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In this newsletter, we are happy to share with you the recent developments in MedECC governance.
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We are also pleased to inform you that MedECC has started the preparation of the Second Mediterranean Assessment Report (MAR2). As part of this process, MedECC has launched an open call for experts to participate in the online scoping meeting scheduled for April 2025 and/or self-nominate as authors. Additionally, a pre-scoping survey is currently open to gather insights and interests from the scientific community and stakeholders across the Mediterranean, aimed at guiding the focus of MAR2.
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Second Mediterranean Assessment Report (MAR2)
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Call for experts and pre-scoping survey
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The MedECC is launching the preparation of the Second Mediterranean Assessment Report (MAR2). MAR2 aims to provide updated scientific knowledge and comprehensive understanding of climate and environmental challenges specific to the Mediterranean region. Many Mediterranean governments and decision-makers have shown strong interest in MAR1 and the subsequent Special Reports, making MedECC a key reference in the science-policy interface in the Mediterranean.
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To support at best decision-making, MAR2 should reflect substantial progress in science and assess the state of actions related to climate and environmental changes since MAR1, identify knowledge gaps, inform areas that require additional research and data collection, and highlight the gaps in terms of actions to combat climate and environmental changes.
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The Scoping Meeting, tentatively scheduled for April 2025, will be the first step in the preparation of the report. This meeting aims to set the foundation for the development of the report and draft the outline for MAR2. As part of this process, MedECC is launching the following initiatives:
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Call for experts
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MedECC is inviting experts from the full range of scientific, technical, and socio-economic expertise and backgrounds with a broad understanding of environmental and climate change in the Mediterranean, to participate in the online Scoping Meeting and/or self-nominate as author for MAR2. To contribute, submit your self-nomination by 2 March 2025.
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Pre-scoping survey
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The online questionnaire is now open to collect insights and interests to help shape the focus of MAR2. Institutions, organisations, and individuals, including scientists, knowledge holders, practitioners, and local communities working on climate and environmental change in the Mediterranean, are encouraged to complete the survey by 2 March 2025.
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MedECC welcomes new Coordinators and Steering Committee members
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Following an open call for experts to fill key positions in MedECC governance in autumn 2024, we are very pleased to announce that the Steering Committee has approved the appointment of two new MedECC Coordinators and three new Steering Committee members. They have been appointed for an initial period of four years. We are confident that their expertise and commitment will contribute significantly to the advancement of the MedECC mission and activities, in particular with the upcoming preparation of the Second Mediterranean Assessment Report (MAR2).
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New Coordinators
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Salpie Djoundourian
Interim Dean, Adnan Kassar School of Business, Lebanese American University, Lebanon
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Dr. Djoundourian specialises in applied microeconomics, focusing on environmental and natural resource economics and public finance. With over 30 years at the Lebanese American University, she has served in various leadership roles, including Associate Dean and Chair of the Departments of Economics and Management. Her research has been published in journals such as the Energy Journal, Public Choice, and Environment, Development and Sustainability.
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Piero Lionello
Full Professor of Oceanography and Atmospheric Science, University of Salento, Italy
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Professor Lionello is a climatologist specialising in the Mediterranean region's climate, its past and future evolution, and the impacts of climate change and extreme events. He is Chairman of the MedCLIVAR network (Mediterranean CLImate Variability) and has served as a leading author for the IPCC WG2-AR6 chapters on Europe and the Mediterranean. He has edited three books on the Climate of the Mediterranean Region and organised numerous conferences on related topics.
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New Steering Committee members
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Mohamed Abdel Monem
Senior Advisor for Climate Change and Rural Development, Egypt
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Professor of Land and Water Management at the Atomic Energy Authority in Egypt. He served as Senior Advisor at the FAO Regional Office for Near East and North Africa (2016-2023), Regional Team Leader for Ecosystem Management at the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in Nairobi, Kenya (2003-2014), and Natural Resources Management Specialist at ICARDA (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas). He also contributed his expertise as a Soil Scientist with the University of Nebraska in Morocco (1986-1990).
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Monia El Bour
Senior Lecturer, National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies (INSTM), Tunisia
As senior expert in aquatic biotechnology, microbiology, bio-monitoring, and bioremediation, she has authored over 200 publications and directed more than 70 master's theses and doctoral dissertations. Since 2019, she has chaired the CIESM Marine Microbiology and Biotechnology Committee. Her research focuses on marine microbial systems, bioremediation, and the assessment of marine benthic communities.
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Maria Papadopoulou
Professor, National Technical University of Athens, Greece
Dr. Papadopoulou specialises in subsurface water resources modeling and management, climate change adaptation, and the water-energy-food-climate nexus. She has served as Deputy Dean at the School of Rural, Surveying, and Geoinformatics Engineering since 2017 and was appointed President of the Board of Directors at the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency in Greece in June 2020. Her research focuses on groundwater ecosystem services and environmental impact assessment.
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Acknowledgments
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Fatima Driouech (University Mohammed VI Polytechnic, Morocco) and Anna Pirani (CMCC, Italy) who recently stepped down as MedECC Coordinators, for their outstanding commitment to the role.Their fresh perspectives and invaluable expertise have been instrumental in the successful implementation of MedECC activities. We look forward to continuing to work with them in the Steering Committee!
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We would also like to express our sincere appreciation to Ethemcan Turhan and Abdelghani Chehbouni, who have recently left the Steering Committee in 2024. Their commitment and contributions since the creation of MedECC have been invaluable and they have played a key role in the organisation development and success.
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The full list of MedECC Coordinators and Steering Committee members can be found here: Governance – MedECC
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MedECC in the press
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Find the latest press articles focusing on environmental and climatic issues in the Mediterranean, interviews with MedECC researchers and news articles on the activities of the MedECC and its reports.
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For media enquiries, please get in touch with the MedECC Secretariat.
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MedECC Coordinators: Salpie Djoundourian, Joël Guiot, and Piero Lionello MedECC Secretariat: Kasia Marini and Julie Gattacceca
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Please contact the MedECC Secretariat if you would like relevant publications, news, material to be published in the next newsletter to share with the community: contact@medecc.org
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Supporting institutions
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