UfM Task Force on Environment

3 November 2022. 2022 is a key year for advancing climate and environmental action in the region, culminating in a dense end-of-the-year with four upcoming COPs –  Climate Change (COP27), Ramsar/Wetlands (COP14), CITES/Endangered Species (COP19), and Biodiversity (COP15) – as well as advancements on the new Plastic Pollution International Agreement.

With this in mind, on the 3^rd of November the UfM Task Force on Environment gathers country representatives and regional stakeholders to jointly exchange on key issues of relevance for the Mediterranean region within the above events and topics.

Furthermore, during the meeting, and as agreed in the 2nd  UfM Ministerial Declaration on Environment and Climate Change, links between the international, regional and national dimension will be highlighted  together with the ongoing actions in support of the priorities agreed by countries in the 2030 Greener Med Agenda, using as reference the 2021 GreenerMed Baseline Assessment Report .

So far, more than 70 country representatives and stakeholders have confirmed their participation, which will enrich the debate and assure a very interesting event.

Background.

The 2021 UfM Ministerial Declaration on Environment and Climate Action 

• While giving continuity to the key thematic priorities of the 2014 Ministerial Declaration, the 2nd UfM Ministerial Declaration on Environment and Climate Change, approved in Cairo on the 4th of October 2021 by the 42 UfM countries, aims at further stepping up and accelerating the shift of the Mediterranean region towards a green, circular and inclusive economy.
• The Ministerial Declaration addresses the most urgent environmental issues and reconciles them with the economy and development, promoting an holistic approach; providing for a greater sector integration; acknowledging the economic benefits and opportunities, also in terms of job-creation and social inclusion; aligning its priorities and objectives to the Agenda 2030 and related SDGs, to the Rio Conventions (and related Post 2020 frameworks) and other key international and regional conventions and frameworks, including other relevant UfM Ministerial Declarations, the Barcelona Convention and its Protocols, the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development or the Mediterranean Strategy for Education for Sustainable Development and its Action Plan.
• At more operational level, the 2nd Ministerial Declaration on Environment and Climate Change endorses the 2030 Greener Med Agenda and work plan as implementation tools.

The GreenerMed Agenda and Implementation Plan 

• The 2030 Greener Med Agenda builds on three joint Priority Axes of work, namely:

1. Support the transition to a green, circular and socially inclusive economy based on sustainable consumption and production practices and nature-based solutions;
2. Prevent and reduce pollution on land, sea and air;
3. Protect, preserve, manage and restore natural resources in the Mediterranean region within an integrated ecosystem approach, including terrestrial, marine and coastal dimension/s.

• The “2030 Agenda for a Greener Med” is a strategic joint agenda in tune with the vision for this decade; the document was progressively shaped over time as result of a) two years of consultations with countries and stakeholders, b) the support of an External Evaluation and c) the elaboration of the outcomes of previous relevant initiatives (ex.H2020; SwitchMed; etc).

During its elaboration, the Greener Med Agenda has been translated in an implementation-oriented document to help visualizing the concrete steps ahead, in close relation with SDGs, the European Green Deal, etc. The Environment Group is expected to fine-tune progressively this ‘living’ document and follow up and monitor on its implementation.

In 2021, based on the adoption of the 2nd UfM Ministerial, a specific GreenerMed Framework for Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation was shaped and approved based on a structured Theory of Change and a dedicated GreenerMed Baseline Assessment Report, to track progress over time and up to 2030.