6 June 2024, Lisbon, Portugal. The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) successfully organised the 14th Meeting of the UfM Regional Platform on Water, held alongside the workshop on the UNECE/WHO Protocol on Water and Health in Mediterranean ‘Increasing Climate Resilience of the Water and Sanitation Sector in the Mediterranean Region’. The event, co-organised by the UNECE and WHO/Europe joint secretariat of the Protocol and the Portuguese Water and Waste Services Regulation Authority (ERSAR), convened key stakeholders, policymakers, and experts from across the Mediterranean and Europe. The primary focus was on innovative solutions for water security, public health, and sustainable water management,… read more
The Mediterranean region is home to over 80 million hectares of degraded land. More than 400,000 hectares of forests are burned each year and at least 16 animal and plant species are at risk of extinction due to environmental threats such as climate change. Drylands cover over a third of Mediterranean EU countries, most notably in Spain and Cyprus. In the MENA countries, only 5% of land is suitable for agriculture, a situation that is particularly critical in Libya, Algeria, Egypt, and Jordan. As a consequence, limited fertile soil and challenges in reclaiming land hinder agricultural expansion. 5 June 2024,… read more
The first gathering of the Blue Med Partnership’s donors, implementing partners, and beneficiary countries took place in Barcelona, with parties identifying a remarkable portfolio of sustainable blue economy investments in Morocco, Egypt and Jordan. The Mediterranean Sea generates more than $450bn annually and is a vital resource for 480 million people in 22 countries. It is also warming at a rate 20% faster than the global average and is threatened by pollution and overexploitation. 23 May 2024, Barcelona. The steering committee of the Blue Mediterranean Partnership (BMP), a partnership that aims to tackle the Mediterranean Sea’s severe environmental threats by… read more
As a region warming at a rate 20% faster than the global average, the Mediterranean is particularly vulnerable to issues relating to environmental degradation, extreme weather phenomena, and energy crises. The Mediterranean Green Week, which took place in Istanbul from May 14 to 16, provided 150 people with a platform to explore how to best address pressing sustainability-related challenges in an effective and holistic manner. 14-16 May 2024, Istanbul. The first-ever edition of Mediterranean Green Week: Towards a Greener and More Resilient Mediterranean, co-organised by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the OECD, kicked off in Türkiye. Attracting some… read more
The Mediterranean region, a critical climate change hotspot that is warming at a rate 20% faster than the global average, is home to over 180 million people who are considered water poor and an additional 60 million who face water stress. The Union for the Mediterranean, in line with the 2024 World Water Day theme of leveraging water for peace, highlights the need to step up collaborative responses to the water scarcity crisis, an issue that is compounded by climate change as well as factors including overtourism, increased population growth or rapid urbanisation. The UfM continues to work towards advancing… read more
More than 350 join forces in Athens to forge a sustainable blue economy future for the Mediterranean
The 2nd UfM Stakeholder Conference on Sustainable Blue Economy took place on February 19 and 20 in the Greek capital, with over 350 participants evaluating the progress made within the framework of the 10 Sustainable Blue Economy priority areas adopted in 2021 and discussing next steps. The event, which featured 11 workshops on topics ranging from marine research and innovation to sustainable tourism or the blue finance process, was hosted by the Union for the Mediterranean, its EU and Jordanian Co-Presidency, and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Island Policy of Greece. February 19-20, Athens. Over 350 people got together… read more
5-7 February 2024, Tunis – The 5th edition of the Mediterranean Water Forum, co-organised by the Union for the Mediterranean, the Institut Méditerranéen de l’Eau, and the World Water Council in coordination with the Republic of Tunisia, took place this week in Tunis with the aim of unifying Mediterranean voices ahead of the 10th World Water Forum in Bali this May. Months after the kick off meeting in València, stakeholders converged to address a wide range of challenges and highlight best practices in a region heavily impacted by water scarcity and climate change. Around 400 participants from across the Mediterranean… read more
5 December 2023 – The Union for the Mediterranean held the First Online Conference on Digital Transformation of the Water Sector in the Mediterranean, a valuable platform for stakeholders to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and explore innovative solutions for water institutions and utility service providers in the region. This conference also served as a first step for a Roadmap Towards Digitalisation of the Water Sector in the Euro-Mediterranean Region as UfM Member States deem it essential to formulate effective strategies to achieve Sustainable Development Goals and address pressing water-related issues in the region. Participants discussed the Mediterranean region’s unique water management challenges, which… read more
EBRD, EIB, UfM, EC, AFD, CDP, KfW, donors and beneficiary countries sign cooperation agreement at COP28 Blue Mediterranean Partnership to support transition to a sustainable blue economy in the Mediterranean region Partnership to start operating in early 2024 Partners aim to mobilise at least €1 billion in investments At COP28, partners and donors involved in the Blue Mediterranean Partnership reinforced their support for developing the sustainable blue economy in the southern Mediterranean region. The parties involved signed a letter of intent to make their participation in the Partnership official and to make the Partnership operational in early 2024. The Blue… read more
Brussels, November 15-16, 2023 – The 7th UfM Task Force on Environment convened in Brussels and online, bringing together national representatives and regional stakeholders to deliberate on crucial environmental issues pertaining to the Euro-Mediterranean region. Chaired by the EU and Jordanian Co-Presidency alongside the UfM Secretariat, the meeting highlighted significant developments across various fronts as described in the 2030 GreenerMed Agenda. Delegates engaged in joint discussions focused on the upcoming COP28 for Climate Change and COP16 for Biodiversity, as well as the implementation of the approved Global Biodiversity Framework. The exchange allowed Member States to outline the priorities and needs… read more