The Member States of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) held a virtual meeting to exchange on the upcoming activities of the organization, especially within the current context, and in the framework of the 25th anniversary of the Barcelona Process. The UfM Senior Officials endorsed a regional initiative to accelerate innovative sustainable urban development projects, thereby contributing to a post pandemic recovery which is also respectful of the environment. Barcelona, 18 June 2020. The Member States of the UfM met virtually today at the level of Senior Officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs. They endorsed a new regional initiative to support sustainable… read more
15 June 2020. While addressing the unprecedented situation created by the Covid-19 pandemic, the UfM Climate Action activities continue. This year, the 2020 UfM Climate Week will take place through several online meetings that will be held in the coming weeks. UfM members’ representatives, scientific experts, civil society, IFIs and other relevant climate actors will discuss over several online gatherings the science-policy interface, the regional analysis of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as well as the support to climate finance. Those meetings are organised under the umbrella of the UfM Climate Change Expert Group, the regional dialogue platform for climate action… read more
The availability of freshwater in the Mediterranean region could decrease by 10% to 15% over the next 20 years while the population continues to grow. The COVID-19 pandemic provides an opportunity to re-examine regional priorities and practices and seize opportunities for progress in the UfM Water Agenda, a roadmap to meet the related Sustainable Development Goals. A UfM Water online meeting brought together high-level participants concerned by both the end of the confinement period and the related health risk, socio-economic consequences and many global uncertainties; and by the long-term vision of the water sector. 9-10 June 2020. The Mediterranean countries… read more
The world of work will have to challenge itself even more to recover from the economic consequences of the pandemic. Organized by the German Development Agency (GIZ) in partnership with the Union for the Mediterranean and Siemens, the EconoWin Summit debated the need for a new approach on gender equality in the labour market. 09-17 June 2020. Through a series of 5 online episodes, young women from North Africa, the Middle East and Europe debated with world leading companies on the full economic integration of women in the labor market and women’s aspiration in their future jobs. The EconoWin Summit… read more
Research and innovation (R&I) are key priorities for the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), contributing to enhance regional cooperation and dialogue in order to promote human development, regional stability and integration in the Mediterranean. The 25th meeting of the UfM Regional Platform on Research and Innovation took place online to further discuss the region’s future priorities for research and innovation in times of COVID-19 8 June 2020, Barcelona. The 25th meeting of the Union for the Mediterranean Regional Platform on Research and Innovation took place to discuss the region’s future priorities for research and innovation, in particular the needs in a… read more
5 June 2020. Today marks World Environment Day, an important opportunity to raise awareness, engage people, and take action on the critical environmental challenges facing our planet. The Mediterranean region faces manifold environmental challenges, including wildfires, the destruction of ecosystems, and an unprecedented loss of biodiversity. The recent scientific report focused on the regional environmental impacts of climate change, a project supported by the UfM, further underlined the urgent need of action in this area as it confirmed the Mediterranean was warming 20% faster than the rest of the world. Tackling environmental challenges is therefore high on the agenda for the Union for… read more
Around 80 percent of global trade is transported by commercial shipping and intra-Mediterranean maritime trade flows account for nearly 25% of global traffic volume. The maritime industry is playing an essential role in the short-term emergency response to the COVID-19, by facilitating transport of vital commodities and products. Despite the current difficult times, a vast majority of ports have succeeded to stay open to cargo operations. However, most of them still remain closed to passenger traffic. Mid and long-term recovery will need to further enhance sustainability and resilience of the maritime transport sector as a whole, for sustaining jobs, international… read more
32 Mediterranean species are already known to be globally extinct, or extinct in the wild. Mega fires caused by climate change have destroyed record areas of forest in recent years and damaged biodiversity. Areas susceptible to fires could increase by up to 40% with just a 1.5°C increase in temperature. The Union for the Mediterranean promotes and supports studies and projects in the region to halt biodiversity losses and achieve sustainable and inclusive growth for the post coronavirus recovery. https://ufmsecretariat.org//wp-content/uploads/2020/05/biodiversity-02.mp4 21 May 2020. The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) joins the celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity as an excellent opportunity to increase awareness on biodiversity issues in the… read more
The Union for the Mediterranean launches a new initiative with the support of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), for universities, research centres and policymakers to share best practices and boost career opportunities in the Mediterranean region. The new initiative seeks to improve the nexus between research, innovation and employability as key tools for relaunching sustainable and resilient economies in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis.. 5 and 19 May 2020. Despite young people in the Southern Mediterranean being the most educated generation ever, graduates in the region still experience the highest level of unemployment, at 25% according to the United Nations Development Programme. To help galvanise innovation in the region, the… read more
The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the Mediterranean Water Institute (IME) met with experts at the 3rd Brainstorming Meeting to further discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on drinking water and sanitation. 19 May 2020. The provision of safe water, sanitation and hygienic conditions is essential for protecting human health during all infectious disease outbreaks, including of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), especially in some areas of the Euro-Mediterranean region, already under stress due to the water scarcity caused by the climate crisis. Together with the Mediterranean Water Institute (IME), the UfM held the 3rd virtual working session on the… read more
