CONTEXT

At the 27th Convention on Climate Change (COP27) held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, CMI is joining global leaders, the UN family, development partners, NGOs, thought leaders, and more to take concrete action towards achieving the world's collective climate goals as agreed under the Paris Agreement.

To help advance climate action while putting the Mediterranean on the global climate agenda, CMI– together with its Members and Partners – is participating in a range of events.

CMI-LED EVENTS

SESSION TITLE: A Mediterranean Agenda for an Effective Energy Transition in a New Global Context

DATE: 8 November, 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM (Egypt time)

VENUE: ONLINE (Link)

LEAD ORGANIZATION: Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI-UNOPS), in the framework of the EU Side Events

OVERVIEW

In the face of increasing demographic pressures, growing energy demand, and the progressive degradation of the environment, it is imperative to rethink and actively support the transition to a low-carbon economy in the Mediterranean. The EU is placing at the heart of its mandate the EU Green Deal and the plans to implement a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which offers a great opportunity to accelerate the energy transition in the South and East Mediterranean, while also raising numerous challenges.

PANELISTS

• Blanca Moreno-Dodson, Director, Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI-UNOPS)
• Paul Noumba Um, Regional Director of Infrastructure MENA, World Bank, (TBC)
• Jihen Boutiba, Director General, BusinessMed
• Ibrahim El Badawi, Managing Director, Economic Research Forum (ERF), and President of FEMISE
• Maya Boureghda Chebeane, Partner/Avocat Associé, JURISMED
• Senen Florensa, President of the Delegate Committee and General Director, European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed) (TBC)

SESSION TITLE: Water: Youth and Women as Drivers for Change

DATE: November 10, 6.45PM to 7.45PM (Egypt time)

VENUE: Mediterranean Pavilion and online

LEAD ORGANIZATION: Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI-UNOPS)

OVERVIEW

This session will provide a dialogue space involving the youth and women, aiming at promoting a new generation of climate leaders to strengthen the resilience of communities and territories to climate change. Climate experts and Mediterranean youth and women leaders will engage together and explore regional youth-led solutions. The aim is to create an interactive space for them to share visions, approaches, experiences and innovative practices, in order to achieve influence.

PANELISTS

• Blanca Moreno-Dodson, Director, Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI-UNOPS)
• Almotaz Abadi, Deputy Secretary General in charge of Water, Environment and Blue Economy, Union for the Mediterranean (UFM)
• Jennifer J. Sara, Global Director, Climate Change Group, World Bank Group
• Michele Rubirola, 1st Deputy to the Mayor of Marseille 
• Abir Ben Romdhane, Mediterranean Youth for Water Network (MedYWat) & Sahara and Sahel Observatory
• Mirna Gharbi, Mediterranean Youth for Water Network (MedYWat)
• Enrique Cifres, Vice-president, International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD)

CMI PARTICIPATION IN PARTNERS’ EVENTS

SESSION TITLE: Build the Future:  Addressing Climate Mobility in Africa

DATE: 8 November, 6:00 to 7:00 PM.

VENUE: Climate Mobility Pavilion

LEAD ORGANIZATION: UNOPS

OVERVIEW

Estimates reveal that by 2030, up to 118 million people in Africa will be exposed to drought, floods and extreme heat, which will hinder progress towards poverty alleviation and development. The continent also faces a significant financing gap to build the necessary resilience and adaptive capacity to respond to climate change. This event brings together African leaders and the development community to discuss the drivers of climate mobility in Africa and how best to respond to increasing climate migration, with a focus on frontline communities.

A panel of experts will discuss ways to build resilience in Africa, including the critical role of climate-resilient infrastructure and adjusting productive systems to a new climate reality. The panel will also explore the need for rapid and resolute emergency and recovery responses when climate disasters hit, such as Cyclone Idai in Southeastern Africa in 2019 or the current drought in the Horn of Africa.

PANELISTS

• Moderated by Shahira Amin, award-winning journalist based in Cairo
• Thierry Kamach, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of the Central African Republic
• Jens Wandel, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNOPS Acting Executive Director
• Blanca Moreno-Dodson, Director, Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI-UNOPS)

SESSION TITLE: Advancing Action and Building Resilience: The Role of Partnerships

DATE: 9 November 2022; 4:30 to 5:30 PM (Egypt time)

VENUE: Climate Mobility Pavilion

LEAD ORGANIZATION: UNOPS

OVERVIEW

To mitigate and adapt to the global impacts of climate change, new partnerships and solutions are critical.  This event will showcase the importance of convening multi-stakeholder partnerships for climate action. The event will feature a keynote speech by the UNOPS Acting Executive Director, followed by a panel, which will gather representatives from UNOPS hosted and supported initiatives to discuss how diverse partnerships contribute to the mobilization of expertise and financing to advance action. The panel will close with a reception, hosted by UNOPS Acting Executive Director, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing between different partners and initiatives. The event will address the following topics: Why are multi-stakeholder partnerships crucial for climate action? How can cooperation between different sectors and actors be facilitated? What are some examples of innovative approaches to accelerate collaboration for climate action?

PANELISTS

• Jens Wandel, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNOPS Acting Executive Director
• Blanca Moreno-Dodson, Director, Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI-UNOPS)
• Sirpa Jarvenpaa, Director, Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership
• Atle Solberg, Head of Secretariat, Platform on Disaster Displacement
• Émilie Potvin, Director of Partnerships, UNOPS

SESSION TITLE: Food and Water Security: Challenges and Outlook for Smart and Inclusive agriculture

DATE: 12 November, 3 to 4pm (Egypt time)

VENUE: Mediterranean Pavilion and online

LEAD ORGANIZATION: International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM)

OVERVIEW

After a brief presentation of food and water security issues and their interconnections, the session will aim to demonstrate the importance of smart agriculture and water management not only to meet the challenges of climate change but also to a stronger commitment of stakeholders (users, administrations, research, etc.) and to the empowerment of young people and women in the water and food sectors.  Discussions will also focus on the collaborations needed to increase the dynamics of inclusion, including through capacity building activities, sustained investments in training and research, better access to funding and networks (new technologies, innovations, businesses, etc.) and the creation of ecosystems that support stakeholders.

PANELISTS

• Mahmoud Abu-Zeid, President of the Arab Water Council (AWC)
• Khaled M. AbuZeid, Ph.D., P.E., PMP, Senior Regional Water Resources Director, Center for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE)
• Roula Khadra, Scientific Administrator and Water Resources Management Expert, CIHEAM Bari
• Blanca Moreno Dodson, Director, CMI-UNOPS
• Aniss Ben Rayana, PhD, Head of Office, Arab Office for Olives (AOAD) (TBC)
• Plácido Plaza Lopez, Secretary General of the CIHEAM