As a semi-enclosed sea and world tourist destination, the Mediterranean is particularly vulnerable to plastics, threatening Mediterranean species, ecosystems and human health. The UfM takes action to turn these challenges into solutions by supporting on-the-ground projects that identify plastic leakage hotspots and provide scientific evidence and recommendations to policymakers, as well as engaging stakeholders to develop solutions to plastic leakage and reduce usage. The newly UfM-supported project Toumali develops sustainable waste management systems in the tourism sector in Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt. The project Plastic Busters collects and analyzes plastic litter in the Mediterranean, with a notable focus on marine… read more
4th meeting of the UfM Working Group on Environment and Climate Change 24 May 2023, Barcelona. The 4th meeting of the UfM Working Group on Environment and Climate Change took place in Sitges, Barcelona, on 24 May 2023. Member countries of the UfM Working Group on Environment and Climate Change, as well as different key stakeholders (CPMR, UNEP MAP, FAO, the European Forest Institute or Clima-Med, among others) met to foster progress on the 2nd UfM Ministerial Declaration on Environment and Climate Change action, adopted in Cairo in 2021. The 2021 Ministerial Declaration aims to intensify and accelerate the Mediterranean’s transition to… read more
9 May 2023, Amman. The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), Sweden and the Global Water Partnership – Mediterranean (GWP-Med) inaugurated integrated technical solutions for sustainable agriculture in Salt Governorate, in Jordan. These involve reuse of treated wastewater from Wadi Shuayb Wastewater Treatment Plant for irrigation, after its tertiary treatment through constructed wetlands, with pumping powered by renewable solar energy, and climate-resilient planting. The Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus represents an effective approach to addressing the climate change crisis that is casting its shadow on Jordan with recurrent droughts and rising temperatures. This interconnectedness was translated into action by the MENA Water Matchmaker… read more
29-30 March 2023, Barcelona – The UfM took part in Barcelona REACT 2023 Economic Reactivation Days, organized by the Barcelona City Council since 2021. REACT is the meeting point for Barcelona’s economic sectors, bringing together experts, and local, national and international leaders, to reflect on the next decade’s economic outlook and on key ongoing projects at local level. A valuable opportunity to exchange on regional and local experiences, best practices, and lessons learned, UfM Deputy Secretary General for Water, Environment, and Blue Economy, Almotaz Abadi, took part in a session on ‘The blue economy in Barcelona, placing the Sea on… read more
The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the World Ocean Council (WOC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at UfM Headquarters in Barcelona in the framework of the 2021 UfM Ministerial Declaration on Sustainable Blue Economy and Roadmap for its implementation, and of the WestMED Initiative, supported by the UfM and by the European Commission. 28 March 2023, Barcelona. In close coordination with the UfM EU (DG MARE) and Jordan Co-Presidency, on March 28, 2023, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the World Ocean Council (WOC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at UfM Headquarters in Barcelona in the… read more
The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) is joining partner International Organizations and several of its Member States at the UN 2023 Water Conference to alert on the water crisis the Mediterranean region faces, and the need for better water finance and financial sustainability of water management. To build the capacity of youth whilst tackling the challenges of water in the Mediterranean region, the UfM has developed a new Water and Youth Engagement Strategy. UfM supported projects such as the “Integrated Programme for the Protection of Lake Bizerte against Pollution” or “Smart DESERT” seek to alleviate extreme scarcity of water for… read more
A 14th edition of the Monaco Blue Initiative (MBI) led by the Foundation of the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco was organized in March 2023. The UfM Secretary General Nasser Kamel was among the main key speakers invited to this discussion platform. He underlined the importance of Mediterranean cross-shore cooperation and partnerships in anticipating and tackling the effects of climate change in the region. 20 March 2023, Monaco – Invited by the Foundation of Prince Albert II, UfM Secretary General Nasser Kamel partook in the 14th edition of the Monaco Blue Initiative (MBI). Organized by the Foundation and the Oceanographic Institute… read more
14-17 March 2023, Tunisia – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the General Directorate of Forests of Tunisia and with the support of the Union for the Mediterranean, organized between 14-17 March 2023 a regional capacity building workshop for Mediterranean countries on the restoration of degraded forest landscape. The workshop was part of the Mediterranean regional component of the UfM labelled project “The Paris Agreement in action: scaling up forest and landscape restoration to achieve Nationally Determined Contributions”, funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and… read more
14 March 2023, Brussels. The 13th meeting of the UfM Working Group on Blue Economy took place on the 14th of March at the in Brussels, bringing together the UfM Focal Points on Blue Economy, relevant regional stakeholders, international financial institutions and donors. The event focused on the progress made regarding the Roadmap for the implementation of the 2nd UfM Ministerial Declaration on Sustainable Blue Economy (SBE), as well as to present the Blue Mediterranean Partnership for potential expansion to the wider Mediterranean. The meeting was an opportunity to further strengthen the regional dialogue based on concrete advancements at regional and national level, to maximise the existing resources and collaboration, as well as producing an… read more
8 March 2023. To celebrate the International Women’s Day, the UfM seeks to recognise the paramount role of women in the water sector, and highlight the need to ensure that the women’s role is at the heart of the UfM priorities and in promoting initiatives supporting women in the Mediterranean region and beyond. Gender equality is key to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As “being off the track to achieve the SDGs by 2030” is a looming reality, the UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) launched a Call for Action (CfA) to accelerate the achievement of gender equality… read more
