Ms. Fatma Varank, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change of Türkiye, and President of the Bureau of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention, opened the 2023 meeting of the Focal Points of the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP), which took place on 12-15 September in Istanbul (Türkiye).
Addressing participants during the opening session, Tatjana Hema, the UNEP/MAP Coordinator, outlined the expected outcomes of the meeting which would pave the way for a successful 23rd Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention (COP 23, Portoroz, Slovenia, 5-8 December 2023).
MAP Focal Points meetings constitute a crucial milestone in the two-year cycle of the work of UNEP/MAP. They prepare the Meetings of the Contracting Parties (COP) of the Barcelona Convention.
In Istanbul the discussion among the MAP Focal Points, which will feed into the agenda of COP 23, unfolded around six main headlines:
Consolidating the evidence base for the pursuit of Good Environmental Status in the Mediterranean
The 2023 Mediterranean Quality Status Report (2023 MED QSR) was acknowledged as a major deliverable of UNEP/MAP’s work. The report provides comprehensive and, to the extent possible, quantifiable assessments based on nationally sourced data covering all Ecological Objectives adopted by the Contracting Parties as part of the Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme (IMAP) and the Ecosystem Approach roadmap and policy. MED QSR reports are prepared under the leadership of the Correspondence Groups on Monitoring and Assessment and in collaboration with various partners.
In addition to the 2023 MED QSR, COP 23 is expected to consider the Summary for policymakers of the Special Report on Climate and Environmental Coastal Risks by MedECC—a science-policy interface that UNEP/MAP supports.
Implementing the Strategic Action Programme for the conservation of Biodiversity and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in the Mediterranean Region (SAP BIO)
COP 23 will consider a proposal to add nine new species to the Annexes II and III to the Specially Protected Areas and Biodiversity (SPA/BD) Protocol to the Barcelona Convention. It will also consider actions to enhance the conservation of endangered species and strengthen the network of Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMIs).
The Strategic Action Programme for the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable management of natural resources in the Mediterranean (SAP BIO), adopted under the SPA/BD Protocol, is the region’s blueprint for the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).
Taking aim at the sources of land-based pollution
The Contracting Parties mandated UNEP/MAP to develop new regulatory measures in the framework of Article 15 of the Land-Based Sources (LBS) Protocol to the Barcelona Convention. Following the adoption of the Regional Plans on urban wastewater treatment and sewage sludge management at COP 22 (Antalya, Türkiye, 7-10 December 2021), COP 23 will consider three new Regional Plans on agriculture, aquaculture and urban stormwater management.
Ingraining sustainability in the blue economy
Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) ensures that a thriving blue economy does not come at the expense of marine and coastal ecosystems. COP 23 will consider a draft decision on MSP as part of the UNEP/MAP-led push for a sustainable blue economy in the Mediterranean.
In line with the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development (MSSD), progress on a sustainable blue economy can lead to gains in greening Mediterranean economies through sustainable consumption and production and circular economy approaches.
Paving the way for activities during the 2024-2025 biennium
The MAP Focal Points meeting examined an ambitious proposal on the UNEP/MAP Programme of Work and Budget for the 2024-2025 biennium. The proposal, which will be considered by COP 23, has been designed to underpin the delivery of the UNEP/MAP Medium-Term Strategy (2022-2027).
In the same context, COP 23 is also expected to mandate the delivery of an updated policy on the Ecosystem Approach and an enhanced IMAP, and the revision of the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development and the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Framework for the Mediterranean Marine and Coastal Areas.
Enhancing governance, implementation, communication, and advocacy
The MAP Focal Points meeting reviewed and agreed to transmit to COP 23 an ambitious workplan for the Compliance Committee and a final proposal regulating the compliance procedures and mechanisms under the Barcelona Convention. Strengthening the compliance procedures and mechanisms would allow for an effective operation of the Compliance Committee and its focus on promoting and facilitating compliance with obligations.
A discussion was also held regarding a proposal by Türkiye related to a UNEP/MAP Regional Activity Centre on climate change for consideration by COP 23.
As customary in the UNEP/MAP-Barcelona Convention system, the MAP Focal Points meeting approved the provisional agenda of COP 23, the theme of the Ministerial Session (“Green transition in the Mediterranean: from decisions into actions”) and agreed on the organizational aspects of the preparation of the Portoroz Ministerial Declaration.
