Plan Bleu Observatory: a historic tool serving Mediterranean countries for monitoring the state of the environment and sustainable development.

“Observation” and “understanding of natural phenomena are among the Plan Bleu’s top priorities. Through its Regional Observatory on the Environment and Sustainable Development, Plan Bleu has developed significant expertise in analyzing, managing, and disseminating data related to sustainable development issues in the Mediterranean. Plan Bleu provides the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention with thematic assessments (on water, tourism, biodiversity, energy, etc.) based on statistics and indicators to support decision-making processes.

Since 2020, Plan Bleu Observatory has undergone digital transformation with financial support from the Mediterranean Trust Fund (MTF) and assistance from UNEP-GRID Geneva. On one hand, the Observatory’s website enables the monitoring and implementation of the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development ( MSSD), through “indicator” sheets and cartographic collections. On the other hand , the integration of MapX technologies – an innovative, interactive, and open-access tool developed by UNEP-GRID Geneva—has led to the creation of a dedicated web page for the Observatory : “WESR: MEDITERRANEAN”.

The data collected, represented, and analyzed by the Observatory support and highlight the activities of Plan Bleu’s biennial Work Programme. Today, the Observatory features more than 400 interactive maps, organized into 25 thematic categories on its dedicated MapX page (WESR: MEDITERRANEAN). These maps enable interactive visualizations and enhance the science-policy interface by facilitating the spatial and temporal visualization of complex processes across the basin. The MSSD indicators are integrated into the tool and are listed on the Observatory’s website.

Discover the website

WESR

MAPX – “WESR : MEDITERRANEAN”

The “compendium of indicators factsheets” for monitoring or the implementation of the MSSD 2016-2025 is the first compendium available on this website. Another compendium gathering the factsheet for the indicators selected for monitoring the blue economy in the Mediterranean will be soon available.

For an easier introduction to the MapX tool, refer to the MapX User Guide. It explains the tool’s features to provide a more advanced and user-friendly experience.