7 – 8 November 2024, Nicosia, Cyprus – The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) attended and contributed to the Regional Meeting on “Sustainable desalination and application of state of art technologies”, organized by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and its Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP), in collaboration with the Minister of Agriculture of Cyprus. Sen. Simona Petrucci (Italy), PAM Rapporteur on Environment, represented the Assembly, and intervened in the session on Circular Desalination: Recovery of water, high value minerals and chemicals from seawater, powered by waste heat and renewables. Results from Large-Scale Demonstration at the Lampedusa Island and Almeria.
In her remarks, Sen. Petrucci emphasized the urgent need to address water scarcity exacerbated by climate change and population growth, noting that nearly one-fifth of the global population, particularly in developing regions, faces critical water shortages. The Mediterranean region in particular is is projected to face severe water stress by 2050, with water demand expected to increase by up to 30%.
Sen. Petrucci further outlined PAM’s proactive role in advancing sustainable desalination as a reliable freshwater source, with a particular focus on circular desalination models that harness waste heat and renewable energy to recover water, minerals, and chemicals from seawater. She highlighted Italy’s efforts in this field as an example of effective innovation.
The Regional Meeting concluded with a series of key recommendations to advance sustainable desalination practices across the Mediterranean, including the need to streamline decision-making in the Environmental Impact Assessment processes for seawater desalination projects, establishing legally binding emissions standards, and integrating desalination and brine management into forthcoming National Action Plans. Recommendations also highlighted the importance of partnerships with industry and scientific communities to foster best practices and innovation.
Looking ahead, PAM reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with UNEP-MAP, building on their past collaborations, including the Parliamentarian’s Guide to Protecting the Mediterranean Sea and Coast. In line with its commitment to sustainable water management, PAM will also present a comprehensive report on the right to water and sanitation at its upcoming 19th Plenary Session in Rome.
The Assembly will soon strengthen its role in global environmental governance by becoming a Permanent Observer Organization to the Conference of Parties of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) at COP16 next month, and by actively participating to COP29 in Baku. //