As COP31 opens in Antalya, Türkiye, the Mediterranean Experts on Climate and environmental Change (MedECC) will present new scientific evidence on how environmental change, conflict and migration interact across the Mediterranean Basin.
Press conference: human mobility in a warming Mediterranean
On Monday 16 November 2026, from 10:30 to 11:30, MedECC will hold a press conference at COP31 on the theme “Human mobility in a warming Mediterranean”.
- Location: Mevlana, Press Conference Area, Antalya
- Online: the session will also be streamed live (watch here)
The session will be short and focused, in three parts:
- Introduction: Joan Borrell, of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Secretariat, will present the topic and explain how it connects to the UfM’s work and to the Med Pavilion.
- Scientific presentation: Piero Lionello, one of the MedECC’s coordinators, will present the main findings of the MedECC report.
- Questions and answers: the remaining time will be open to journalists.
The report behind the press conference
The press conference presents the MedECC Expert Analysis Environmental change, conflict, and human migration in the Mediterranean Basin. The report assesses the scientific, technical and socio-economic literature on the links and feedback mechanisms between environmental change (including climate change), conflict and human migration.
Key facts about the report:
- It draws on more than 1,000 scientific publications.
- It was written by 42 scientists and experts from 20 countries, all contributing in an individual capacity and without financial compensation.
- It builds on the first MedECC Mediterranean Assessment Report (MAR1), on previous IPCC reports and on other local, regional and national assessments.
- It aims to improve the shared understanding of the causes, trends, patterns and impacts of migration and displacement. It is meant to help policymakers reduce human suffering, allocate resources effectively and support regional stability and well-being.
The report includes an Executive Summary of its key messages, based on a clear assessment of the literature. Read the Executive Summary and download the full report.
Three more MedECC side events at COP31
Alongside the press conference, MedECC will take part in three side events during the first and second weeks of COP31:
Friday 13 November, 15:30 to 16:20, Albania Pavilion: Scaling Up Cooperation for Climate Action in the Mediterranean Region
Monday 16 November, Mediterranean Pavilion: Why the Mediterranean needs its own climate assessment: introducing the Second Mediterranean Assessment Report (MAR2)
Wednesday 18 November, Mediterranean Pavilion: Environmental change, conflict, and human migration in the Mediterranean: from scientific evidence to action
Why the Mediterranean matters at COP31
The Mediterranean Basin is widely described as a climate change hotspot. Rising temperatures, water stress, coastal risks and social and political pressures all intersect there, and the report’s central point is that these factors cannot be understood in isolation. By bringing independent, peer-reviewed science to COP31, MedECC aims to give negotiators, policymakers and journalists a solid evidence base for decisions on adaptation, cooperation and human security.
The full programme is available on the Mediterranean Pavilion.