On 13 May 2014, the first Union for Mediterranean (UfM) Meeting on Environment and Climate Change took place in Athens, bringing together the Ministers in charge of environment and climate change from the 43 countries comprising the UfM. The Ministerial Meeting was co-chaired by Mr Al Shakhshir, the Jordanian Minister of Environment, and Mr Janez Poto?nik, the EU Commissioner for Environment. The cardinal purpose of the Meeting was to discuss the environmental and climate-related challenges facing the region and define the future action plan.
The main outcome of the Meeting was the adoption of a Ministerial Declaration which defines the future strategic directions to reduce pollution pressures and increase resource efficiency. The newly-adopted declaration praises the broad support enjoyed by the Barcelona Convention and welcomed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the UNEP/MAP and the UfM during the 18th Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention held in Istanbul in December 2013.
As the leading element for the de-pollution of the Mediterranean Sea, the Ministers of the 43 UfM member countries analyzed the conclusions and recommendations of the implementation of the Horizon 2020 Initiative’s first phase (2007-2013) and agreed to launch the second phase.
Within the framework of Horizon 2020, the delegates underlined the cross-sectorial nature of the environmental challenges and acknowledged that shifting towards sustainable consumption and production patterns is essential to reduce pollution and waste, as well as to increase resource and energy efficiency and hence the prevention of climate change and pollution impacts. This transition to a green and low- emissions economy is expected to provide real opportunities for preserving natural resources, job creation, and improvement of the quality of life for all and ensure a sustainable future.
Under the Ministerial Declaration, the Signatories committed to policy reforms to accelerate the shift towards sustainable consumption and production patterns, bearing in mind the unequal economic development and social disparities among Mediterranean countries. In this context, the Ministers welcomed the adoption of the Ten Year Framework Programme on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns (SCP) by the Heads of State in Rio+20, and strongly supported the collaborative efforts of the European Union and the UfM Secretariat on the implementation of the SWITCH-MED and the Med ReSCP projects, respectively. These programmes are recognised to be an important support to the transition to sustainable consumption and production and to the implementation of the Barcelona Convention and its protocols.
Stressing that the adverse effects of climate change will inevitably worsen if climate change is not adequately and urgently tackled with the necessary determination, the Ministers agreed on the creation of the “UfM Climate Change Expert Group” to advance discussion on climate change priority actions and accelerate the identification and development of concrete projects and initiatives. The group will meet once a year, with the first meeting expected to take place in October 2014.
Ministers also invited high level experts and officials to meet at least on a biannual basis and in conjunction with other regional meetings collaborating on environment or climate issues. This “UfM Working Group on Environment and Climate Change” will follow up on the adopted Ministerial Declaration and will assess the progress made.
The Declaration also reaffirmed the fundamental value of biological diversity, in particular the marine and coastal ecosystems that provide goods and services vital for sustaining the livelihoods of people across the Mediterranean region. Among other lines of action, the Ministers welcomed the creation by Monaco, France and Tunisia of a Trust Fund for Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean, open to all parties.
Participants also focused on the active involvement of the relevant stakeholders in the sustainable environmental governance.
In an effort to highlight the importance of the cooperation among the 43 countries of the UfM, Mr. Fathallah Sijilmassi, UfM Secretary-General claimed: “Regional cooperation is a condition to offer a sustainable and consistent answer to the many challenges we have to face. When it comes to environment and climate change, regional cooperation is a prerequisite for any reasonable long-term endeavor seeking efficient and sustainable solutions on the ground.” and briefly concluded: “We are encountering in the field of environment and climate change, not only a major challenge but also, and maybe above all, a major opportunity for preparing the future of our Mediterranean region.”.
Source: UNION FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN, UNEP/MAP
For further information:
http://ufmsecretariat.org/euro-mediterranean-cooperation-on-environment-and-climate-change-ufm-holds-ministerial-meeting-in-athens/
http://www.unepmap.org/index.php?module=news&action=detail&id=153
About the author
MEPIELAN Centre
MEPIELAN Centre is an international research, training and educational centre established by Professor Evangelos Raftopoulos at the Panteion University of Athens in 2008.
Before its establishment as a University Centre, MEPIELAN operated as a successful international research, training and informational programme (2002-2007) under the scientific direction of Professor Evangelos Raftopoulos and the aegis of the Panteion University of Athens, supported by the Mediterranean Action Plan/UNEP and the Greek Ministry of the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works.
MEPIELAN Centre is an accredited UNEP/MAP PARTNER (since 2013), a Member of the Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development (MCSD) (since 2016), and a Member of the Steering Committee of the MCSD (since 2019).
On 22 May 2022, MEPIELAN Centre proceeded to the development of MEPIELAN as a Non- Profit Civil Organization (INGO) for the more effective and efficient advancement of its Goals and Missions and furtherance of its activities. MEPIELAN Centre as a Non- Profit Civil Organization (INGO) is registered in Greek Law (Hellenic Business Registry, Reg. No. 16477300100) in accordance with Laws 4072/2012 & 4919/2022 as applicable
