On March 26 in Toulon, Plan Bleu took part in a conference-debate organized as part of the “Living Mediterranean” series, led by France Nature Environnement Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. The event brought together scientific experts, institutional representatives, and civil society actors to address a key question: can the Mediterranean Sea still cope with the growing pressures it faces?
On this occasion, Kasia (Katarzyna) Marini, Lead Science Officer (Plan Bleu / MedECC), provided a scientific and systemic perspective on the ongoing transformations in the Mediterranean. Her contribution highlighted the links between environmental dynamics and existing governance frameworks, including the Barcelona Convention.
A sea under pressure, a need for collective action
Discussions emphasized the high vulnerability of the Mediterranean, which is facing accelerating climate change, intensifying human activities, and the degradation of ecosystems. Despite the existence of structured legal frameworks, their implementation remains insufficient in light of the ecological urgency and the rapid pace of change.
The debate also underscored the gap between the pace of legal processes and that of environmental transformations, as well as the challenges of integrating scientific uncertainty into public decision-making.
By fostering dialogue between science, governance, and civil society, the event highlighted that protecting the Mediterranean cannot rely solely on its natural resilience. It requires strong, collective action. Plan Bleu reaffirms its commitment to supporting decision-makers and stakeholders in developing more effective policies, grounded in scientific knowledge and regional cooperation.
