From ‘National Outreach Dialogue’ to ‘Strategy of Cross-National Climate Change’

Last month an event titled “National Outreach Dialogue” hosted in Gozo, Malta, with participation of representatives of civic society organizations, experts, diplomat and policy advisors, aimed to discuss ‘mitigation of climate risk and adaptation to climate security’ from perspective of how engaging the Mediterranean civic voice in climate policy process, all the way till Brazil (COP30, end of 2025).

Considering the Paris Climate Agreement (2015), which has become a milestone in the commitments of countries at the national level to mitigate GHGs is due to be implemented at the state level. But as it is well known especially for citizens who live in bordering zones “the environment crosses political borders” and certainly the climate crisis does not recognize borders, so is the impact. We have witnessed in recent decades to the ongoing effects of desertification in our region, persistent droughts, severe water shortages, extreme climate events such as floods across central European countries, and wildfires of the Mediterranean forest cross all these regions from the Balkans, the Northern Mediterranean to the Southern Mediterranean.

At the state level, a climate national policy that was agreed and its status ranges by satisfied commitment or neglecting. But what about the ‘regional commitment’? Between countries with similar climate and energy adaptation trends and weak countries, where the climate crisis threatens to widen socio-economic gaps and government instability.

The starting point is considering the concept of ‘mitigation / adaptation’ from climate justice approach where not focusing on traditional GHG mitigation – where the technological and scientific knowledge has long existed and applicable to diverse governing scenarios – but on mitigation of climate risks and approach to develop social, economic and political tools to promote sustainable climate security in the Euro-Med region, with an emphasis on reducing gaps between the northern and southern Mediterranean in coping with the climate impact, and significant civic engagement.

The research headed by the authors of this article (Lubanov and Causon) conducted in framework of the Anna Lindh Foundation is phase in advancing vision of civil engagement towards achieving Climate Resilience in Mediterranean region. The research outcomes indicate on climate inequality in euro Med. In brief, the climatic inequality is reflected in two main characteristics: the first, the countries of the south Med identified with low CO2 emissions per capita and their contribution in global emissions is negligible. Secondly, the Inequality does not refer only to economically weak countries (as of South Med) but also when considering ‘innovation and adoption of renewable energy’ methods – in large scale – in the countries of northern Europe/Scandinavia countries – reduced their share in the global contribution greatly, but the emissions per capita are still high compared to the South Mediterranean countries.

In frame of the research few case studies and data base were reviewed and analyzed, carried out in the years 2019, 2021-22, and 2023-24. As example, ‘Energy Transition profile in Europe and Mediterranean Countries’ has examined a state of transition to renewable energy per country and Innovative waste treatment. The examined parameters are from the field of environmental and climatic governance performances, in different countries in Europe and Mediterranean region. The results per country pointing to the characterization of country’ profile as significant part of sub-regional cluster of countries. That is, what we define as “climate regionalism”. The other case studies were analyzed by Tahadhari Center, to be presented at the event in Malta, strengthen the regional profile pattern, including parameters from the field of civil society, climate resilience and socio-economic parameters.

The above approach requires examining the climate outline of countries in regional prism, when the Mediterranean countries play a significant role, not only in achieving the objectives of the renewable energy transition for sustainable climate, but in setting a goal of reducing socio-economic and governance gaps between neighboring countries in climate preparedness, and making the social-democrat values into a key engine in shaping implementable regional climate policy.

These results show an inherent broad base for advance climate resilience and establishing of cooperation in the field of regional climate policy, in which not only government representatives, but civil society representatives, researchers, and various stakeholders take part.

To our view, this approach that should be a basis for climate outline of countries in regional prism, when the Mediterranean countries play a significant role, not only in achieving the objectives of the renewable energy transition for sustainable climate, but also in setting a goal of reducing socio-economic and governance gaps between neighboring countries in climate preparedness, and making the social-democrat values into a key engine in shaping implementable regional climate policy.

And despite the clichéd sound, it seems that there is no more appropriate time to build regional cooperation in the field of climate than currently, not only for the sake of regional stability, but for the sake of regional justice and intergenerational climate justice in the Middle-East and whole Euro-Mediterranean region.

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The article is by Carmit Lubanov and Mark Causon  

Mark Causon, Malta, is a diplomat and Ambassador for the Maltese foreign Ministry. He was the manager of the Europe Direct Mosta office of the European Commission DG Communications office. He heads Genista Research foundation, He is Co-founder of the “Tahadhari Center for Climate and Migration in Euro-Med.

Carmit Lubanov, has expertise on climate and environmental justice policy and promoting democracy and the values of equality among disadvantaged communities. Co-founder of the “Tahadhari Center for Climate and Migration in Euro-Med”, acting in Brussels targeting the climate crisis from regional perspective of Euro-Med.