The Mediterranean Commission for Sustainable Development (MCSD) held its 16th meeting from 9 to 11 June 2015, in Marrakesh, hosted by the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco in collaboration with United Nations Environment Programme/Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP) and Plan Bleu. The main goal of this meeting was the endorsement of the draft revised Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development (MSSD 2016-2025), following the comments addressed by the participants at the Conference on the Review of the MSSD* held on February 2015, prior to its submission for approval by the MAP Focal Points meeting in October 2015 and for the consideration and adoption by the 19th Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention and its Protocols in February 2016.
The 16th MCSD meeting proposed a reform of the MCSD as well as a simplified peer review process for sustainable development in the Mediterranean. The Regional Action Plan for Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) as well as the Regional Adaptation Framework on Climate Change for the Mediterranean (RCCAF) were also presented to collect feedbacks.
In accordance with the mandate given by COP 18, the MCSD reviewed the draft Regional Climate Change Adaptation Framework (RCCAF) and acknowledged with appreciation its high quality and relevance and the need for such an instrument. The Commission emphasized the timeliness and significance of the Framework for the region and recommended submitting the Framework to COP 19 for its approval. The Commission also welcomed the proposed SCP Action Plan for the Mediterranean, highlighting its importance for the region and for the transition towards a green economy in the Mediterranean, and supported its submission to MAP Focal Points and COP 19 for approval.
The MCSD also agreed on some measures for its own reform, focusing on modalities of work, composition, visibility and expected support. The MCSD members agreed on a proposal for a simplified peer review process on sustainable development in the Mediterranean countries. Especially in regards to its composition, the MCSD Steering Committee, with the help of the MAP Secretariat, decided to recommend the new composition of the Non-Contracting Party members to the MCSD among which MEPIELAN Centre was included as one of the three members of the scientific community group**
Plan Bleu*** organized a side event on MSSD monitoring, where the proposals made by Plan Bleu were presented and enriched by participants’ comments.
Gaetano Leone, UNEP/MAP Coordinator, stressed the importance of the revision of the MSSD at a key moment for the future of the Mediterranean region to enhance efforts to protect environment and preserve resources, to amplify action to revive and boost stagnant economies, and to steadily transit towards a green and blue economy, while he emphasized to the significance and the interlinkages between the evolving process of MSSD, SCP and RCCAF, and the global interactive dialogues in the light of the adaptation of the post-2015 development agenda.
Notes
* The main aim of this conference was to discuss the draft reviewed Strategy document “MSSD 2.0” with stakeholders before its submission for endorsement by the 16th Meeting of the MCSD.
** For more details, see MEPIELAN – MAP PARTNESHIP FORUM in this Bulletin.
*** Plan Bleu aims at enlightening the environment and development issues in the Mediterranean. For that purpose, Plan Bleu studies the solutions allowing for a more sustainable development. Plan Bleu – observation, analysis and prospective center – was implemented in the late seventies in the framework of the Mediterranean Action Plan of the United Nations Environment Programme and the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and Coastal Region of the Mediterranean (Barcelona Convention).
Source: UNEP/MAP, Plan Bleu
For further Information:
http://www.unepmap.org/index.php?module=news&action=detail&id=187
http://planbleu.org/en/16eme-reunion-de-la-commission-mediterraneenne-de-developpement-durable-cmdd
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
