“The Mediterranean is particularly vulnerable to climate change and global warming and

Parliaments should be kept constantly aware of these fast developments”. This was stated

by the Vice-President of the Hellenic Parliament the Hon. Elissavet Papadimitriou, rapporteur

of the Special Task Force on Environment and Climate Change of the Parliamentary

Assembly of the Mediterranean. The STF meeting was hosted by the Hellenic Parliament in

Athens, just a few days before World Health Day on 7th April, which this year is being

dedicated to Health and Climate Change.

The Hon. Papadimitriou, who played an instrumental role in convening this round of

meetings of the PAM in Greece, presented a detailed report on the topic where she

emphasized the need that states acknowledge the international scope and dimension of

these issues while noting that at present political will is lacking to make this commitment on

both sides of the Mediterranean.

Ms Papadimitriou referred to the water shortage issue which was a constant throughout the

proceedings. Other participating speakers, namely Mr Paul Mifsud, from the UNEP -

Mediterranean Action Plan and Prof. Michael Scoullos from Athens University, delved into

the dramatic consequences of the core problems related to water management. These

issues, they pointed out, will inevitably lead to food shortages, increased risk of epidemics,

forced migration and in the long run even wars. With climate change water resources will

become scarcer and less available and to this end it is necessary to develop trans-boundary

water management projects as a means of a collective approach to individual and common

supply and distribution problems.

MEDITERRANEAN REGIONAL ENERGY MARKET

A second Special Task Force discussed “Energy as a Mediterranean Strategy”. The

rapporteur, Pam Vice President and Egyptian MP Abou El Enein stressed the importance of

energy in relation to security and safety of the region. He emphasized the need to reduce

consumption of hydrocarbon fuels and to change over to alternative sustainable sources.

The Algerian MPs underlined the fact that areas in which wind and solar energy have the

greatest potential in the region are at present those suffering most from poverty and

underdevelopment. Mr Enein suggested the establishment of a Mediterranean regional

energy market leading to an appropriate distribution network. The Greek delegation while

agreeing with a regional energy policy benefiting the Mediterranean added that this would

generate new wealth with enormous potential for countries such as Algeria, Egypt and Libya.

Prof. Galal Osman, President of the Egypt Energy Association, in his address to the meeting

said that the use of an energy mix from the Mediterranean region, based on solar and wind

power, would also generate job opportunities for the South and consequently ease

population displacements.

Portuguese MP Jose Junqueiro and Greek MP Ms Krigno Canellopoulo, deputy rapporteurs of

the Energy Task Force, remarked that for a region to experience sustainable growth it

needed a continuous flow of energy, which translated into the concept of security of supplies.

“The Mediterranean had a high potential for renewable sources and this could be an ideal

opportunity for a strategic development of the South of the Mediterranean” concluded the

Portuguese and Greek parliamentarians.

ENVIRONMENTAL REFUGEES

Finally the vice president of the Hellenic Parliament, Hon Papadimitrou wrapped up the two

day meeting of the PAM Special Task Forces by suggesting that the Parliamentary Assembly

of the Mediterranean should endorse the idea of defining the right to have sustainable

energy as a human right, in accordance with the conclusions of the Euromed plenary that

took place in Greece a few days earlier. Ms Papadimitrou also suggested that the Special

Task Force on Environment and Climate Change should develop a recommendation on

environmental refugees urging the EU and the UN to recognize their status since at present

they have no international legal status as they are not recognized by any international

convention.

Once again during the meetings a sense of solidarity, understanding and belonging to a

common goal prevailed, with all delegates from the North and the South putting forward

ideas and proposals aimed at improving the lives of the populations on both sides of the

Mediterranean.