The 15th Meeting of the Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development (MCSD) was held from 10 to 12 June 2013 in Malta.* The Meeting brought together representatives of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention, many Mediterranean stakeholders, key experts as well as a number of UNEP/MAP partners with the aim of advancing proposals that could enable the Mediterranean region to implement the Rio+20 outcomes and progress towards sustainable development.
It is to be noted that the outcomes of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio + 20) especially in relation to water, sustainable consumption and production and governance are highly relevant for the Mediterranean region.
The MCSD focused mainly on the need to revise the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development (MSSD) taking into account the Rio +20 outcomes and building on past practices.** The Commission identified the weaknesses of the current framework strategy for environmental sustainability and shared prosperity in the Mediterranean region and suggested that the new strategy should be more action-oriented and establish a more effective monitoring and review system.
During the discussions the MCSD members and observers acclaimed the pioneer work undertaken in the Mediterranean region in the realm of Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP). Furthermore, the participants highlighted the urging need for developing a Road Map aiming to yield progress in the region’s seven priority fields of action, namely water, energy, transport, tourism, agriculture, urban development, and sea and coastal management, with respect to sustainable consumption and production. Achieving pollution reduction and putting the region in a leading position to implement Rio+20 Sustainable Consumption and Production Plans should become part and parcel of this Road Map.
Once more, the participants recognised that better interaction should be sought between the MCSD and the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), thus contributing to the fuller integration of the MCSD into international actions being carried out in favour of sustainable development.*** In this context, the MCSD discussed the possible implications of the upgrading of the CSD to the future of the MCSD. Furthermore, the participants to the meeting agreed that the MCSD should be strengthened with the objective of integrating the environmental pillar in other public policies.
Overall, the new MSSD should focus on the following areas: revising, monitoring, and evaluating implementation of the MSSD; forging partnerships and coordination; encouraging the exchange of good practices including a peer-review mechanism, as well as preparing input for sessions on Sustainable Development during the Meetings of Contracting Parties.
The new Strategy is once again based on a common vision of a sustainable Mediterranean. As H.E. Leo Brincat, Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development, and Climate Change of Malta said: “Things can only evolve when each one of our member countries shoulders responsibility at national, regional and global level.”
Notes
* The MCSD was created in 1996 by the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention to convey their commitment to sustainable development and to the effective implementation, at the regional and national levels, of the decisions of the Earth Summit and the United Nations Commission for Sustainable Development. The MCSD consists of 37 members: 22 permanent members representing each of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention and 15 rotating representatives representing non-state actors .
** For further information on Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development see: http://www.unepmap.org/index.php?module=content2&catid=001017002001
*** For further information see: http://195.97.36.231/acrobatfiles/07WG320_6_eng.pdf
Sources: UNEP/MAP
For further information:
http://www.unepmap.org/index.php?module=news&action=detail&id=133
About the author
MEPIELAN Centre
MEPIELAN Centre is an international research, training and educational centre established by Professor Evangelos Raftopoulos at the Panteion University of Athens in 2008.
Before its establishment as a University Centre, MEPIELAN operated as a successful international research, training and informational programme (2002-2007) under the scientific direction of Professor Evangelos Raftopoulos and the aegis of the Panteion University of Athens, supported by the Mediterranean Action Plan/UNEP and the Greek Ministry of the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works.
MEPIELAN Centre is an accredited UNEP/MAP PARTNER (since 2013), a Member of the Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development (MCSD) (since 2016), and a Member of the Steering Committee of the MCSD (since 2019).
On 22 May 2022, MEPIELAN Centre proceeded to the development of MEPIELAN as a Non- Profit Civil Organization (INGO) for the more effective and efficient advancement of its Goals and Missions and furtherance of its activities. MEPIELAN Centre as a Non- Profit Civil Organization (INGO) is registered in Greek Law (Hellenic Business Registry, Reg. No. 16477300100) in accordance with Laws 4072/2012 & 4919/2022 as applicable
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