IL NETWORK MEDITERRANEAN EXPERTS ON CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE (MEDECC), HAS PUBLISHED AN UPDATED ANALYSIS ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL SITUATION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN BASIN, WITH A FOCUS ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE IMPACTS ON BIODIVERSITY
The network Mediterranean Experts on Climate and Environmental Change (MedECC), founded in 2015, is an independent international scientific network. It provides information to policy makers and the general public based on available scientific data and ongoing research. MedECC carries out in-depth assessments and syntheses of knowledge relating to global changes in the Mediterranean Basin and associated risks.
MedECC Special Report: Climate and Environmental Risks in the Mediterranean Coastal Areas
Sea level rise and heat waves
A third of the Mediterranean population lives along the coasts, facing growing climate and environmental risks. THE’sea level riseestimated at one meter by the end of this century, could displace up to 20 million people without any deadline. Even crucial infrastructure such as airports and essential sites are becoming increasingly vulnerable to global flooding. The Mediterranean Basin already hosts three of the twenty airports in the world most vulnerable to coastal flooding.
The Mediterranean, with an annual sea rise of 2.8 mm, will face increasingly frequent extreme events by 2050. Current solutions for flooding, often expensive, are unsuitable for the future. At the same time, the heat waves of the basin, increased by 40% in frequency and 15% in duration, have already caused massive damage to ecosystems, favoring invasive species and threatening native biodiversity.
The Mediterranean is a climate hotspot
This area, identified as a climate hotspot, records a faster heating of the global average. Coastal ecosystems risk reaching adaptation limits with a 3°C increase in the northern Mediterranean, while problems such as water scarcity worsen in the southern and eastern regions.
Added to these is the devastating plastic pollutionwhich constitutes over 80% of the waste observed. In fact, the Mediterranean Sea is one of the areas most affected by plastic pollution in the world. Without immediate interventions, plastic releases into the sea will double by 2040, intensifying cross-border risks.
Furthermore, although European legislation has successfully reduced the concentrations of toxic metalsthe northern Mediterranean is increasingly affected by new types of emerging pollutants.
From tourism an opportunity to adopt sustainable practices
The Mediterranean is the world’s leading tourist destination: in fact, it attracts around a third of turismo global and hosts over half of the tourist accommodation facilities in the European Union. Tourism, while weighing on the demand for natural resources, nevertheless represents an opportunity to adopt sustainable practices, such as the use of renewable energy and environmental protection.
Yet, current mitigation and adaptation efforts are insufficient. The Sustainable Development Goals they will not be achieved without more incisive and coordinated actions. Only integrated regional cooperation – involving scientists, policy makers, stakeholders and citizens – can ensure a sustainable and resilient future for the Mediterranean.
MedECC Special Report: Interconnection between climate change and the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) nexus
Integrated strategies are needed to ensure healthy ecosystems and a sustainable future
The Mediterranean, a global climate change hotspot, faces complex challenges that intertwine water resources, energy, food and ecosystems. These threats compromise livelihoods, economies and natural systems, exacerbating disparities between countries, urban and rural areas.
The integrated approach of Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) nexus emerges as a strategic framework for developing sustainable solutions and preventing cascading effects, contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Insecurity in the WEFE nexus is a constant in the Mediterranean, exacerbated by water stress, fossil fuel dependency, malnutrition and accelerated loss of biodiversity. These problems reflect a profound unsustainabilityamplified by regional disparities and the interconnection of resources. Failure to address these challenges hinders the implementation of theAgenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.
Climate and non-climate changes intensify the cascading effects between elements of the WEFE nexus. Sectoral policies or one-dimensional adaptations can generate inappropriate solutions and damage ecosystems, compromising vital services such as water, food and energy security. Only strategy integrate and scalable can guarantee healthy ecosystems and a sustainable future for the Mediterranean Basin.
Key courses of action in the WEFE nexus
There are three main courses of action in the context of the WEFE nexus:
- Innovative technological solutions, including renewable energy, which have significant potential to mitigate climate change, especially in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean and to improve efficiency.
- Ecosystem-based solutions, includingagroecology and nature-based solutions (Nature-based Solutions – NbS), such as green infrastructure or wetland restoration.
- Social innovation approaches, aimed at reducing or changing consumption patterns, such as the re-adoption of Mediterranean dietwhich is less energy intensive.
Data gaps, limited awareness and ineffective governance
The Mediterranean, with an uneven distribution of implemented solutions, benefits most from green and social options for the WEFE nexus. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and agroecological management demonstrate transformative impact but require further evidence to evaluate their effectiveness. Water management remains particularly complex, with potential negative effects on the other pillars.
Adoption of the WEFE approach is hampered by data gaps, limited awareness and ineffective governance. However, innovations like the reuse of treated wastewaterl’agrivoltaic agriculture and agroecological practices can optimize resource use, protect ecosystems and strengthen agricultural sustainability.
Today, 180 million people suffer from water scarcity, exacerbated by floods and unequal access to resources. Food production faces challenges such as salinisation, desertification and the abandonment of traditional diets, with serious impacts on food security and ecosystems.
On the energy front, the region remains dependent on fossil fuelsdespite the high potential of renewable energy, which constitutes only 11% of total consumption.
The loss of biodiversitydeforestation, fires and land use changes dramatically reduce ecosystem services. Innovative solutions, such as wastewater reuse through renewable energy and agroecological practices, offer promising pathways to strengthen water, food and energy security, while protecting Mediterranean ecosystems.
Authors and objectives of the MedECC Reports
MedECC Special Report: Climate and Environmental Risks in the Mediterranean Coastal Areas
– Authors: Written by 55 volunteer authors from 17 countries.
– Coordinators of the Report: Salpie Djounourian (Lebanon), Piero Lionello (Italy), Maria Carmen Llasat (Spain).
– MedECC Coordinators: Wolfgang Cramer (France), Fatima Driouech (Morocco), Joël Guiot (France).
Report objectives:
- Identify and evaluate updated scientific information on the dangers related to climate and environmental change in the coastal area of the Mediterranean Basin, analyzing related risks, adaptation options and solutions.
- Evaluate and provide information on the actions needed to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Present adaptation actions that integrate social and cultural values in their context, considering the need to protect communities and biodiversity, minimizing impacts on the natural environment and addressing ethical issues.
MedECC Special Report: Interconnection between climate change and the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) nexus
– Authors: 60 volunteers from 15 countries
– Coordinators of the Report: Philippe Drobinski (France), Marta Rivera Ferre (Spain), Mohamed Abdel Monem (Egypt)
– MedECC Coordinators: Wolfgang Cramer (France), Fatima Driouech (Morocco), Joël Guiot (France)
Report objectives:
- Assess the most up-to-date scientific information on the interconnected water, energy and food systems in the Mediterranean, in the context of climate change, and their relationships with surrounding ecosystems.
- Provide relevant scientific information for informed decisions and cross-sectoral and global policies.