As highlighted in the UNEP’s COVID-19 Response, fiscal stimulus packages provide an opportunity for initiating a transformational and green recovery with the creation of green jobs and build back better, specifically by accelerating integrated, life-cycle approaches. UNEP/MAP will catalyse actions towards this direction in the Mediterranean region, in the framework of its legal and policy framework including the promotion of sustainable consumption and production and circular economy, green jobs, marine renewable energy, sustainable tourism, nature-based solutions and transition to sustainable blue economy.
The Naples Declaration adopted by the Contracting Parties in their 21st Meeting (COP21, Naples, Italy, 2-5 December 2019) put forward a regional consensus on the importance of triggering economic prosperity and contributing to the stability of the region with green jobs and innovation opportunities in full respect of the environmental protection, in a circular approach and good governance pattern. UNEP/MAP intends to build on this consensus in order to ensure that post COVID-19 recovery is fully based on principles of environmental protection and sustainable development.
Building back better will also entail the effective use of exiting instruments promoted by the Barcelona Convention and its Protocols by Contracting Parties, including the Strategic Environmental Assessment and Environmental Impact Assessment for investments. Green fiscal policy options (for example, making accession to recovery subsidies/funding conditional to the implementation of defined sustainability criteria and environmental safeguards) can be a powerful lever to orient actions towards nature-based and climate-neutral strategies.
In view of building back better, SCP should be placed at the core of the post-COVID recovery. Measures taken to face the pandemic resulted in people abstaining from previous negative practices, or switching and substituting them, especially in areas such as hygiene, food provision, mobility, shopping, leisure, household work.
Virtuous behaviour that we have seen during the pandemic may lay the groundwork for scaling up the adoption and uptake of SCP as part of a new, green normality. The extraordinary situation provided evidence that this is possible provided the right incentives and conditions are present. The implementation of the Regional Action Plan on SCP in the Mediterranean will lead to a green recovery by putting in place the conditions for practices deemed as sustainable to become the “new normal”.
UNEP/MAP response will address the following priority issues:
- considering the implications of COVID-19 in the mid-term evaluation process for the Regional Action Plan on SCP and the MSSD, as well as in the development of the next MTS 2022-2027. Global developments on a more deliberate and harmonised use of “SCP terminology” will be also followed closely, as this can support bringing together currently fragmented communities working on circular and green economy, green growth, an inclusive transition to SCP.
- considering potential links between recovery efforts and the Paris Agreement. The Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) may also be considered in the new MTS under the framework of the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Framework for the Mediterranean Marine and Coastal Areas. Opportunities for nature-based solutions, ecosystem restoration, biodiversity safeguards and green infrastructure offered by the COVID-19 recovery plans need to be supported in that respect.
- COVID-19 is expected to put additional pressures on the water sector in the Mediterranean, which already faces significant challenges, including an increased demand for water supply in order to apply the hygiene measures recommended by the health authorities combined with possible reduction of capital investments and utility revenues. In this context, and taking into account the impacts of climate change on water resources in the region, the post COVID-19 period calls for more effective water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) systems, streamlined into climate change adaptation plans. These elements are to be addressed by the MTS 2022-2027, in the framework of the ICZM Protocol, which can offer a legal basis for the integration of water management and climate change adaptation through the national ICZM strategies and coastal implementation plans and programmes. Opportunities for financial support, including through the Green Climate Fund, need to be explored to this aim.
- assessing the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on tourism, one of the major economic sectors in the Mediterranean, including through due consideration of different criteria for assessing carrying capacity, in view of ensuring safety distance and behaviour, and promoting more sustainable forms of tourism.
- developing new schemes on physical planning and urban development to ensure more open and green spaces and promotion of nature-based solutions, green and blue infrastructure, etc. The coastal plans and programmes, as stipulated by Art.18 of the ICZM Protocol, constitute adequate instruments that can be used in this field.
- promoting SPAMIs/MPAs and other effective area-based conservation measures as part of plans to build back better, as they not only support ecosystem conservation but can also sustain income-generating activities benefiting local communities and create additional sustainable jobs.
- ensuring that efforts to build back better are backed by solid socioeconomic analyses. The forthcoming State of the Environment and Development Report (SoED) can serve as the basis to build UNEP/MAP actions in that respect, as it provides the most recent and comprehensive knowledge base on environment and development in the Mediterranean region. Further integration of socioeconomic assessment in UNEP/MAP activities will be also considered, for example through a cross-cutting component on socioeconomic assessment of all major activities in the next Medium-Term Strategy.
- bolstering partnerships with civil society: consultations should be held to discuss common issues and responses. UNEP/MAP web-based platforms may be used as a tool to disseminate up-to-date information and promote best practices from across the region.
- fostering inclusive partnerships and cooperation with relevant regional and global actors as a prerequisite for an effective region-wide response. The participation of the private sector in view of promoting sustainable practices and life-cycle approaches, increasing the offer of sustainable products and services, and supporting green business and entrepreneurship will be crucial. By embracing sustainable and circular models, businesses can decouple economic activity from the consumption of raw materials vulnerable to climate risks and other crises and shocks, and build supply chains that are more diverse, distributed, flexible, and resilient. The efforts of SCP/RAC in developing national partnerships led by Business Support Organisations in southern Mediterranean countries to support the development of green and circular businesses (SwitchMed initiative) will contribute to this necessary effort. The recent COP 21 Decision on the “Development of a Set of Regional Measures to Support the Development of Green and Circular Businesses and to Strengthen the Demand for more Sustainable Products”, will be used as a basis in this respect and its implementation will take into consideration the COVID-19 crisis implications.
- considering as a matter of priority the improvement and use of economic instruments for sustainable use and management of marine and coastal resources in collaboration with relevant actors.
