WEFE Nexus Community of Practice Launches to Drive Sustainable Solutions Across Water, Energy, Food, and Ecosystems in the Mediterranean Region

The WEFE Nexus Community of Practice (NCoP) was officially launched on 25th September at a landmark event held in Larnaca, MedCities member city. Hosted by The Cyprus Institute, the launch followed intensive preparatory work, including surveys, interviews, and workshops, and marks a significant milestone in advancing cross-sector collaboration for integrated resource management across the Mediterranean region.

MedCities’ role in the project is to provide the vision and capacity to implement integrated projects for water, food, energy, and ecosystem in councils, thinking about all the topics together to be truly sustainable.

The WEFE NCoP brought together scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders to exchange knowledge, share best practices, and collaborate on addressing the critical interconnections between water, energy, food, and ecosystems. As part of the PRIMA (Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area)-funded WEFE4MED project, the initiative focuses on scaling successful models and creating sustainable solutions to the region’s most pressing challenges.

The launch event featured panels of distinguished experts and policymakers, including Mrs. Antonia Theodosiou, Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Elisabetta Balzi from the European Commission, Dr. Jann Martinsohn from the European Commission Joint Research Center and Dr. Angelo Riccaboni, Chair of the PRIMA Program.

Discussions and presentations focused on the three key pillars of the WEFE Nexus approach: Policy, Implementation and Finance. The Policy Practice Group examined how policies can support integrated resource management, while the Implementation Practice Group showcased 12 demonstration projects, highlighting innovative strategies for sustainable resource use. Meanwhile, the Finance Practice Group explored funding mechanisms to support these initiatives, focusing on ensuring sustainability across the Mediterranean.

A highlight of the event was the signing of the WEFE NCoP Charter, a shared vision and mission for this collaborative initiative.

During the launching, it was also time to feel the active involvement of PRIMA, the European Commission, and the Union for the Mediterranean, who, during the event, expressed their strong support for the initiative and reaffirmed their continued commitment to providing strategic leadership to expand the reach of nexus-based solutions.

As partners, MedCities would like to underline the importance of the involvement of scientists, policymakers, industry leaders, and civil society groups to become part of the WEFE NCoP. By joining this growing network, participants will engage in critical conversations and help co-create sustainable development strategies that will benefit the Mediterranean region and beyond.

The Climate Crisis in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East Conference

The launch event aligned with the Climate Crisis in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East conference, where MedCities participated in preliminary workshops. These discussions highlighted the urgent need for coordinated actions to mitigate climate change and touched upon the environmental impacts of war in the Middle East. Researchers emphasized the importance of studying how conflicts exacerbate environmental degradation, urging the scientific community to press on with research that explores the nexus between war, resource scarcity, and environmental damage, and to advocate for sustainable reconstruction efforts in post-conflict regions.

This launch signifies a commitment to sustainable solutions that will shape the future of the Mediterranean region.

MedCities Secretary-General, Josep Canals took the opportunity to meet with the Mayor of Larnaca, and he also traveled to Limassol to strengthen the city’s role within the network and discuss EU Missions. During both meetings, Canals engaged with the Mayors to reinforce ties and identify future collaborative actions.

You can read here the official press release by The Cyprus Institute: Launching the Mediterranean WEFE Nexus Community of Practice: A New Era for Sustainable Solutions in the Mediterranean Region