networkswww

MedECCConceptNoteforDiscussion,v13,30June2016www.
medecc.
org1MedECC:TowardsanimprovedscientificassessmentofclimatechangeanditsimpactsintheMediterraneanBasinContextandrationaleRecentanthropogenicclimatechangeismanifestintheMediterranean,alongsideotherchangesintheenvironmentsuchasairpollution,soildegradationandbiodiversityloss.
TheFifthAssessmentReportoftheIntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange(IPCC)hashighlightedtheregionasoneofthemostvulnerableintheworld.
Besidesthevariousdirectregionalconsequencesofclimatechange(e.
g.
heatwaves,oceanacidification,extremeprecipitationevents,droughts,sea-levelrise,etc.
),thecombinedconsequencesoflandscapeandecosystemdegradationduetourbanization,pollution,andunsustainableuseofthelandandtheseaarewidelyrecognizedasasevereproblem.
ThesharedhistoryandthecloseconnectionsbetweencountriesandregionsborderingtheMediterraneancallforstrongcooperationwithrespecttoadaptationto,andmitigationofongoingenvironmentalchange.
Yetacomprehensiveassessmentofrecenttrends,likelyfuturedevelopmentandtheconsequencesofenvironmentalchangefornaturalsystems,theeconomy,andthehumanwell-being,includingquestionsofpovertyandmigrations,isstilllacking.
Existingassessmentscoveronlypartsoftheregionindisconnectedchapters(e.
g.
thereportsoftheIPCCortheWorldBank)oronlysometopics(e.
g.
climatevariability).
Whilesubstantialscientificknowledgeexists(e.
g.
inleadingresearchinstitutionsaroundtheMediterranean,fromlargeEuropeanprojectssuchasCIRCE1,orMedCLIVAR2),acoherentandcomprehensivesynthesisandassessmentofrecentandexpectedchangesforenvironmentalpolicyandadedicatedscience-policyinterfaceislacking.
Thereiswidelysharedconcernthat,intheMediterraneanregion,researchactivities,monitoringdataandotherknowledgegenerationaboutclimatechangeandotherenvironmentalchangesarenotsufficientlycoordinated.
Thereisnottooltoconductasustainabledialoguetobridgethegapbetweenscientistsanddecision-makers,tofacilitateownershipofscientificknowledgebydecision-makers.
Observationaldataandfindingsarenoteasilyaccessibleandthereforeinsufficientlyusedtoinformclimateandotherenvironmentalpolicyatregional,nationalandlocallevels.
Thelargedifferenceinmonitoringandresearcheffortindifferentpartsoftheregioniscreatingunbalancedinformation.
Thesegapshavebeenpointedoutinmanyregionalreports,conferencesandpolicyfora:e.
g.
UnionfortheMediteranean(UfM)ClimateChangeExpertGroupMeetinginOctober2014inBarcelona,aswellasMEDCOP21ConferenceinJune2015inMarseille.
1http://www.
cmcc.
it/projects/circe-climate-change-and-impact-research-the-mediterranean-environment2http://www.
medclivar.
euMedECCConceptNoteforDiscussion,v13,30June2016www.
medecc.
org2MedECC,anetworkofMediterraneanExpertsonClimateandEnvironmentalChangeInordertopreparethegroundforimprovedassessmentsandacomprehensivesynthesisofglobalchangeknowledgeintheMediterraneanregion,asideeventwasorganisedduringtheConference'OurCommonFutureunderClimateChange'(CFCC)inParis,France,July9,2015,gatheringabout40scientistsandrepresentativesofthesupportinginstitutions.
Thegoalandconclusionoftheeventwastobuildagroupofscientistsandamechanisminsupportofaregionalscience-policyinterfaceforclimaticandotherenvironmentalchangesacrosstheMediterranean.
Implementingthismechanismwouldmeetanumberofexistingintentionsbyimportantstakeholders,suchastheMediterraneanStrategyforSustainableDevelopment(MSSD2016-2025),theRegionalFrameworkforAdaptationtoClimateChangeintheMediterraneanbyUNEP/MAP,aswellastheproposalincludedintheAgendaofPositiveSolutions3approvedatMEDCOP21.
TheestablishmentofsuchagroupwouldalsobesupportedbytheFrenchMISTRALS4researchprogramandotherresearchinitiatives,suchasMed-Cordex5.
Severalregionalresearchinstituteshaveindicatedpossiblesupport,includingthe'CentroEuro-MediterraneosuiCambiamentiClimatici'(CMCC,Italy),theEnergy,EnvironmentandWaterResearchCenterattheCyprusInstitute(EEWRC),andtheFrench"Laboratoired'ExcellenceObjectifTerre-BassinMéditerranéen(LABEXOT-Med).
Inaddition,sub-regionalexpertnetworksarelikelytocooperate,e.
g.
theAdvisoryCouncilfortheSustainableDevelopmentofCatalonia(CADS)withthe'Grupd'ExpertsenCanviClimàticdeCatalunya'(GECCC,Catalonia),orthe'GroupeRégionaldesExpertssurleChangementClimatique'(GREC-PACA,Provence-Alpes-Cted'Azur,France).
MedECCAims1)TogatherthescientificcommunityworkingonclimatechangeinthewholeMediterraneanbasin.
Thisincludesbuildingabridgebetweenexistingresearchstructuresandprogramsandfacilitatingdata-sharingthroughexistingornewforaandplatforms.
2)ToupdateandconsolidatethebestscientificknowledgeaboutclimateandenvironmentalchangesintheMediterraneanbasinandrenderitaccessibletopolicy-makers,keystakeholdersandcitizens.
3)TocontributetofutureIPCC,IPBESorrelatedassessmentsintheMediterraneanbasin.
4)Tobridgethegapbetweenresearchanddecision-making,contributingtotheimprovementofpoliciesatnational,regional,andlocallevelbyprovidingconsolidatedscientificassessmentsonparticularissuesandbyrespondingtorequestsbydecision-makers.
5)ToidentifypossiblegapsinthecurrentresearchonclimatechangeanditsimpactsintheMediterraneanandinteractwithfundingagenciesforthedevelopmentofnewresearchprogramstofillthesegaps.
6)TohelpbuildingthecapacityofscientistsfromSouthernandEasternMediterraneanCountries(SEMCs)attheinternationallevelandstandards,encouragingtraining,researchanddevelopmenteffortsofthesecountries.
3http://www.
medcop21.
com/doc/MEDCOP21_solutions_agenda_positif.
pdf4MediterraneanIntegratedSTudiesatRegionalAndLocalScales:http://www.
mistrals-home.
org/spip/lang=en5https://www.
medcordex.
euMedECCConceptNoteforDiscussion,v13,30June2016www.
medecc.
org3MedECCproductsTheintendedoutputsoftheMedECC,dependingonparticipationandfinancialsupport,mayinclude:1)Regularandcomprehensive"stateoftheart"reportsaboutclimateandenvironmentalchangefortheentireMediterraneanbasin,includingsummariesfordecision-makersforapprovalbygovernmentrepresentatives.
2)Specificreportsondemandbydecision-makersonspecificissues,sectorsorscientificdomains.
3)Scientificworkshopsco-hostedbyMedECCandresearchinstitutionsorMedECCsupportinginstitutions.
4)Trainingfordecision-makers,professionalsandotherstakeholdersinvolvedinenvironmentalchangemitigationandadaptation.
5)Dialoguesbetweenthescientificcommunity,decision-makersandstakeholdersonspecificissuesofenvironmentalchangeintheMediterraneanbasin.
MedECCpaysspecialattentiontoorganiseitsactivitiesandinternalmeetingsindifferentlocationsoftheMediterraneanbasin,incoherencewithitswideterritorialapproach.
MedECCstructure(governance)MedECCisbasedonanopenandindependentinternationalscientificexpertnetworkactingasamechanismofon-goingsupportfordecision-makersandthegeneralpubliconthebasisofavailablescientificinformationandon-goingresearch.
Membershipisopentoscientificexpertsworkingondifferentaspectsofclimateandenvironmentalchangeswithappropriatepersonalacademiccredentials,independentoftheirnationality,institutionalaffiliationandoftheirnationalgovernment.
MedECCaimstocoverallmajorgeographicalsub-regionsoftheMediterraneanarea,definedastheensembleofcountriesborderingtheMediterraneanSea,includingJordanandPortugal(theMediterraneanSea,theirlandandseaterritories).
MedECCthematicscopeincludesallaspectsoftheRioconventionsi.
e.
climatechange,desertificationandbiodiversityconservation,embracingthedomainsofIPCCandIPBES(IntergovernmentalPlatformonBiodiversityandEcosystemServices).
Theseincludethephysicalandchemicalcharacteristicsoftheatmosphereandtheocean,allaspectsofnaturalandhumansystemspotentiallyimpactedbythechangingenvironment,andtheeconomicandsocialsolutionsintheformofadaptationandmitigation.
ThegovernanceofMedECCneedstobedeveloped.
Itmustensurethatworkisfullyorientedtowardsthehighestpossiblescientificstandards,withfullparticipationofexpertsfromallinvolvedregionsandrequiredscientificdisciplines.
Appropriateinteractionwithpublicandprivatedecision-makersandstakeholdersneedstobedeveloped,throughaformallyestablishedscience-policyinterface(seeschemebelow).
FundingofMedECCactivitieswillbesoughtthroughseveralsourcesoncethemechanismisformallyestablished.
SimilartoIPCCandIPBES,itisexpectedthatresearchinstitutesandindividualscientistsprovidetheirknowledgeonavoluntarybasis.
Itisrecognisedthatscientistsfromlow-incomecountriesmayneedadditionalfinancialsupportfortheircontribution.
MedECCConceptNoteforDiscussion,v13,30June2016www.
medecc.
org4MedECCgovernancestructureneedstoremainflexibleandgeographicallyandthematicallybalanced.
Itshouldenableanappropriateinteractionbetweenscientistandpublicandprivatedecision-makersandstakeholders.
Accordingtothesepreviousaspects,thegovernancestructureincludesseveralinterconnectedbodies(asfollows):1)MedECCMembers(widenetworkofexperts,notrepresentinginstitutions)MedECCisopentoallscientificexpertsworkingonclimateandenvironmentalchangesintheMediterraneanfromthenaturalsciences,socialsciencesand/orhumanitiesperspective.
MedECCmembersprovidetheirknowledgeonavoluntarybasis(itisrecognisedthatscientistsfromlow-incomecountriesmayneedadditionalfinancialsupportfortheircontribution).
TheMedECCScientificCommitteeisresponsiblefortheconfirmationofnewmemberships,basedonprovablepersonalacademicand/ortechnicalcredentialsofpossibleapplicants,independentlyoftheirnationalityandinstitutionalaffiliation.
Alargenumberofexperts(>180scientistsfrom23countries)alreadyexpressedtheirinterestinjoiningMedECC.
ThesteeringcommitteeaimstoenlargethemembershipbasisespeciallywithscientistsfromtheSouthernandEasternrimsoftheMediterraneanBasin,andexpertsfromsocialandhumansciences.
2)MedECCScientificCommitteeAgroupofleadingscientiststooktheinitiativefortheJuly2015Parismeetingandinitialdraftingofthedocuments–thesecurrentlyactasAdhocSteeringCommitteeuntiltheopportunityhasbeenfoundtoselectacommitteewithbetterthematicandgeographiccoverageofMediterraneanenvironmentalandclimaticscience.
Nowadays,thescientificcommitteeincludesthefollowing10members:JolGuiot(CEREGE,Aix-en-Provence,France),WolfgangCramer(IMBE,Aix-en-Provence,France),GhaniChehbouni(IRD,Rabat,Morocco),Jean-PierreGattuso(LOV,Villefranche,France),ManfredLange(Aglantzia,Cyprus),PieroLionello(UniversityofSalento,Italy),MariadelCarmenLlasatBotija(UniversityofBarcelona,Spain),MariaMedECCConceptNoteforDiscussion,v13,30June2016www.
medecc.
org5Snoussi(MohammedVUniversity,Rabat,Morocco),RiccardoValentini(CMCC,UniversityofTuscia,Viterbo,Italy),ElenaXoplaki(UniversityofGieen,Germany/Greece).
ThescientificcommitteeisresponsibleforleadingthescientificactivitiesofthenetworkandensuringthescientificrigouroftheMedECCworkandspecificdeliverables.
Theapprovalofnewmembersisalsoataskofthiscommittee.
Itwillbeintegratedbyatotalof20members,includingthe10foundermembers,whichwillhaveapermanentseatonthecommittee.
The10remainingmemberswillbeelectedbythemembersofthenetworkthroughatransparentandaccountableelectionsystem.
Thescientificcommitteewillworkwithina5yearsmandateframework.
3)MedECCInstitutionalCommittee(advisoryboard:policy-‐anddecision-‐makers,supportinginstitutions,andotherstakeholders)MedECCwillcloselyinteractwithvariouspublicandprivateinstitutionsconcernedbyclimatechangeandotherenvironmentalissuesintheMediterranean.
SomeofthemareofprimaryinterestandwillbestronglyinvolvedwithintheMedECCInstitutionalCommittee,asspecifiedinfollowingparagraphs.
Thisinstitutionalcommitteewillhavethestrategicresponsibilityoffacilitatingthelinksbetweenscientistsandpolicy-makers.
Accordingtothis,itwillbeinchargeoftheMedECCinteractionswithotherrelevantorganisationsandinstitutions(bothatinternational,European,Mediterranean,regionalandlocallevels).
Additionally,thiscommitteewilladviseMedECConconcretedeliverablesandactivities,communicationinitiativesandpublicpresence.
Itwillmeetinaregularbasis(atleasttwiceperyear)withtheScientificCommitteeinordertocontributetothegoodfunctioningofMedECC.
ThesemeetingswillbehostedbythedifferentmembersinordertoincreasethevisibilityofthegroupintheMediterranean.
AlthoughtheInstitutionalCommitteecanbeenlargedinthefuture,theinitialstructureconsistsofthefollowingmainorganisations:3.
1.
TheUfMEnergy&ClimateActiontheme:theUfMClimateChangeExpertGroupistheplatformofdialogueonsolutionsandinitiativesofEuro-Mediterraneancountries(43).
MedECCiswellplacedtocomplementthispolicy/diplomaticgroupbyprovidingwithscientificknowledgeandevidenceusefulfordecision-making.
TheUfMwillberesponsibleofinteractionsbetweenMedECCandrelevantorganizationsandinitiatives,suchas:EC(DGsEnergy&Clima),LeagueofArabStates,OME-ObservatoireMéditerranéendel'Energie,RCREEE-RegionalCentreforRenewableEnergyandEnergyEfficiency,IEA-InternationalEnergyAgency,RES4MED-RenewableEnergySolutionsfortheMediterranean,MEDENER-MediterraneanAssociationoftheNationalAgenciesforEnergyConservation,IMEDER-InstitutMéditerranéendesEnergiesRenouvelables,MED-ENEC-EnergyEfficiencyintheConstructionSectorintheMediterranean,CES-MED-CleanerEnergySavingMediterraneancities,etc.
3.
2.
PlanBleu(UNEP/MAP-BarcelonaConventionRegionalActivityCentre)isinchargeofactivitiesaimingtosupporttheimplementationofMSSD2016-2025,notablybyprovidingfunctionsoftechnicalsecretariattotheMediterraneanCommissiononSustainableDevelopment/MCSD6.
MedECCshouldbecomea6TheMCSDisakeystructurewithintheMAPsystemforsupportingthedevelopmentandimplementationoftheMSSD2016-2025.
BringingtogetherrepresentativesoftheContractingPartiestotheBarcelonaConvention(i.
e.
21ripariancountries,plustheEuropeanUnion)andstakeholdersMedECCConceptNoteforDiscussion,v13,30June2016www.
medecc.
org6flagshipinitiativeoftheStrategy,whichrecommendsto"Establisharegionalscience-policyinterfacemechanism,(…)withaviewtopreparingconsolidatedregionalscientificassessmentsandguidanceonclimatechangetrends,impactsandadaptationandmitigationoptions".
WithinMedECC,PlanBleucouldcoordinatetheInstitutionalCommittee,whichisresponsiblefortheinteractionsbetweenthescientificnetworkandtheend-usersoftheMedECCdeliverablesandactivitities(e.
g.
regionalinstitutions,nationalpolicy-anddecision-makers,supportinginstitutions,andotherstakeholders).
TheothermembersofthecommitteewillcollaboratewithPlanBleutofacilitateaneffectiveinterfacebetweenScienceandPolicy.
Thatwillincludeactionsofinformation/communicationandstakeholderconsultations.
3.
3.
AdvisoryCouncilfortheSustainableDevelopmentofCatalonia(CADS)isanadvisorybodyoftheCatalanGovernmentwhichmaininstrumentalaimisbeinganeffectiveandsuccessfulinterfacebetweenscientists,policymakersandstakeholders.
AlthoughitsactivitiesaremainlyfocusedonaleadingMediterraneanregion,itisanactivememberoftheNetworkofEuropeanEnvironmentandSustainableDevelopmentAdvisoryCouncils(EEAC)andparticipatesinsomeSDinitiativesintheMediterraneanregion.
Since2005,CADShasbeeninchargeoftheelaborationoftheperiodicReportonClimateChangeinCatalonia,whose3rdedition–tobepublishedinSeptember2016-hasinvolved150expertsandmorethan40reviewers.
ItfoundedtheCatalanExpertGrouponClimateChangeandismemberoftheUfMExpertGrouponClimateChange.
Allthislong-termexperienceontheinterfacingbetweenScientistsandPolicyMakersandStakeholderswillbearelevantcontributiontotheMedECC.
4)MedECCSecretariatMEDECCScientificSecretariatwillbebasedinMarseilleandmanagedbytheLabexOT-MedwiththehelpofIRD;itisimportanttohaveafulltimesecretariatandtechnicalsupport.
SecretariatoftheInstitutionalCommitteewillalsobebasedinMarseille,managedbyPlanBleu;hostingthissecretariatwoulddemandaparttimecontract.
WorkplanAfterthesideeventorganisedunderthelabeloftheConference'OurCommonFutureunderClimateChange'(CFCC)inParis,France,July9,2015(ameetingreportwasproducedanditsmainconclusionsareincludedinthisconceptnote),thefollowingsteps/activitiesareenvisaged:1)September–October2015:thelistofparticipants,alreadycomplementedbyfurtherexpressionsofinterest,willbeconsolidatedandusedasaprimarymeansofelectroniccommunication.
Memberswillbeaskedtoinviteotherexpertstojoin,aimingatestablishingalistofpartnersthatcoverallrelevantscientificdomains(especiallysocialsciencesexperts)andalsoallsub-regionsoftheMediterraneanBasin.
AparticularattentionwillbepaidtoSEMCs.
Existingrelevanton-goingnationalactionswillbealsoidentifiedandcontacted(e.
g.
,theAgenceNationalepourlesChangementsClimatiques(ANCC)inAlgeriaandtheClimateChangeCommitteeinLibya).
2)1-2October2015:PresentationanddiscussionattheUfMCCEGMeeting–Barcelona.
involvedwithsustainabledevelopment,MCSDworkscloselywithrelevantorganizationsfortheeffectiveimplementationoftheStrategy.
MedECCConceptNoteforDiscussion,v13,30June2016www.
medecc.
org73)November-December2015:a.
AmeetingofanextendedgroupoffoundingmemberswillbeheldinordertodevelopaproposalforagovernancestructureofMedECC,includingamultidisciplinaryandmultinationalsteeringcommitteeb.
Financialandinfrastructuralsupportfornetworkingandassessmentfrommultiplesourceswillbesought,aimingataleanandsimplestructure,basedprimarilyonvoluntarycontributions.
4)7-8April2016,thead-hocsteeringcommittee,completedwithafewkeyscientistsandend-userrepresentatives(UfM-CCEG,PlanBleu),metinBarcelona,inthebuildingoftheUfM(7April)andinthebuildingoftheGeneralitadofCatalonia(8April)todiscussaboutthegovernanceofMedECCandtoprepareascientificpaperonchallengesofclimaticchangeintheMediterranean.
5)18-19July2016,participationtothe"GreatEventScienceandSociety"attheMedCOPClimateinTangiers(MedECCrepresentedbyM.
Snoussi).
.
6)10-12October2016,Aix-en-Provence,enlargedworkshop(~40scientistsand20end-users)tofinalizethegovernance,toscopethefirstMedECCreport,andtoorganisethereportwriting.
7)November2016:participationtotheCOP22conferenceinMarrakech,sideevent(tobecoordinatedwiththeUfM).
8)2016:searchforfunding9)2017-2019:reportwriting,thematicmeetings…