On the occasion of the third Ministerial Conference on Water of the Western Mediterranean Forum (Dialogue 5+5) held in the Palacio de las Artes of Valencia on 10th March 2022, the MedThink 5+5 network of Western Mediterranean think tanks brought together more than 30 decision-makers, experts and water professionals during the thematic seminar “Building Climate Resilience in the Western Mediterranean: Water and Climate Change Adaptation Nexus” on 9th March 2022.
Jointly organised by the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed) and the Mediterranean Network of Basin Organisations (MENBO), the event provided a space for the discussion of proposals and measures to guarantee water security in the Mediterranean region, through adaptation to the impacts of climate change on water resources.
The thematic seminar was opened by Carmen Magariños, Director of Cooperation with Asia and Africa of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID); Joan Calabuig, Regional Secretary for the European Union and External Relations of the Generalitat Valenciana; Senén Florensa, Executive President of the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed), Elisa Valía, Deputy Mayor and Councillor for the Integral Water Cycle of the Valencia City Council, and Miguel Polo, President of the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation and General Secretary of the Mediterranean Network of Basin Organisations.
Teodoro Estrela, General Director of Water at the Ministry of Ecological Transition of the Spanish Government, warned during his keynote speech about the risks arising from the progressive reduction of water resources in the Mediterranean region as consequence of climate change. “Reducing vulnerability, adapting to the water necessities of each basin, moving towards an integrated model of management, anticipating relevant measures of compensation and preparing for the intensification of natural disasters such as droughts and floods” are some of the required actions to strengthen Spain’s climate resilience on which the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge of the Spanish Government is working, Estrela assured.
On the same line, Ramiro Martínez, General Coordinator of the Mediterranean Network of Basin Organisations (MENBO) and Coordinator of the Water Strategy of the 5+5 Dialogue, recalled that 74% of water resources are concentrated on the northern shore of the Mediterranean, while over 180 million people from the southern shore already suffer from water scarcity and approximately 80 million from severe scarcities. For this reason, Martínez emphasised the need for the development of adaptation plans that mitigate the effects of water resource reduction, as well as the imperative need to promote regional cooperation.
During the sessions, participants highlighted the importance of the 5+5 Dialogue in designing an effective response to the dire consequences of climate change in the Western Mediterranean, based on the notion of cooperation between all countries of the region. What is more, an integrated approach for the design and implementation of water-related policies was considered crucial by most panellists, taking into consideration the interdependence between the water sector and the socioeconomic and human development of the region.
Since its inception in May 2016, the MedThink 5+5 network has organised several annual fora and thematic seminars back-to-back with Ministerial Conferences of the 5+5 Dialogue with experts from around the region and beyond. This event, held under the 2021-2022 Spanish presidency of the 5+5 Dialogue was the first seminar organised by the network on the topic of water.
This event was organised with the financial support of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).
Agenda of the thematic seminar
Watch the seminar again on YouTube:
Seminar Opening Session + Keynote Speech (Teodoro Estrela)
Introductory Session (Ramiro Martínez) + Session 1 (Water Management and Adaptation to CC)
Session 2 (Knowledge and innovation)
Find here the presentations of the experts:
• Teodoro Estrela (MITERD – Spain)
• Sarah Souleymane Cheikh Sidia (CNRE – Mauritania)
• Nicola Lamaddalena (CIHEAM – Bari)
• Bouabid El Mansouri (CM-IAH)
Photos of the seminar:
