THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION IS A CLIMATE CHANGE HOTSPOT
Warming 20% faster than the rest of the globe, the Mediterranean region is recognized as a climate change hot spot. Without strong mitigation policies, the regional temperature increase will reach 2.2°C in 2040, possibly exceeding 3.8°C in some parts of the region in 2100.
Record-high temperatures, more severe droughts, flooding and other extreme events, sea-level rise, ocean acidification and declining biodiversity exacerbate existing environmental issues in the Mediterranean Basin caused by the combination of changes in land use, pollution and overexploitation of natural resources.
Climate change triggers important risks for Mediterranean ecosystems (forests, wetlands, coastal and marine ecosystems) that provide numerous services, including human security and well-being.
Fresh water availability in the Mediterranean region is likely to undergo one of the highest rates of decrease in the world. An already water-stressed Mediterranean population is projected to increase from 180 million people in 2013 to over 250 million within 20 years.
Important Mediterranean sectors, including tourism, aquaculture, fisheries and forestry already suffer the impacts of climate change. By 2050, cities in the Mediterranean will account for half of the 20 global cities with the highest increase of the average annual damages.
All these crucial issues will be addressed in the 1st scientific assessment report about climate and environment change in the Mediterranean that will be soon published by the Network of Mediterranean Experts on Climate and Environmental Change (MedECC). Plan Bleu as a Regional Activity Centre of UNEP/MAP accompanies MedECC with the support of the Government of the Principality of Monaco since 2016, has hosted MedECC scientific secretariat since May 2018.