The main objective of this event is the presentation of the newly published Special Report “Interlinking climate change with the Water – Energy – Food – Ecosystems (WEFE) nexus in the Mediterranean Basin” by the network of Mediterranean Experts on Climate and environmental Change (MedECC). The presentation of the report will be followed by the discussion on the integration of the WEFE concept in the policy-making.
Background:
Climate change presents multiple challenges to the water, energy, food, and ecosystems (WEFE) nexus in the Mediterranean region. Rising temperatures, evolving precipitation patterns, and more frequent extreme weather events threaten water availability, agricultural productivity, energy security, and ecosystem health across the region. The new MedECC Special Report addresses the critical need to understand and manage the intricate links between climate change and the WEFE nexus in the Mediterranean. By examining how climate stressors impact each component of this nexus and how they interrelate, it offers a comprehensive overview of the current challenges while highlighting solutions to enhance resilience and sustainability. It emphasises the importance of integrated management approaches that account for the interdependencies within the WEFE nexus to develop adaptive strategies for mitigating climate impacts. The report was drafted by voluntary scientists within the network of Mediterranean Experts on Climate and environmental Change (MedECC), and coordinated by Philippe Drobinski (France), Marta G. Rivera Ferre (Spain) and Mohamed Abdel Monem (Egypt). It engages policymakers, representing an invaluable contribution to the science-policy dialogue in the Mediterranean and to support evidence-based decision-making.
To support informed climate and environmental decisions, the Mediterranean Experts on Climate and Environmental Change — MedECC — was established in 2015. MedECC is an open, independent scientific network focused on assessing and synthesising available scientific knowledge on climate and environmental change and its associated risks in the Mediterranean basin. As a unique science-policy interface, MedECC provides essential, region-specific information to stakeholders, governments, and citizens, enabling them to make effective, informed decisions. The network counts more than 300 active authors that contributed their expertise and time to MedECC assessments. MedECC benefits from the support of several organisations, including the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), the Mediterranean Action Plan of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP/MAP), and Plan Bleu (UNEP/MAP Regional Activity Center) that has hosted the MedECC Scientific Secretariat since 2018 as part of a partnership with the UfM.
The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) is an inter-governmental organisation that promotes cooperation and dialogue in the Euro-Mediterranean region through initiatives addressing the three strategic objectives of regional stability, human development and regional economic integration. The UfM is preparing a regional strategy on the WEFE in a Source to Sea continuum which is a joint effort led by the UfM, the EU and UNEP MAP with the technical support of Global Water Partnership – Mediterranean (GWP-Med)G , Water and Environment Support (WES) and PRIMA. This strategy has been broadly consulted and will be endorsed by UfM Member States to to enable the mainstreaming of system-thinking and the application of the WEFE Nexus approach in the Mediterranean within improved governance structures at different levels.
Objectives of the session
- Present the current state of scientific knowledge on the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) nexus in the in the Mediterranean region, and its connection with climate change
- Underline the importance of the comprehensive and integrated WEFE nexus approach, rather than sectoral policies, to achieve sustainable development and resilience in the face of evolving environmental and socio-economic dynamics.
Speakers
- Mohamed ABDEL MONEM: Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (RNE), Egypt / co-coordinator Co-coordinator of the MedECC Special Report on the WEFE nexus (onsite)
- Prof. Michael Scoullos: Chairperson of MIO-ECSDE and GWP-Med. Founder of the Environmental Chemistry and Chemical Oceanography Laboratory of the University of Athens (UoA).
- Assem ABU HATAB: The Nordic Africa Institute, Sweden; Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden; Arish University, Egypt / Coordinating Lead Author of the MedECC Special Report on the nexus (onsite)
- Frédéric DE DINECHIN: Senior Policy Advisor at the Union for the Mediterranean Secretariat
