Mediterranean sea level rise, the forgotten threat

Climate change is a global challenge, but its impacts are not the same all over. The Mediterranean region is more exposed, both for climatic and socio-economic reasons, and if we don’t strike now the right choices, it can collapse. The area is the second fastest warming globally, and the waters of this shared sea are the fastest warming and therefore fastest rising globally. Ensuing dramatic climate and environment disruptions are foreseen in a tale not only of severe impacts but also of fragilizing unevenness around the Mediterranean that could amplify instability, large population movements, or even conflicts. Of the many forecasted impacts sea level rise is of unprecedented magnitude as it could jeopardize the regional food security through salinization of fertile plains, together with many other severe consequences – coastal erosion, threats to heritage. But of all threats it is the most neglected, almost exorcised in its magnitude: athe event aims to launch  necessary call for planning and action.

Session Chair

Ambassador Grammenos Mastrojeni, Senior Deputy Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean
 

Programme

Introduction
Francesco Corvaro, Italian Government’s Special Climate Envoye

Set the scene: climate, the Mediterranean Hotspot
Ambassador Grammenos Mastrojeni

The science, current data and projections
Representatives of IPCC – probably the Vice President, MeDECC, Copernicus ECWMF

Current and projected economic impacts: urban, agriculture and salinisation, erosion, tourism etc.
Representatives of Euro Mediterranean Economists Association

It is now and real – the cases of the Nile Delt, of the Islands and of Venice
Representatives to be defined

Security and geostrategic risks – the threat from the Nile Delta
Representatives of UfM – ECCO

Adaptation and resilience: infrastructure or nature-based approaches?
Representatives of UNFCCC, CIHEAM, PRIMA

Adaptation and resilience, best practices in other regions: the mangrove alliance, the Netherlands, Vietnam?

Conclusions: an adaptation and resilience plan for the Mediterranean is urgently needed