The 20th meeting of the Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development (MCSD) took place in Marseille (France) from 14 to 16 June 2023. The MCSD aims to assist the Contracting Parties in their efforts to integrate environmental issues in their socioeconomic programmes and to promote sustainable development policies in the Mediterranean region. Being unique in its composition, the Commission brings together government representatives, local authorities, socio-economic actors, non-governmental organizations, intergovernmental organizations, the scientific community and parliamentarians. All MCSD members participate in its meetings on an equal footing. Notably, the MEPIELAN Centre has been elected as Non-Contracting Party of the MCSD (2016-2019) and Member of its Steering Committee (2019-2021).*
During the three-day meeting the participants discussed the region’s progress towards sustainable development. Among others, the meeting was attended by Mr. Hervé Berville, French State Secretary for the Sea, and Ms Tatjana Hema, UNEP/MAP Coordinator. On behalf of France which succeeds Slovenia in assuming the presidency of the MCSD, Mr. Berville delivered his welcome address and stated “Chairing the MCSD is the continuation of France’s commitment to the ocean; a commitment that the One Ocean Summit in Brest and the forthcoming UN Ocean Conference to be held in Nice in 2025 exemplify.” He added: “UNEP/MAP has the total support of the French government because we recognize that the Barcelona Convention is a pioneering regional sea convention that is one of the most successful among 18 similar treaties.” Besides, Mr. Berville set three priorities namely the biodiversity protection, integrated marine planning and strengthened knowledge and expertise. In her opening remarks, Ms. Hema noted that a sustainable blue economy—the theme of a roundtable held during the meeting— can be a driver of a broader transition to greener economic models transcending all economic sectors. In particular, she stated that “ We must ensure that the blue economy remains sustainable and does not descend into a blue gold rush that will overwhelm already stressed marine and coastal ecosystems in the Mediterranean.”
Envisioning the transition of the region towards resilience and sustainability, the members of the MCSD acknowledged progress and emphasized the need for accelerated action on the following identified areas:
- Protecting marine and coastal biodiversity and implementing the Mediterranean region’s own post-2020 Biodiversity Framework (SAPBIO) in close interaction with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the treaty addressing marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction;
- Concentrating action on protecting Posidonia oceanica. Known as the “lungs of the Mediterranean”, Posidonia meadows are flowering marine plants that provide important habitats and high-value ecosystem services. They act as effective carbon sinks and help mitigate coastal risks, such as flooding and erosion, by acting as natural buffers;
- Raising collective ambition in the framework of the revision of Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development. The exercise will consider the region’s sustainable development indicators and the results of the Plan Bleu-led MED 2050 Foresight Study, which provides visibility on possible futures of the Mediterranean through the lens of different scenarios. By encompassing these elements, the revised Strategy will seek to bend current trajectories and place the region on alternative pathways to sustainability and resilience.
Finally, the afore-mentioned recommendations will be conveyed to to the 23rd Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention and its Protocols (COP23) which will be held in Slovenia in December 2023.
Footnotes:
*For more information on the International Role of MEPIELAN Centre please see: https://mepielan.gr/international-role/
Sources :
MS
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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
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