MedCities was elected in the Steering Committee of the Mediterranean Commission for Sustainable Development

The objectives of the meeting were:

• To review and endorse the draft Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development (MSSD) document before it is submitted for endorsement by the MAP Focal Points meeting and for the consideration and adoption by the 19th Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention and its Protocols (COP 19);
• To discuss and agree on the way forward in the reform process of the MCSD;
• To review and provide recommendations on the Draft Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) Action Plan for the Mediterranean, including the corresponding Roadmap;
• To review and provide recommendations on the Draft Regional Framework on Climate Change Adaptation for the Mediterranean Marine and Coastal Areas.

The first day of the meeting was dedicated to the review of the draft Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development. The MCSD members and observers welcomed with appreciation the draft MSSD, endorsed the proposed structure and content, and praised the work done by the Presidency of the MCSD Steering Committee, UNEP/MAP Coordinating Unit and Plan Bleu; during the discussion some minor amendments were proposed by the participants and some of these modifications were approved in plenary session in the following days. Also the new MCSD Steering Committee was approved, in which MedCities network will represent local authorities. The presidency is held by Morocco and the rest of the members are Malta, Croatia, Turkey/Greece, MIO-ECSDE and CEDARE.

The second day dealt with the reform process of the MCSD as it emerged from the need to take on board the implications of the outcomes of Rio+20 regarding the upgrading of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development into a High Level Political Forum; the need to sharpen its role; and the need to revise its composition to ensure greater representativeness. The proposals relative to the reform of the Commission were approved by the plenary in order to reinforce its role and representativeness.

The third day of the meeting was focused primarily on climate change. The participants discussed on the Regional Framework on Climate Change Adaptation for the Mediterranean Marine and Coastal Areas as well as the Regional Action Plan for Sustainable Consumption and Production. 

CMI writes about it …