News

At a time when Mediterranean countries are embarking on ambitious post-COVID recovery schemes or, in other contexts, searching a way out of the economic setbacks that the pandemic has caused, the month of June offers two special occasions that should prompt decision-makers to invest in a more sustainable and resilient future: World Environment Day (5 June) and World Oceans Day (8 June).

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This article was prepared to mark the 2021 edition of International Day for Biological Diversity The COVID-19 pandemic was already in full swing when two reports backed by the UNEP/MAP-Barcelona Convention system brought new insights into the extent and impact of the triple crisis of pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss in the Mediterranean.

The implementation of the EU-funded EcAp MED III project is proceeding well despite restrictions linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, the first Steering Committee convened on 28 April 2021 (online) heard.

Meeting online on 27-28 April 2021, more than 50 participants representing 20 (out of the 22) Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention agreed on a set of conclusions and recommendations that pave the way for the possible designation of the Mediterranean Sea, as a whole, as an “Emission Control Area for Sulphur Oxides (Med SOx ECA) pursuant to Annex VI to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)”.

The digital platform inaugurated by the UNEP/MAP Regional Activity Centre for Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP/RAC) is part of the endeavor to boost green entrepreneurship in the Mediterranean. TheSwitchers.org enables peer-learning and offers a one-stop-shop for tools and methods developed by SCP/RAC to promote sustainable entrepreneurship in the region. Join the demonstration webinar

Lire en français The April 2021 issue of the UNEP/MAP-Barcelona Convention Secretariat’s newsletter “MED News”, produced by INFO-RAC, is now available online. Open the newsletter on the INFO/RAC website: http://www.info-rac.org/en/communication/newsletter/med-news-01-2021

The project titled “Towards achieving the Good Environmental Status of the Mediterranean Sea and coast through an ecologically representative and efficiently managed and monitored network of Marine Protected Areas” (IMAP-MPA project) held its second Steering Committee meeting online on 24 March 2021.

On 10 March 2021 the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC), a UNEP/MAP Regional Activity Centre jointly administered with IMO, convened the Regional Meeting of National Experts on the Mediterranean Strategy for the Prevention of, and Response to Marine Pollution from Ships (2022-2031).

The theme of the 2021 edition of International Women’s Day celebrates efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more on the global observance of IWD 2021.

The UNEP/MAP Barcelona Convention Secretariat participated in the Online Sub-Regional Workshop titled “Assistance for the implementation of the Barcelona Convention” that the Technical Assistance and Information Exchange Instrument of the European Commission (TAIEX) organized online on 16-17 February 2021.

A new report titled "30 by 30: Scenarios to recover biodiversity and rebuild fish stocks in the Mediterranean" by WWF sheds new light on the importance of conservation and advocates for bolder action to ensure that 30 per cent of the Mediterranean Sea be protected by 2030—an objective under negotiation within the UN Convention for Biological Diversity (CBD) and enshrined in two landmark strategic plans currently being prepared by SPA/RAC, the

(This article was updated on 6 April 2021) On 17 February 2021, the UNEP/MAP Regional Activity Centre REMPEC received a request for assistance from Israeli authorities regarding the beaching of large quantities of tar balls on Israel’s shoreline. As of 23 February, the volume of tar balls collected along the shoreline had reached an estimated 1,000 cubic metres.

The “contribution of the environmental dimension of sustainable development to building a resilient and inclusive post-pandemic world” was discussed by delegates taking part in the Leadership Dialogues during the Fifth Session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5). Mr. Gaetano Leone, Coordinator of UNEP/MAP-Barcelona Convention Secretariat, made the following (pre-recorded) statement.

On 16 February 2021 Plan Bleu, a Regional activity Centre of UNEP/MAP, and the Tunisian Ministry of Local Affairs and Environment co-organized an online conference on the State of the Environment and Development in the Mediterranean (SoED) report and how its findings can feed into plans for sustainable development in Tunisia.

The theme of the 2021 edition of World Wetlands Day (2 February) is “Wetlands and water”. It is an occasion to ponder the crucial role of Mediterranean wetlands.

Lire en français Mediterranean coastal cities and local authorities are invited to submit their applications for the third edition of the Istanbul Environment Friendly City Award (IEFCA). The deadline for the submission of applications for the Istanbul Environment Friendly City Award has been extended until 5 April 2021, 11:59 p.m. Athens time.

Lire en français The January 2021 issue of the UNEP/MAP-Barcelona Convention Secretariat’s newsletter “MED News”, produced by INFO-RAC, is now available online.

On 14 December 2020, a mere 48 hours after the Climate Ambition Summit, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) organized an online encounter with its members and with lawmakers from across the region.

Ninety participants, including representatives of twenty (out of twenty-two) Contracting Parties and of several MAP Partners, as well as scientists and experts from across the Mediterranean region, took part in the Integrated Meetings of the Ecosystem Approach Correspondence Groups on IMAP Implementation (CORMONs), which took place online from 1-3 December 2020.

In addition to bolstering the management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Mediterranean, the IMAP-MPA project (funded by the European Union) is supporting the uptake and implementation of the Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme (IMAP), a landmark instrument adopted by the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention with a

On 6 November 2020 Gaetano Leone, Coordinator of the UN Environment Programme Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP), took part in the webinar organized by Legambiente and titled “Networking for tackling marine litter in the Mediterranean Sea”, which took place in the context of the digital edition of Ecomondo, an international event dedicated to green tech

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in cooperation with the Open Universiteit of the Netherlands, will launch the 4th free Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Marine Litter as a key activity of The Global Partnership on Marine Litter (GPML). It is also part of the Clean Seas Campaign. The MOOC’s aim is to stimulate leadership and offer opportunities for actionable and change oriented learning, related to marine litter and microplastics.

Representatives of international media organizations attended a briefing on the State of the Environment and Development in the Mediterranean (SoED) report, which has been produced by UNEP/MAP Regional Activity Centre Plan Bleu.

On 29 September 2020 UNEP/MAP and its Mediterranean Marine Litter Node, in coordination with the Global Partnership on Marine Litter (GPML), hosted a webinar to shed light on the mooted issue of plastic waste caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.