MedECC: Mediterranean Experts on Climate and Environmental Change

Title of the Flagship Initiative as it appears in the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development (MSSD)

“Establish a regional science-policy interface mechanism, including the social and behavioural sciences, endorsed by all the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention, with a view to preparing consolidated regional scientific assessments and guidance on climate change trends, impacts and adaptation and mitigation options”

Objectives

This Flagship Initiative is linked to Objective 4 of the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development (MSSD): “Climate Change as a Priority Issue for the Mediterranean”.

This MSSD Flagship Initiative supports the UNEP/MAP-Barcelona Convention system’s framework for region-specific climate action.

Context

The network of Mediterranean Experts on Climate and environmental Change (MedECC) is an open and independent international scientific expert network providing support to decision-makers and the public on the basis of available sound scientific information.

The network includes more than 600 scientists – providing their expertise on a voluntary basis – from 35 countries, including 19 Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention, from the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities perspectives.

MedECC’s objective is to bridge the gap between scientists and policy-makers and contribute to the improvement of policies at all levels by supporting decision-making with accurate and accessible information on current and future impacts of climate and environmental change in the Mediterranean.

MedECC is a successful example of a science-policy and science-society interface. Its independent scientific expertise will be irreplaceable in the coming years to inform Mediterranean and national policies related to climate and environmental change.

Implementation

The Secretariats of the UNEP/MAP – Barcelona Convention and of the Union for the Mediterranean support, with other partners, this important regional initiative.

Established in May 2018, the Secretariat of MedECC is hosted by Plan Bleu , a regional Activity Centre of UNEP/MAP, based in Marseille, France.

MedECC is governed by two Coordinators and a Steering Committee.

Representatives of the UNEP/MAP Secretariat, Plan Bleu and the UfM Secretariat are members of the Steering Committee.

Achievements

The 1st Mediterranean Assessment Report (MAR1) on Climate and Environmental Change in the Mediterranean Basin – Current Situation and Risks for the Future was released on 17 November 2020 during the online conference Med2020. 190 authors participated in drafting the report. Among 86 Coordinating Lead Authors (CLAs) and Lead Authors (LAs) from 21 countries, 27 (31%) are based in southern and eastern Mediterranean countries.
The Summary for Policymakers (SPM) of MAR1 will be submitted for consideration and possible endorsement by the 22nd Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention and its Protocols (COP 22) to be held in Antalya, Turkey, in December 2021. Important references to MAR1 have already been made in the draft UNEP/MAP Medium-Term Strategy 2022-2027, which is expected to be adopted by COP 22.
MedECC contributed to the State of the Environment and Development in the Mediterranean (SoED) by co-coordinating the chapter on climate change.
MedECC also supports the MED2050 foresight study currently being undertaken by Plan Bleu (2021).
MedECC has been awarded the 2020 North-South Prize of the Council of Europe for “its efforts to address climate change and biodiversity conservation the Mediterranean and in by particular drafting the first-ever scientific assessment on climate and environmental changes’ impacts the Mediterranean Basin”.
MedECC contributes to the 6th IPCC Report scheduled for 2022, with, for the first time, a cross-chapter dedicated to the Mediterranean and co-coordinated by one of the MedECC Coordinators.

Partners

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