistance for accreditation of …… Industry and investment policies / Preparation of climate finance entities / Green international climate investment / Climate risk Energy, mining negotiations Insurance Sustainable development and environment

Water

Forestry Environmental Foundation Mohammed VI

Agriculture Association of Teachers (AESVT)

Transport Association of Moroccan Journalists ……. for the Environment Association Ribat el Fath for Sustainable Development

Component Component Association Targa for Development Research and Expertise Civil society and Environmental Protection Moroccan agency for energy efficiency (AMEE) Observatory of the Environment of Tanger National meteorology service (DMN) Support for research on national Awareness and Education / Network of Associations for the Development of South-Eastern Oasis Moroccan Institute for Research in Solar Energy and local level / Improvement of the Improvement of civil society and New Energies (IRESEN) national CC reports participation in national and ……. international CC activities Moroccan agency for (MASEN) ……..

Centre de Compétences Changement Climatique du Maroc Source: https://www.giz.de/en/downloads/giz2018-en-schema-Mitglieder-morocco.pdf

In this regard, Morocco’s role is focused on ca- According to the 2020 annual report of the inde- pacity building and mobilisation of funding to pendent international scientific organization: Cli- support African countries in their efforts to com- mate Action Tracker (CAT), Morocco is success- bat climate change. To this end, a Climate Invest- fully continuing its progress in climate policies ment Plan (PIC-Climate) has been developed and and could, as one of the few developing coun- will be implemented through the three Climate tries to do so, be able to reduce its emissions by Regional Commissions, created at the Summit of 2030 as planned by its revised Nationally Deter- Heads of State in Marrakech in 2016: mined Contribution as the expansion of renew- able energies continues. The share of these clean • The Congo Basin Climate Commission, energies now represents nearly 20% of electricity chaired by Congo; produced (in MWh) and 37% of the installed re- newable energy capacity (in MW). • The Sahel Climate Commission chaired by Niger; The trends in GHG emissions indicate that the • The Climate Commission for African Island measures taken by Morocco respect its climate Areas chaired by Seychelles. commitment and they are compatible with the Paris Agreement which aims to stabilize global warming at 1.5°C.

translated from the original French by the guest editor Photo Credts: Pixabay

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mary energy, ranking third as an energy source succumb to the pressures of the fossil industry behind petroleum products (44.05%) and natural allowing the introduction of concepts such as Spain’s Nationally Determined gas (21.2%). However, BP’s “Statistical Review of “technological neutrality” and “net-emissions”. World Energy 2020” indicates that, although re- Concepts that would serve to further open the Contribution falls short of needed newables represented 16.9% of energy consump- door to false solutions of unsustainable tech- tion in Spain in 2020 oil and gas exceeded 70%. nologies such as carbon capture and storage or policies fossil gas, making it difficult to decarbonize the For this reason, direct and indirect subsidies for economy while continuing on a fossil-dependent fossil fuels must be eliminated and the funds in- pathway, contrary to the Paris Agreement. Cristina Alonso Saavedra volved redirected to promote renewable energy, energy efficiency as well as to measures neces- In this regard, COP 26 is a decisive milestone Lead, sary to ensure a just transition out of fossil fuels. in achieving significant progress in complying Friends of the Earth Spain However, while the challenge of a 100% renew- with the Paris Agreement and limiting the glob- able energy electricity system by 2030 is a pal- al temperature increase to less than 1.5°C. Its pable reality, ways of getting there remain to be success will depend on whether the Parties ar- defined. Most of the projects approved and pro- rive with commitments on mitigation and adap- jected are large-scale in terms of power and are tation, finance and technology transfer as well implemented by large energy companies or in- as compensation for loss and damage. This ac- vestment funds without any social, environmen- quires special relevance in the specific case of tal or economic benefits for businesses or com- the Mediterranean area given its high vulnerabil- munities. ity to climate change, as well as in terms of geo- strategic considerations. On the contrary, they further accentuate the per- pain’s Nationally Determined Contribution enable climate neutrality by 2040. The PNIEC verse rural-urban relationship whereby rural ar- For this reason, it is very important that the forth- is contained in three legislative texts: i) presented by Spain to the European Commission eas supply the urban ones, while at the same time coming Union for the Mediterranean Ministeri- S the Integrated National Energy and Cli- in 2020 establishes an emissions reduction tar- functioning as carbon dioxide sinks. In this re- al Meeting on Environment and Climate Action mate Plan (PNIEC 2021 -2030) which sets out get of 23% by 2030 compared to 1990. The ELP gard our Community Energy campaign demands should endorse urgent climate commitments measures to reduce GHG emissions as well as to is based on climate neutrality by 2050. Togeth- the government’s formal commitment to the ener- which can be presented at COP 26 and not just increase the role of energy efficiency and renew- er with many other environmental NGOs, Friends gy transition in line with European Directives, to an exchange of information as has been the case able energies; ii) the Long-Term Strategy (ELP), of the Earth Spain insists on the imperative need focus on decentralized systems allowing greater at previous events. the roadmap to achieving carbon neutrality by for greater ambition in the light of the current resilience, greater democratization of the system, 2050 at the latest and; iii) the Climate Change climate emergency. We demand a 55% reduction with citizen participation as a sine qua non. A Mediterranean strategy comprising ambitious and Energy Transition Law (LCCyTE), the legal by Spain by 2030 over 1990 levels and climate commitments based on science, international co- framework guaranteeing the economy’s orderly neutrality in 2040. The Climate Change and Energy Transition Law operation and citizen participation is essential. transition towards a low-carbon and climate-re- is currently close to approval. Long-awaited and silient economy in the medium and long term. The PNIEC’s 2030 goals are to achieve a 42% necessary, we consider it to be both insufficient translation from the original Spanish by the guest editor share of renewable energies in final energy use and obsolete. The agreement so far to reduce Friends of the Earth Spain considers that all of and 74% in electricity generation. Environmental emissions by 23% by 2030 compared to 1990, co- them suffer from a lack of ambition in terms of organizations demand a 100% penetration of re- inciding with what is established in the PNIEC, is scientific recommendations and fail to support newable energy sources in final energy consump- insufficient and does not support the countries of climate justice, since they do not address Spain’s tion by 2040 and a 100% renewable system by the Global South and is thus also obsolete from historic responsibility as a developed country. 2030. the outset.

The scientific community calls for a global annual According to MITECO (Ministry for the Ecological Furthermore, this law does not include citizen reduction in emissions of at least 7.6%, or a total Transition and Demographic Challenge), in 2018 participation in the energy transition and there of 45% over 2010 levels by 2030, which should renewable energy represented 13.9% of total pri- is currently the danger that the government will

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of youth associations in the Mediterranean re- and the needed technologies to unleash renew- gion so that there can be an exchange of ideas, able energies and their transmission by means of Mediterranean Youth challenges and good practices. strong grid storage. in Climate Action However, in order to ensure inter- and intra-gen- We look forward to a more advanced climate erational sustainability and social justice, young action agenda emerging from the forthcoming people need to be able to understand and par- Union for the Mediterranean Ministerial Meet- Hajar Khamlichi ticipate in public policy consultations. To this ing. Much is to be done to support a circular President, Mediterranean end, MYCN intends to continue its work at in- economy, a just transition, biodiversity protection Youth Climate Network ternational level, by participating in high-level and green jobs with a focus on youth and women meetings such as those of the COP and COY. and aligned with the UN Sustainable Develop- (MYCN) ment Goals. The region must be positioned as a At the same time MYCN intends to continue with clean energy source in partnership with advanced a place-based approach, aiming to communi- countries for technology transfer. cate more and more with local youth organisa- tions such as Fridays For Future, in order to act Therefore, projects such as the proposed East as a bridge between civil society, and in partic- Mediterranean gas pipeline do not represent ular young people in the Mediterranean regions. added value to the region due to the resulting We call for mechanisms leading to the conver- tremendous increase in greenhouse gas emis- gence of the various integration efforts within the sions which would deflect the clean energy tran- Anna Rizzo framework of the Euro-Med partnership in order sition and low-emissions pathway - besides being Board Member, MYCN to meet the urgent needs of the region. a source of potential conflict in the region, which has already begun on a verbal level. A focus on young people is crucial given their vulnerability to COVID-19- related impacts on MYCN has been involved in side events at COPs employment and their role as the generation 23, 24 and 25 and will participate in COP 26 that will primarily work in the green jobs of the alongside the global youth movement. It also future. Young people can be meaningfully en- participated in the ‘Climate Change, Water and gaged in, and drive forward a just transition to- Sustainable Development’ panel with the rep- wards net-zero emissions. The search for innova- resentatives of the European Commission’s DG tive solutions to face the challenges of climate CLIMA and DG ENV and the Union for the Med- change is an opportunity to create new jobs, in iterranean at the annual forum of the FEMISE particular for those who are still excluded from network in Brussels, (June 2019). the labour market. The Mediterranean Youth Climate Network was national, national and local climate-related poli- However, MYCN believes that the voice of young founded in 2016 by seven associations and youth cies and promoting youth engagement and active A culture of inclusiveness and environmental re- people is not yet fully heard in policy-making climate movements active in 22 Mediterranean participation in climate negotiations and oth- sponsibility is much needed; the capacity of processes as it is not so easy for youth to be countries - of which four in Europe - France, Italy, er decision-making processes. Our activities in- youth in climate change mitigation and adapta- consulted by governments. Youth is increasingly Albania and Greece. clude participation in conferences and high-level tion efforts must be strengthened by establish- demanding action towards a more just, equita- groups, written proposals, roundtables and other ing and investing in climate change and envi- ble, and climate-resilient society. It is making its Our main mission is to strengthen the region- appropriate means allowing transfer of skills and ronmental education to also meet marginalised voice heard by media campaigns and demonstra- al integration of initiatives led by Mediterra- media visibility. youth. Key levers, barriers and best practice ex- tions. However, current COVID-19 pandemic com- nean youth and support the emergence of new amples to support greater alignment of action plicates the organisation of such events. actions at local and regional levels - while in- MYCN has recently expanded its network with for youth empowerment policies must be identi- creasing the number and improving awareness the aim of spreading the voice of young people. fied, setting up a Multi-Stakeholder Task Force Youth organisations, therefore, can find their raising techniques, positively influencing inter- Our ambition is to create an ever-wider network to assess local and regional regulatory barriers strength within local and regional governments

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that have a focus on place-based strategies, organisations for climate action. Both young peo- building on the strengths of their territories, in ple and adults can become Climate Pact Ambas- order to turn challenges into opportunities. In- sadors to spur and support climate action in their deed, to achieve the climate neutrality objective own communities and networks. by 2050 outlined in the European Green Deal, a local approach is crucial. The Union for the Mediterranean is playing an important role in building and maintaining the An initiative highlighting the vulnerabilities of multilevel dialogue between civil society, youth the Mediterranean sub-regions, and their crucial organizations like the MYCN and local and na- role in achieving goals is the tional governments. The Union’s support is valu- RegionsAct! initiative of the Conference of Pe- able, promoting the credibility of the youth orga- ripheral Maritime Regions – CPMR. It pays spe- nizations vis à vis their local governments as well cial attention to the involvement of stakeholders as contributing to regional youth empowerment. (from both shores of the Mediterranean region) in MYCN’s involvement in the UfM’s climate change the drafting and implementation of climate-relat- and environment activities have given us an over- ed strategies. view of the regional and domestic policies as well as the opportunity to connect with some region- The European Climate Pact, launched last De- al stakeholders. cember by the European Commission provides an open space for young people, communities and Global Climate Strikes Milano, Italy / Photo Credts: Unsplash Italy Milano, Strikes Climate Global

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Box 5 talking about big scale projects- and clearly priori- LNG and CNG, in particular when blended with bio- tizing their population in terms of jobs, infraestruc- or e-gas and provided tures and other economic and non economic ben- are minimised”. CAN Europe and CAN Arab World efits (education, projects...). Environmental integrity needs to be ensured when planning these develop- Fossil gas cannot anymore be part of the long-term ments, paying attention to impact risk to local re- energy scenarios. The Med region needs to rapid- NGOs appeal to UfM Energy sources, particularly effects on water availability for ly move away from fossil fuels and incorporate a the construction and maintenance of these projects. “Just Transition” concept to support countries, re- Ministers gions and local communities through - inter alia - While we welcome, with the above considerations, financial support to deploy renewable technologies, the mention of the increase of these energy devel- capacity building and technical know-how sharing. Ahead of the UfM Ministerial Conference on between the different Mediterranean countries opments in the draft Resolution, we are deeply wor- Environment and Climate Action later this to advance towards just, climate-neutral ener- ried about the role fossil fuels still play in the future Lastly, we would like to show our deep concern year, Energy Ministers adopted a Declaration gy systems in the region. This is notably import- energy plans, particularly fossil gas. The suggest- about the prominent role granted in the draft decla- at their 14th June virtual meeting hosted by ant for an area that is particularly vulnerable ed draft Ministerial Declaration on Energy oddly ration to organisations like the “Observatoire Médi- EU President, Portugal and co-chaired by the to climate change and to different environmen- grants this fuel an outstanding role in the clean en- terranéen de l’Energie” (OME) which includes only UfM Co-President, Jordan. CAN Europe and tal pressures that can severely affect the access ergy transition of energy production and consump- public and private Mediterrannean energy utilities, CAN Arab World networks had previously is- to water and food. Reliance on sound and well tion modes. This is simply not in line not only with in particular all the oil and gas majors operating in sued their concerns in a joint letter to minis- accepted scientific information is key for under- science or the Paris Agreement, but also with the the region. We raise our concerns around the con- ters dated 10th June. standing what is at stake. For this reason we en- latest revealing forecasts made by the International flict of interest due to their influence on UfM Ener- courage the energy ministers of the Union for the Energy Agency (IEA) in its recently launched bench- gy policies, statements and scenario developments. Dear Energy Ministers, Mediterranean (UfM) to include a mention to the mark report “Net zero to 2050” urging for immedi- Of particular concern is OME’s exclusive and thus MEDECC report (endorsed by UfM) in their res- ate and permanent cancellation of all new fossil fuel dominant role in managing the UfM Gas Platform, CAN Europe is Europe’s leading NGO coalition olution, to put climate change adaptation and investments worldwide, whether in exploration or in- contrary to the arrangements for the other two UfM fighting dangerous , mitigation at the core of the Mediterranean en- frastructure. This clearly means new gas develop- energy platforms, managed as far as we can ascer- representing over 180 organisations in more than ergy policies. ments, and particularly mega-projects like the pro- tain by the UfM secretariat. 30 European countries. CAN Arab World is a net- posed East Med pipeline will be totally unnecessary work of more than 120 organisations in 17 coun- As foreseen by IRENA (the International Renew- and if built, become stranded assets with unaccept- OME’s current control of the Gas Platform guaran- tries coordinating the efforts of civil society in the able Energy Agency) and other studies, the Med- able environmental, social and economic damages, tees a strong tilt towards continued UfM-sponsored Arab world to promote climate protection and re- iterranean region has abundant potential for the while hindering the sustainable energy transition at fossil fuel expansion in the Mediterranean, contrary newable energy, in addition to developing strat- massive development of solar energy and onshore regional and global level. to the IEA’s and MEDECC warnings already men- egies to reduce carbon emissions from facilities wind; the Mediterranean Sea has as well poten- tioned above.This intrusive role in what is supposed across the region. Both coalitions include many tial for far greater deployment of offshore wind These updated IEA findings must necessarily be to be the secretariat of a multilateral, intergovern- members in the Mediterranean region, including turbines and ocean renewable technologies. The reflected in the region’s energy scenarios. For the mental organisation, must be terminated without your countries. We have recently learnt about the release of this potential should ensure the op- above stated reasons we urge the Energy ministers delay. Draft Ministerial Declaration on Energy suggest- portunity for citizens and local communities to to delete from the declaration those sentences rec- ed for the Third Ministerial Conference on Energy engage in the energy transition and go hand in ognizing “the major role of Southern and Eastern of the Ministers of the Union for the Mediterra- hand with biodiversity protection. This is particu- Mediterranean countries as (...) as stable suppliers nean (UfM) in charge of Energy to be adopted in larly important in less resourced areas, populat- Fatima Ahouli of natural gas, including LNG; The role that natu- its next meeting in Lisbon, on June 14th. ed by communities with less access to education Regional Coordinator, CAN Arab World ral gas plays in the clean energy transition of ener- and infrastructure. These communities need to be gy production and consumption modes (...)” or “the Wendel Trio We welcome the efforts in moving forward the included in the planning process from a very ear- transitory role of lower-emission fossil fuels such as Director, CAN Europe partnership, regional dialogue and cooperation ly stage, avoiding impositions -particularly when

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the mobility needed to maintain Mediterra- Tourism is based on this capital and has become nean tourism as a key economic activity for the region’s “heavy industry”. Tourism strives to the development of the region, with the efforts survive and adapt to the climate change induced to meet the net-zero carbon target? Epilogue heatwaves and other environmental consequenc- es of climate change, by adopting in some cases Learning to calculate easily our environmental inappropriate adaptation practices, backfiring on footprint for alternative travel options in a way o doubt, progress has been made, at geo-strategic, political and socioeconomic con- climate change mitigation efforts. Such practic- similar to what we do when we calculate the cor- many levels, in addressing the climate sequences. On the other hand, apart from the di- es include increased air-conditioning for cooling responding costs and make our choices accord- N change crisis. Important policies are in rect negative impact of such a project on climate in summer or use of snow cannons for artificial ingly (e.g. by favouring maritime over air transport place or in the pipeline and significant resources change, the off-shore hydrocarbon extraction in- snow in winter. Furthermore, tourism is critical- when feasible) could address to some extent this have been mobilised, as it becomes evident also frastructures and operations entail serious dan- ly connected to mobility either through cruise challenge until the use of renewable energies is from the present Sustainable Mediterranean is- gers of large-scale marine pollution and signifi- ships that are becoming ever bigger, or through generalised in all types of travelling. sue. cant problems for other economic activities, such increasing numbers of regular and chartered as fisheries, aquaculture and particularly tourism. flights - reaching even small islands directly, and We do hope that the present publication offers Nevertheless, MIO-ECSDE would like to draw The latter may be damaged by the presence of expansions of existing airports or construction of something useful in the struggle of the people the attention of policy makers and all stakehold- extraction infrastructures even at a long distance new ones. and the countries of the region to address the ers, including its membership, the Circles it fa- through their impact on the landscape. climate crisis, not only for our Mediterranean cilitates and the wider public, on three major, This is crucial as an 85% reduction of tourism has homelands and our common sea, but for the en- difficult open questions and issues, particular- 2. The Mediterranean is known for its sig- been observed this year due to the COVID-19 tire planet. ly relevant for the Mediterranean. These include nificant solar, wind and geothermal poten- pandemic in a sector contributing significantly controversies and policy inconsistencies that in tial, in other words for the huge opportunities to the regional GDP and employment. Despite Because if the planet is not well, the Mediterra- our point of view require urgent and serious con- to develop and obtain affordable energy from the EU economic packages and recovery plans nean will suffer most! sideration, comprehensive study and transparent renewable energy sources. However, most of for 2021-2027 for the transition to a green and dialogue so as to be answered and resolved: them pose threats to biodiversity, particular- digital tourism - with emphasis on public aware- Prof. Michael Scoullos, ly for avifauna and the many migratory bird ness and education - and without underestimat- Chairman of MIO-ECSDE 1. How can the EU and global target for routes in the region, or the environment of ing the policies regarding the transition from net-zero carbon by 2050 be met when further fragile small island ecosystems, while they may “volume-based” towards “value-based” tourism fossil fuel extraction projects are supported also harm the aesthetics of the landscapes. and “tourism of tomorrow”, the transformation of globally and in the Mediterranean? tourism in the region is a challenge. This is be- Therefore, their operation and the scheduled wide cause tourism in the region is expected to grow As it is known, two North African Mediterranean expansion, frequently meets strong public oppo- after the COVID-19 pandemic by 4-6% annually, countries are major fossil fuel producers and ex- sition and are in conflict with important econom- particularly after 2023, with increasing numbers porters on which they base a considerable part ic activities and in particular with tourism. Two of visitors from India, China and other emerging of their GDP; their production and exports are significant EU policies reflecting also the rele- economies. expected to continue. Furthermore, it is notewor- vant Global Sustainable Development goals for thy that the Eastern Mediterranean is home to the protection of biodiversity and promotion of Assuming that tourism itself, particularly in the a very large, mostly unexploited, deep water hy- renewable energies in mitigating climate change EU Mediterranean countries will manage to be- drocarbon reservoir. If the order of the gas re- seem to become mutually incompatible or even come fully sustainable, there are still significant serves reported by the energy consulting firm conflicting in many cases in the Mediterranean. challenges: Wood MacKenzie is realistic (around 3.5 trillion cubic meters - TCM), this represents almost Eu- 3. The most important Mediterranean “capi- a) how and under what conditions will the tour- rope’s total gas reserves (3.9 TCM). Their ex- tal” is nature, its blue oligotrophic sea waters, ism industry in non-EU Mediterranean coun- ploitation may be seen as a major “game changer” it’s amazing coastal and mountainous land- tries become equally sustainable? and most in the entire region and beyond and they cannot scapes and its rich tangible and intangible importantly, b) how can we reconcile the con- be a priori excluded, given their very significant cultural heritage. siderable discharges of GHG emissions from

106 107 Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development (MIO-ECSDE)

Who we are

We are a non-profit Federation of 133 Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) working in the fields of environment and development in 28 countries of the Euro-Mediterranean area.

Our mission

To protect the natural environment and cultural heritage and promote Sustainable Development in a peaceful Mediterranean by bringing together the efforts NGOs, governments, international organisations, other socio-economic partners and networks.

What we do

We act as a technical and political platform furthering synergies and strengthening public participation on resources and waste, nature and biodiversity, cultural diversity, climate change, health and environment as well as on horizontal and cross-cutting issues.

A network of networks

We facilitate the work of four other networks of major Mediterranean stakeholders:

• MEdIES, the Mediterranean Education Initiative for Environment and Sustainability

• COMPSUD, the Circle of Mediterranean Parliamentarians for Sustainable Development

• COMJESD, the Circle of Mediterranean Journalists for Environment and Sustainable Development

• MedUnNet, the Mediterranean Universities Network for Education for Sustainable Development.

Contact MIO-ECSDE

12 Kyrristou str., 10556, Athens Greece, ISBN: 978-960-6793-30-1 T +30210 3247490 F +302103317127, Printed using environmentally friendly E [email protected], W www.mio-ecsde.org ink on environmentally friendly paper