As one of the main climate change hotspots in the world, the Mediterranean region needs, more than ever, strong collective action to address the challenge posed by climate and environmental change. The development of an assessment report that gathers all available knowledge is expected to enable the development and implementation of effective policies based on a holistic understanding of the problems. This document presents preliminary conclusions of the assessment.
Recent accelerated climate change has exacerbated existing environmental problems in the Mediterranean Basin that are caused by the combination of changes in land use, increasing pollution and declining biodiversity. In most impact domains (such as water, ecosystems, food, health and security), current changes and future scenarios consistently point to significant and increasing risks during the coming decades. Policies for the sustainable development of Mediterranean countries need to mitigate these risks and consider adaptation options, but currently lack adequate information — particularly for the most vulnerable southern Mediterranean societies, where fewer systematic observations schemes and impact models are based.
A dedicated effort to synthesize existing scientific knowledge across disciplines is underway and aims to provide a better understanding of the combined risks posed. This effort has been undertaken by the network of Mediterranean Experts on Climate and Environmental Change (MedECC) supported by the Union for the Mediterranean and Plan Bleu (UNEP/MAP Regional Activity Center).
This document presents preliminary conclusions of the assessment, that will be available in the coming months.
See also the video below:
