Mediterranean Coast Day: a call to action for our coast

A call to action for our coastal communities

Mediterranean Coast Day is an annual celebration of our shared coast and a reminder of our collective responsibility to protect it. Bringing together institutions, experts, communities, and citizens, Coast Day inspires solutions, raises awareness, and promotes lasting action for coastal resilience year-round.

The date marks Slovenia’s ratification of the ICZM Protocol in 2009 – a groundbreaking agreement that united 21 Mediterranean countries to advance sustainable coastal development across the region.

Coast Day is part of the UNEP/MAP Barcelona Convention system and is coordinated by PAP/RAC, the regional activity centre for coastal management.

Coastal resilience: an urgent priority for our region

Climate and environmental change is affecting both the terrestrial and marine parts of the Mediterranean coastline and is expected to pose serious risks for ecosystems and key economic sectors, particularly through coastaline erosion, sea level rise, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, and accumulated pollution. 

The coastal zone and drivers of environmental and climate change. Source: Policy for Policymakers of the Special Report Coastal and environmental costal risks in the Mediterranean, MedECC (2024).
 
The latest MedECC Special Report on costal risks indicates that present actions towards solutions to environmental problems, adaptation to climate change and its mitigation are insufficient to attain the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ensuring the well-being of people and the sustainability of resources. Without transformative actions across all sectors, systems, and scales, climate change risks will be exacerbated, and the sustainable development goals will not be met. Social-economic and gender-based inequalities, lack of access to basic services will act as further barriers to the implementation of sustainable development pathways. 
 
The report highlights that:
  • The engagement of scientists, policymakers, stakeholders, and citizens is key to removing barriers — including lack of understanding and trust — and is particularly valuable during planning processes. Turning stakeholders into partners significantly increases the potential for successful implementation of solutions and adaptation measures. 
  • Coastal adaptation management and planning processes provide unique opportunities for the establishment of permanent frameworks for science-policy-community interaction. Such frameworks require sufficient resources, are based on transparency and are the key for building partnerships and trust. Plans that are co-created by science-policy-community groups strongly increase their chances for successful implementation.  
 

Mediterranean institutions for coastal resilience 

Behind every thriving coastline are the people and institutions working tirelessly to protect it. This year, Coast Day shines a spotlight on the institutions that drive meaningful change across the Mediterranean, and MedECC is proud to be part of them! From designing policies and implementing protection measures to advancing research and spreading knowledge, these organizations play a vital role in building a sustainable coastal future.

You might also like