Mediterranean climate: UfM participation at COP25
Madrid, 2-13 December. The Mediterranean region has been identified as one of the main climate change hotspots in the world due to, interalia, water scarcity, desertification, concentration of economic activities and population in coastal areas, and the reliance on climate-sensitive agriculture. As an intergovernmental organization wholly dedicated to the Euro‑Mediterranean region, the Union for the Mediterranean observes first-hand the adverse effects of climate change. The IV UfM Regional Forum provided the occasion to present ground-breaking findings of the first-ever scientific report on climate and environmental change in the Mediterranean area (“Risks associated to climate and environmental changes in the Mediterranean region” a Preliminary Assessment by the MedECC network). The report shows that the Mediterranean region warms 20% faster than the rest of the world and 250 million people are projected to be considered “water poor” within 20 years. With current policies, temperatures are expected to increase 2.2 ºC by 2040, well above the global limit established by the Paris Agreement.
The Union for the Mediterranean is an observer to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and participates at UNFCCC meetings with the objective of bringing the voice of the Mediterranean Climate Agenda to international fora. At COP25, the UfM Secretary General Nasser Kamel will intervene during the high-level segment in order to highlight the opportunities to be seized in the region while contributing to the sustainable development of the Mediterranean.
This year, the UfM will as well co-organise three side-events:
- UfM-Cyprus side event “A science-policy interface on risks of climate and environmental change in the Mediterranean region and Middle East”
Thursday 12 December (14:30-16:00), EU Pavilion
During this event, the current state and risks related to climate and environmental change the Mediterranean will be discussed by scientists and decision-makers. First of all, an overview of preliminary results of the first-ever comprehensive scientific report on the impact of climate and environmental change in the Mediterranean region developed by MedECC will be presented. Secondly, and complementary to this approach, the Cyprus Climate Change Initiative aiming at the development of a Regional Action Plan to address the specific needs and challenges, countries are facing in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East region, will address the impact of climate change and advance mitigation actions in accordance with the Paris Agreement.
- UfM-ClimaMed project side event “Climate action true-to-life steps: initiating policies, climate finance access & implementation”
Friday 13 December (12:30-14:00), EU Pavilion
The UfM region is performing well in attracting international public climate finance. Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries have attracted between 12% and 13% of the global international public climate finance commitments each year. Considering these countries are representing 4.1% of the global population, it clearly shows a high attractiveness of the region for climate finance. However, despite this positive performance, the UfM region still has a margin of progress to better attract climate finance, as investments in adaptation is only representing approximatively one third of mitigation commitments.
The side-event will give greater visibility and demonstrate to the international community the evident role and involvement of tens of South Mediterranean cities. It will aim at strengthening synergies and build complementary partnerships for the projects.
- UfM-UNDP side event “Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean region”
Friday 13 December (15:00-16:00), NDC Partnership Pavilion
The side-event will focus on the update of the revised NDC landscape to identify mitigation and adaptation actions that could lead to greater ambition and priority sectors, in Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries. The session will discuss how to achieve NDCs’ implementation through supporting community-based mitigation, adaptation and cross-cutting actions. It will consider how to raise NDCs ambitions through upstream policy support and technical and financial assistance to the governments and analyse linkages with SDG priorities and crisis prevention/recovery goals
For more information on the UfM participation at COP25, please contact: climate@ufmsecretariat.org
Media are invited to attend the events. In-person and remote media interviews with the key speakers, scientists and diplomats are possible. For this purpose, media should contact the UfM in advance. Please submit by e-mail your attendance request to: media@ufmsecretariat.org
