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INFORMATION REPORT
on
Climate change and the Mediterranean: environmental and energy challenges
WORKIN GROUP
European Economic and Social Committee – rapporteur
Economic and Social Council of Spain
Economic and Social Council of Greece
Economic and Social Council of Algeria
Economic and Social Council of Tunisia
Economic and Social Council of Lebanon
Palestinian Economic and Social Council
Economic and Social Council of Italy
Delegation of representatives of Egyptian civil society
Delegation of representatives of Jordanian civil society
Turkish Delegation of the EU-Turkey Joint Consultative Committee

REX/254 - CESE 682/2009 fin IT/RL/CAT/ms .../...

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European Economic and Social Committee

REX/254
Climate change and the Mediterranean

Brussels, 15 September 2009

INFORMATION REPORT
of the
Section for External Relations
on
Climate change and the Mediterranean: environmental and energy challenges
______
Rapporteur: Mr Iozia
______

REX/254 - CESE 682/2009 fin IT/RL/CAT/ms .../...

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Study Group on / President: / Mr Nilsson (III-SE)
Climate change and the Mediterranean
Rapporteur: / Mr Iozia (II-IT)
Members: / Mr/Ms
Confalonieri (III-IT)
Dorda (I-PL)
Felisati (I-IT)
Konstantinidis (III-CY)
Le Nouail Marliere (II-FR)
Louroutziatis (I-CY)
López Almendáriz (I-ES)
Moreno Preciado (II-ES)
Narro (III-ES)
Parnis (II-MT)
Soares (II-PT)
Somville (III-BE)
Voles (I-CZ)
Expert:
Sergio Colombo


On 17 January 2009 the European Economic and Social Committee, acting under Rule 31 of its Rules of Procedure, decided to instruct its Section for External Relations to draw up an information report on

Climate change and the Mediterranean: environmental and energy challenges.

The preparatory work was carried out by the members and experts, in cooperation with the rapporteur and the groups. The study group met on:

-  5 March 2009

-  30 April 2009

-  30 June 2009.

The section adopted the information report unanimously (by 42 votes) on 3 September 2009.

*

* *

1.  Climate change – a political, economic and social priority: the role of civil society

1.1  The aim of this information report is to focus the attention of civil society on climate change in the Mediterranean and on the possible consequences of failure to adopt suitable timely policies without delay to drastically cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, while clearly reaffirming the principle of shared but differentiated responsibilities. Mitigation and adaptation policies are crucial, particularly as regards agriculture, tourism and forestry; water management and land upkeep; preventative and treatment-based health policies capable of countering the increased risk linked to climate change; economic and industrial policies; and energy policies aimed at sustainable, green development prioritising energy saving and efficiency.

1.2  The Mediterranean region has been the cradle of civilisation, of the great monotheistic religions, science, the arts, and culture in general. Such has been the reciprocal influence among the different Mediterranean communities that their national cultures and language have assimilated specific habits, customs and features of their neighbours. This has proved mutually enriching in many fields, such as: mathematics, astronomy, engineering, architecture, poetry and literature, and in a less lofty, though hugely satisfying field, the culinary arts and the art of living.

1.3  Many years on, a fresh opportunity has arisen for a new era of cooperation. The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) could be the vehicle through which to develop a major North-South cooperation agreement. Such an agreement should give due recognition to the role of the social partners and of organised civil society, which have major responsibilities here, as set out clearly in the opinion on Meeting the challenges of climate change — The role of civil society[1].

1.4  Climate change is an extraordinary aggravating force in a situation that is already critical. We are faced with a race against time. We must begin to change the development models adopted by the individual countries that are the cause of the degenerative processes underway, before the effects become irreversible. The manmade structure of the Mediterranean countries has been shaped over the course of millennia by a set of natural events that was considered unchangeable (coastal urban settlements and alluvial valleys are just two examples). Now that these certainties are being called into question, we need to draw up a new map of risks whose scale is still totally unknown.

1.5  The UfM countries should map out a common approach and go to Copenhagen with equal determination to seek a global agreement, identifying common goals and mutual commitments to be developed in specific projects that could be included in the various strands of cooperation identified. It is proposed that within the UfM a Mediterranean climate and sustainability alliance be set up, backed and supported by civil society. The UfM should provide information in a transparent manner on the projects under consideration and on the work of its sectoral ministerial conferences, while also granting observer status to an assembly of Mediterranean economic and social councils.

1.6  A proposal was made in 1999 at the Antalya summit of Euro-Mediterranean ESCs and similar institutions to adopt a Programming charter for the sustainable development of the Mediterranean and to set up an Observatory on the international agreements and instruments for cooperation in the Mediterranean region. In our view, these initiatives are still fully relevant and should be carried out.

1.7  The governance of environmental and sustainable development policies in the Mediterranean presents a practical problem. The situation of permanent crisis prevents these policies from being introduced effectively or in a timely manner: if integrated common policies are not introduced, the risk to the peoples of the whole region greatly increases. The ongoing conflicts between the Mediterranean partner countries make every commitment and project haphazard. Mediterranean civil society continues and will continue to call for every effort to be made, particularly by the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority, to resume and complete the road to a just and secure peace, with due recognition of the principle of two peoples and two States.

1.8  As the environment knows no borders, it is in the interests of all countries to preserve our natural resources by taking environmentally-sustainable measures. The countries responsible for the destruction of infrastructure and natural resources should also be responsible for paying for the damage done.

1.9  The mobility of people in the region should be one of the key issues to address. Respect for the dignity and diversity of all people in the UfM is a primary requisite; without this there will be no real understanding between the communities. Relations should be based on respect for national sovereignty, justice, mutual trust and democratic dialogue. Migratory pressures could increase because of climate change; it will be necessary to put in place the requisite policies to adapt to and mitigate the adverse effects of the excessive warming of the Mediterranean area in good time. Only with policies based on cooperation and support can immigration be successfully managed. Immigration should be viewed as a resource and source of reciprocal enrichment and should be managed on the basis of actual capacities to receive migrants, with full respect for human rights and dignity.

1.10  The future energy supply for the Mediterranean area is of concern to everyone. The 4th Euro-Mediterranean Energy Forum took place in Barcelona, organised by the Spanish Energy Club and the IEmed (European Institute of the Mediterranean) in cooperation with the Mediterranean Energy Observatory.

1.11  The following proposals emerged from the forum:

1) to foster renewable energy, particularly wind and solar, so as to reduce energy dependence and support technological development;

2) to increase investment in new North-South electricity and gas interconnections; and

3) to move towards an energy model based on regional and multilateral cooperation, prioritising energy efficiency and securing a balanced mix of electricity generation; combating climate change; and establishing a suitable regulatory framework conducive to investment.

1.12  Achieving substantial increases in energy saving and efficiency will be the key to attaining significant results. GHG emission levels could be significantly lowered as a result of cooperation and the exchange of knowledge and expertise on issues such as: town planning; housing and commercial property; public and private passenger and goods transport; agriculture and the use of biomass; electricity generation, transmission and distribution; ecodesign; and solid urban-waste recycling.

1.13  Another area of cooperation is water management, given that water scarcity is a growing problem not only in the Southern hemisphere of the world but also in Europe, as pointed out by the Commission itself in its communication on Addressing the challenge of water scarcity and droughts in the European Union, on which the Committee has issued an opinion[2]. Already today over 60 million people in the Euro-Mediterranean region have to live with water stress on a daily basis, and this figure is set to reach 300 million.[3]

1.14  Among the priorities for this new era of partnership are: managing natural disasters, civil protection and adaptability, through specific actions on the ground, particularly in agriculture – which accounts for 71% of water use and over 10% of GHG emissions, while employing 10% of the workforce in the EU-27 and some 40% in the Mediterranean partner countries.

1.15  Among the challenges facing the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) – as set out in its six priority programmes – is to develop strategies for mitigating and adapting to climate change, while deepening cooperation in renewable energy (particularly solar thermal or concentrated solar). The Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA) is calling for a concentrated solar energy and desalination pilot plant to be built in Rafah, in cooperation with the Egyptian and Palestinian authorities, as part of the Euromed Solar Plan and the plans for the reconstruction of Gaza.

1.16  All projects funded by the European Commission should highlight the importance of and need to implement sustainable environmental policies, and prioritise those policies. A Recommendation to this end should be drawn up, addressed to Member States, the private sector and NGOs seeking funds. Aid for the reconstruction of Gaza should be subject to this pre-condition and should also serve as a leading example, with due regard for the urgent need to press ahead with this reconstruction.

1.17  The UfM countries should:

·  examine and know about the causes and consequences of climate change;

·  prepare to deal with the adverse effects of climate change on the region's population, flora and fauna, both directly and indirectly;

·  equip themselves with regional and national strategies for protecting the Mediterranean;

·  ensure the targeted use of resources and funds, earmarking sufficient budgets for protection projects;

·  establish a legal framework to regulate cooperation on climate change, renewable energy production and the desalination of seawater;

·  establish protected marine areas, to ensure the preservation of the marine environment; and

·  implement the conclusions of the 5th World Water Forum on the right to water and sanitation, working together to bring this right into effect.

1.18  The proposed objectives could be achieved by: reducing over-fishing and pollution and promoting the conservation and rational use of marine resources. It is proposed to set up a Mediterranean consortium for research and development with regard to solar, wind and biomass energy sources and the desalination of seawater, its exploitation and distribution.

2.  The Mediterranean: an eco-system at risk

2.1  2009 may be remembered as the pivotal year in the fight against climate change, if a comprehensive, verifiable agreement can be reached at the Copenhagen conference in December on cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Proper preparations should be made for the period post-Kyoto, involving countries such as China, India and Brazil, which have seen their emissions rise in recent years in line with their GDP, and which were absent from the Japanese conference. China and India account for 25% of global GHG emissions, China having recently overtaken the USA in this area, becoming the world's top GHG emitter.

2.2  CO2 emissions are continuously rising. In 2004, the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean emitted 663 MT, while the Northern shore emitted 1393 MT, totalling 8% of global emissions. Emissions rose in the Northern countries by 18% during the period 1990-2004, and in the Southern and Eastern countries by 58%, while the emissions per capita varied from 2.6T in the South and East to 7.1 T in the North (2005 figures)[4].

2.3  Even those who held the most extreme views, who denied the link between emissions and global warming, have had to bow to the evidence that climate change is primarily due to human activity.

2.4  The Mediterranean's hydrological system can be considered semi-closed, in that water renewal across the Straits of Gibraltar is insufficient to spread the beneficial effects of the Atlantic waters.

2.5  This particular situation increases the responsibility of the countries concerned to strive together to preserve the Mediterranean Sea from the possible adverse effects of excessive global warming.

2.6  The Mediterranean has to contend not only with the adverse effects of rising sea levels, which could rise by up to 30-45cm by 2050, but also with creeping desertification which could gradually spread to Southern Europe.

2.7  The problem of lowering water tables is already dramatically evident. Surface water veins are disappearing, requiring very deep excavation when water is found, greatly increasing the expense, which is at times unsustainable, and entailing higher pumping costs. A lower cereal harvest is predicted for 2009 in low-income food-deficit countries as a result of the drought that has hit several continents. This year the number of people malnourished could break the one billion mark for the first time, from the combined effect of the crisis and climate change: this was asserted by the Italian farmers' organisation Coldiretti, on the occasion of the UN's World Day for Water.

2.8  The Marseille summit specified sustainable environmental policies as one of the priorities of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and environmental protection as a solemn commitment of all the partner countries.

2.9  The practical implementation of this commitment will need to be closely monitored; civil society has a fundamental role to play in supporting, encouraging and verifying the environmental protection projects and implementation of emissions-cutting policies.