Background

The global crises the world is facing today are many and converge in different ways. Many scientists agree that climate change and the loss of ecosystems can be favorable to the spread of certain diseases and illnesses. Most research also recognizes that environmental degradation and, in particular, climate change will become a major driver of population displacement and migration. Roughly 21.8 million people are displaced every year by climate-related disasters, according to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. 

This year, much of the climate-linked migration and displacement will collide with the Covid-19 pandemic, this holds significant lessons that can help us address climate change if we make economic and environmental resiliency a core of our planned recovery ahead. Early and inclusive actions are essential, and implementing the sustainable development agenda should not be delayed.

The persistence of territorial inequality remains a worrying outcome of the efforts put into combating climate change. Often, this is done through expensive development initiatives. Moving to an approach that integrates community-based development as a foundation for territorial resilience is key to achieving more inclusive growth.

Enabling local resilience is a forward-looking, multi-spatial, multi-sectoral model that recognizes the complexities of rural and urban territories, and the interdependencies between the different sectors including agriculture, energy, water, transport, and others. 

Building territorial resilience has become essential to adapt to stresses and shocks, whether the stresses are climatic, socio-economic, or pandemic related. One of the key elements of territorial resilience is youth empowerment. Building the adaptation capacity of youth can reduce vulnerability and build resilience. By empowering youth to make informed choices in managing risks, we equip them to effectively be part of the decision making process.

Objectives 

The CMI launched in June 2020 an initiative focusing on “Achieving territorial resilience through youth empowerment” and aiming to create a youth community of practice and present evidence-based solutions to local and climate change-driven stresses in the Mediterranean region. In pursuit of these objectives, the CMI has organized an online workshop on June 18, 2020, in collaboration with its Territorial Resilience to Climate Change (TRCC) technical hub members (UfM, World Bank, MedCities, GIZ, CIHEAM, EIB, ADEME, Plan Bleu, AViTeM, AFD, CODATU, IUCN, FAO, UN-Habitat, Cities Alliance, Region Sud.) and with youth leaders from across the region.

Next steps

The TRCC program at CMI worked to ensure territorial resilience and youth remain a crosscutting theme covering disruptive risks, shocks and stresses, and sustainable strategies across all Mediterranean territories. The role of youth remains at the heart of this process and their active participation has been enhanced through the creation of a youth community of practice in the field of territorial resilience to climate change.

Resources

Agenda

Presentations