The Mediterranean coastal zone is a hotspot for highly interconnected climate risks for the ecosystems and the societies due to a particular combination of multiple severe climate hazards, including rising temperatures, water scarcity, sea-level rise, and extreme weather events. Policies to manage coastal risks and adaptation strategies in the Mediterranean coastal zone are important to the whole region, as a third of the Mediterranean population lives close to the sea and depends on infrastructure and economic activities in its immediate vicinity. Thus, region-specific scientific knowledge is essential for stakeholders, governments, and citizens to make informed climate and environmental decisions and policies.
The session aims to provide a clear understanding of climate and environmental coastal risks in the Mediterranean region by highlighting the current scientific knowledge and how this science can be leveraged for policy development that prioritise resilience, sustainability, and community well-being. It will discuss adaptation efforts and the need to avoid some of the current measures that may lead to greater challenges in the future by increasing vulnerabilities. The event advocates the need to protect communities, minimise impacts on the natural environment and societies, and address ethical considerations important for socially-oriented adaptation policies.
Background:
The MedECC – Mediterranean Experts on Climate and Environmental Change – is publishing the Summary for Policymakers of the Special Report Climate and environmental coastal risks in the Mediterranean basin, which assesses the scientific, technical and socio-economic literature on the multiple drivers of change affecting the Mediterranean Sea – climate, pollution, biologic and socio-economic processes, their evolution, impacts on ecosystems and people, the risks that are posed and solutions to reduce them, together with pathways for sustainable development. The Special Report outlines related risks, adaptation options, and addresses pathways for sustainable development in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Adaptation actions are presented, placing social and cultural values in the context of the region and its local traditions. The report considers the need to protect communities, minimise impacts on the natural environment, and address ethical considerations important for socially-oriented adaptation policies.
Speakers
- Piero LIONELLO, University of Salento, Italy; Co-coordinator of the MedECC Special Report on Coastal Risks, Co-coordinator of MedECC (onsite)
- Mohamed BDRABO, University of Alexandria, Egypt, Coordinating LeadAuthor the MedECC Special Report on Coastal Risks
- Stefano MONCADA, University of Malta, Malta, Coordinating Lead Authorthe MedECC Special Report on Coastal Risks
- Daria Povh Skugor, Director of PAP/RAC, Lead Author of the MedECC Special Report (onsite)
