Photo by: He Zhu (Unsplash)

GlobalCAD has been assigned to support the Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean in the implementation of its environmental agenda for the next following three years (2022 – 2024). This assignment follows up on GlobalCAD’s “Overall support to the UfM Environment agenda”, which was running from 2018 to 2021.

The Mediterranean region faces two big challenges: 1). Climate Change: The latest IPCC report, as well as the MedECC report, highlights that the Mediterranean region warms 20% faster than the rest of the world. With current policies, temperatures are expected to increase 2.2 ºC by 2040. 2) Natural resource depletion: The Mediterranean is using about three times more natural resources than its ecosystems can provide. Most of the Mediterranean countries provide a satisfactory well-being for its residents, meeting one of the two minimum conditions for global sustainable development (UNDP 2022). None of these countries, however, meet the second minimum condition – living within the planet’s resource budget (Global Footprint Network 2022).

As a consequence, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) developed a coordinated action plan among all countries in the region under  Towards 2030: Agenda for a Greener Med – Contributing to Achieving the Environmental SDGs in the Mediterranean. The 2030 GreenerMed Agenda focuses on three main axes of work: 1) Support the transition to a green, circular and socially inclusive economy based on sustainable consumption and production practices and nature-based solutions; 2) Prevent and reduce pollution on land, sea and air; and 3) Protect, preserve, manage, and restore natural resources within an integrated ecosystem approach.

To support the implementation of the Agenda, GlobalCAD tracks its progress and assesses short- and long-term results and the contribution of the agenda to the SDGs through their supporting projects and programmes under their three thematic axes. The analysis is addressed to achieve the objectives of the Agenda in the context of climate change and its consequences in the Mediterranean region. During the process, the engagement in partnerships and dialogues with other regional and international experiences will be fostered.

GlobalCAD experts will also engage in the preparation of information papers and technical documents and support the dissemination of relevant information, liaising with stakeholders and partners.

Philippe Jochaud

Partner and programme director at GlobalCAD. LinkedIn