Newsletter no.11

MedECC
Dear Colleagues !
MedECC presently works on its Special Reports. The call for authors self-nominations was closed in May 2021. Then the scoping meeting dedicated to the MedECC Special Report on coastal risks was held in July 2021. The scoping meetings on the MedECC Special Report on the climate-water-energy-food-ecosystems nexus and the one on the environmental change, conflict and human migration will be held soon. After the scoping workshops the teams of authors will be formed. The MedECC Steering Committee meeting was held on 14 October 2021.

We are also happy to inform you that the Summary for Policymakers (SPM) of the 1st Mediterranean Assessment Report (MAR1) was acknowledged during the 2nd Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Ministerial Conference, which took place in Cairo (Egypt) in October 2021 (details in "Past events" section). It has also been submitted for endorsement to the 22nd Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention and its Protocols, COP 22 (Turkey, December 2021).

MedECC and main messages of MAR1 will also be presented by one the MedECC the coordinators, Fatima Driouech during 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, United Kingdom, 2 November 2021 (online) during the side event ‘Climate Action in the Mediterranean’ organised by UfM under the topic “Regional perspectives and international partnerships, local actors” in the EU Pavilion. This will be a joint event with the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment of Cyprus and the Clima-Med project representatives (register).

On 25-26 October 2021, Copernicus and the Union for the Mediterranean will be hosting a virtual workshop "Data for climate action in the Mediterranean" during which the main results of MAR1 will be presented. An interactive session will take place on October 26th to gather information about how climate data is currently used in the region, and what further datasets or tools are needed to help stakeholders plan for current and future climate change in the Mediterranean Basin (more information and registration).

Several new media highlights on MedECC (MAR1) has been recently published, mainly with the relation to the participation of MedECC to the IUCN World Conservation Congress in September 2021, during which the press conference was held.



MedECC Coordinators: Wolfgang Cramer, Fatima Driouech and Joël Guiot
MedECC Science Officers: Kasia Marini and Julie Gattacceca

NEW MedECC CO-COORDINATOR

Driouech
We have the pleasure to inform you that Dr Fatima Driouech joined the coordination team of the MedECC.
Dr Fatima Driouech is an associate professor at the University Mohammed VI Polytechnic. She received a PhD in sciences of the universe, environment, and land surfaces from the Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse and her Engineer diploma from the National School of Meteorology, France. Before joining the University, she has been leading the National Meteorological Research Center at the Moroccan General Directorate of Meteorology then the National Climate Centre. Dr Fatima Driouech is Vice-Chair of Working Group I of the IPCC and was a lead author of the fifth IPCC report. She is a member of the management group of the WMO Commission for Services and Applications, and Co-chair of its Standing Committee on Climate Services.
We asked a few questions to her:

We are all aware that the risks of environmental change in the Mediterranean Basin are increasing - how could we as scientists engage better for actual change of policies, both for mitigating global change drivers and also for adaptation to them?
F. Driouech: First, I would like to underline the continuously growing and recognized importance of providing high-quality, detailed and comprehensive information to inform national, regional, and global policy choices. The elaboration of reports dedicated to issues common to a region such as the Mediterranean would increase the opportunities for synergy and cooperation for a stronger action against environmental degradation and climate change, while being part of the global action. Supporting the implementation of appropriate climate and environmental policies in the context of a sustainable development requires high profile assessments of the current state, influencing factors, future risks, and needs and possibilities of action at different levels (socio-economical, technological, financial, etc.). Scientists have an important role to play, starting from basic scientific production to assessment reports, the synthesis of the key messages and the communication about them. The scientist's commitment to a real change requires building a sustainable bridge with the various pillars of the development process, including decision-makers and citizens, to better understand their needs in terms of scientific knowledge and information and to communicate the results of their works in a relevant way to ensure a better understanding and ownership.
As a network, MedECC has great potential to effectively contribute to raising regional awareness of the needs, opportunities, and challenges to strengthen regional (and global) action against environmental and climatic degradation in the Mediterranean. Its principles built on objectivity, rigor, and quality as well as its objective of making scientific knowledge on environmental and climate change in the region more accessible to the various stakeholders are an asset that must be valued and strengthened. A pre-defined communication process with a dedicated team and more openness to other relevant networks and organizations in the region and elsewhere would be very useful. The increase of the network size with more active experts from different categories (seniors, juniors, men, women) and sub-regions (south, north, east, west) would allow a better coverage of the expertise type and dynamics required to ensure the delivery of high-profile reports based on real needs of the region. Exploring and establishing a continuous exchange process with (regional, national and local) decision-makers and other key stakeholders in the region will help ensuring a better ownership and endorsement of the assessment results.

You just accepted the invitation to join MedECC as coordinator - do you see particular actions, opportunities that may help developing an even better synthesis of scientific information about environmental change in the Mediterranean Basin?
F. Driouech: Despite being relatively young, the network has succeeded, thanks to its members and supporting institutions, in producing a high-quality report whose echo and recognition has gone far beyond the region. The process needs to be sustainable to accompany the scientific developments and advances on the one hand and the needs of the stakeholders and decision-makers in the region on the other hand. This cannot be achieved without adequate and sustainable funding and the contribution (let us recall it, on a voluntary basis) of high-profile scientists and a good knowledge of the needs and priorities of the region. Furthermore, a strengthened exchange between the network members by creating and using diversified opportunities and ways would increase their effective contributions to the achievement of MedECC objectives. Stimulating scientific research and production through assessment and communication on knowledge gaps in the region is also of great importance. Opportunities that allow the network contributing to the supervision of young researchers through its members and, why not, a "scholarship program" merits to be explored. This will also allow for greater ease of succession. Finally, I would like to recall that several MedECC members contribute to the works of renowned organisations such as IPCC and IPBES among others. Their experience is benefiting to the network which, in turn, may be of great benefit of these institutions.

PAST EVENTS

French Science Festival, 7-9 October 2021

French Science Festival, 7-9 October 2021
MedECC was happy to have taken part to the 30th edition of the French Science Festival (Fête de la Science) through conferences and workshops to address the state of the environnement in the Mediterranean and the impacts of climate change.

The Summary for Policymakers (SPM) of the 1st Mediterranean Assessment Report (MAR1) was acknowledged in the Ministerial Declaration (4 October 2021, Cairo, Egypt)

UfM Ministerial Conference on Environment and Climate action, 4 October 2021, Cairo, Egypt
Ministers from the 42 Member countries of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) gathered on 4 October 2021 in Cairo at the 2nd UfM Ministerial Conference on Environment and Climate action under the Co-Presidency of Jordan and the European Union.

Panel discussion: “Climate Change: the rapidly increasing challenge for the Mediterranean" (MIO-ESCDE), 21 September 2021

Panel discussion: “Climate Change: the rapidly increasing challenge for the Mediterranean" (MIO-ESCDE), 21 September 2021
On September 21, 2021, the Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development (MIO-ESCDE) organized with some of the contributors as well as others a high level online panel discussion entitled “Climate Change: the rapidly increasing challenge for the Mediterranean '' .

IUCN World Conservation Congress, 3-10 September 2021, Marseille, France

IUCN World Conservation Congress, 3-10 September 2021, Marseille, France
The first hybrid in-person and virtual environmental event since the pandemic began, the IUCN World Conservation Congress was held from 3 to 10 September 2021 in Marseille (France). The objective of the Congress was to drive action on nature-based recovery, climate change and biodiversity for decades to come.

Meeting on environmental policies by the National Economic and Social Council of Algeria, 14 July 2021

Meeting on environmental policies by the National Economic and Social Council of Algeria, 14 July 2021
The National Economic and Social Council of Algeria (Le Conseil national économique, social et environnemental, CNESE) organized on July 14, 2021 a meeting on environmental policies.

Mediterranean Climate Change Adaptation Awards by ADEME, award ceremony, 27 July 2021

Mediterranean Climate Change Adaptation Awards by ADEME, award ceremony, 27 July 2021
MedECC was associated with the 3rd edition of the “Mediterranean Climate Change Adaptation Awards” organised by the French Agency for ecological transition (ADEME), with the support of its Mediterranean partners the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and Plan Bleu.

Scoping meeting of MedECC Special Report on coastal risks, online, 12-13 July 2021

Scoping meeting of MedECC Special Report on coastal risks, online, 12-13 July 2021
MedECC is now working on a series of new special reports. The scoping meeting on the MedECC special report on coastal risks was held online on July 12 and 13, 2021.

European Parliament Meetings

European Parliament Meetings
Joël Guiot (MedECC co-coordinator) presented the main findings and recommendations of MAR1 report to Members of special delegations during two European Parliament Meetings.

TeRRIFICA SUMMER SCHOOL, Climate change in the Mediterranean Basin: evidences, discussions and citizen contributions, 28-30 June 2021

TeRRIFICA SUMMER SCHOOL, Climate change in the Mediterranean Basin: evidences, discussions and citizen contributions, 28-30 June 2021
The TeRRIFICA Summer School organized in the framework of the TeRRIFICA pilot of the metropolitan area of Barcelona was held online from June 28th to June 30th 2021 under the title “Climate Change in the Mediterranean Basin: evidences, discussion and citizen contributions”.

Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress 2021, 12-15 June, 2021, online and in Brisbane, Australia

Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress 2021, 12-15 June, 2021, online and in Brisbane, Australia
The session entitled "Risks associated with environmental change in the Mediterranean Basin" was organized by MedECC on 14 June 2021 during the Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress 2021 that was held online and in Brisbane, Australia from 12 to 15 June 2021.

19th meeting of the Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development, 7-9 June 2021

19th meeting of the Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development, 7-9 June 2021
More than fifty Members and Observers were taking part in the 19th Meeting of the Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development (MCSD), which went underway on 7 June 2021.

Conference: impacts of climate change at a territorial scale : focus on the Mediterranean and SUD-PACA region, France (in French), 26 May 2021

Conference: impacts of climate change at a territorial scale : focus on the Mediterranean and SUD-PACA region, France (in French), 26 May 2021
The group D2C2 (in French: Développement Durable et Changement Climatique) of the Aix-Marseille University organised on Wednesday, 26 May 2021 a conference on the impacts of climate change at a territorial scale.

SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES AND REPORTS

The possible role of Ziziphus lotus as an ecosystem engineer in semiarid landscapes

The possible role of Ziziphus lotus as an ecosystem engineer in semiarid landscapes (article)
Constantinou, E., Sarris, D., & Vogiatzakis, I. N. (2021). The possible role of Ziziphus lotus as an ecosystem engineer in semiarid landscapes. Journal of Arid Environments, 195, 104614.

Contrasted patterns in climate change risk for Mediterranean fisheries

Contrasted patterns in climate change risk for Mediterranean fisheries (article)
Pita, I., Mouillot, D., Moullec, F., & Shin, Y. J. (2021). Contrasted patterns in climate change risk for Mediterranean fisheries. Global Change Biology.

Contrasting multitaxon responses to climate change in Mediterranean mountains

Contrasting multitaxon responses to climate change in Mediterranean mountains (article)
Di Nuzzo, L., Vallese, C., Benesperi, R., Giordani, P., Chiarucci, A., Di Cecco, V., ... & Nascimbene, J. (2021). Contrasting multitaxon responses to climate change in Mediterranean mountains. Scientific reports, 11(1), 1-12.

Identifying the full spectrum of climatic signals controlling a tree species' growth and adaptation to climate change

Identifying the full spectrum of climatic signals controlling a tree species' growth and adaptation to climate change (article)
Mazza, G., & Sarris, D. (2021). Identifying the full spectrum of climatic signals controlling a tree species' growth and adaptation to climate change. Ecological Indicators, 130, 108109.

Climate change transforms the functional identity of Mediterranean coralligenous assemblages (article)

Climate change transforms the functional identity of Mediterranean coralligenous assemblages (article)
Gómez‐Gras, D., Linares, C., Dornelas, M., Madin, J. S., Brambilla, V., Ledoux, J. B., … & Garrabou, J. (2021). Climate change transforms the functional identity of Mediterranean coralligenous assemblages. Ecology Letters, 24(5), 1038-1051.

Sustainable Mediterranean, issue on climate change

Sustainable Mediterranean, issue on climate change
The issue 78 of Sustainable Mediterranean is dedicated to climate change. This issue features insights from more than 30 prominent Mediterranean actors, providing clear messages to decision-makers for an effective collective response.

IPCC: AR6 Climate Change 2021: the Physical Science Basis (report)

IPCC: AR6 Climate Change 2021: the Physical Science Basis (report)
The IPCC has finalized the first part of the Sixth Assessment Report, Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis, the Working Group I contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report.

Ecosystem services provision by Mediterranean forests will be compromised above 2℃ warming

Ecosystem services provision by Mediterranean forests will be compromised above 2℃ warming (article)
Morán‐Ordóñez, A., Ramsauer, J., Coll, L., Brotons, L., & Ameztegui, A. (2021). Ecosystem services provision by Mediterranean forests will be compromised above 2℃ warming. Global Change Biology, 27(18), 4210-4222.

Sliding toward the collapse of Mediterranean coastal marine rocky ecosystems (book chapter)

Sliding toward the collapse of Mediterranean coastal marine rocky ecosystems (book chapter)
Garrabou, J., Ledoux, J. B., Bensoussan, N., Gómez-Gras, D., & Linares, C. (2021). Sliding Toward the Collapse of Mediterranean Coastal Marine Rocky Ecosystems. In Ecosystem Collapse and Climate Change (pp. 291-324). Springer, Cham.

Floods evolution in the Mediterranean region in a context of climate and environmental change (article)

Floods evolution in the Mediterranean region in a context of climate and environmental change (article)
Llasat, M. C. (2021). Floods evolution in the Mediterranean region in a context of climate and environmental change. Cuadernos de Investigación Geográfica, 47(1), 13-32.

IPBES-IPCC Co-Sponsored Workshop Report on Biodiversity and Climate Change

IPBES-IPCC Co-Sponsored Workshop Report on Biodiversity and Climate Change
In December 2020, 50 of the world’s leading biodiversity and climate experts, selected by a 12-person Scientific Steering Committee assembled by IPBES and IPCC, participated in a four-day virtual workshop to examine the synergies and trade-offs between biodiversity protection and climate change mitigation and adaptation.
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