In Athens, the Ministerial meeting of the Eastern Mediterranean countries in the framework of the Dialogue on the United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction Roadmap
The Ministerial meeting of the Eastern Mediterranean countries is being organized in Athens (October 21), within the framework of the Dialogue on the United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction Roadmap, on the topic of deepening cooperation to shield our societies and strengthen resilience against consequences of heat, drought and fires.
It is a co-organization of the Ministry of Climate of Crete and Civil Protection and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, within the framework of the Organization’s European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction. It is even worth noting that it is the first time that our country hosts a similar event at ministerial level.
The meeting will be attended by the Minister of Climate Crete and Civil Protection, Christos Stylianidis, as well as the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction, Mami Mizutori. Higher delegations from all the countries of the region will also participate, namely from Egypt, Albania, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, France, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Croatia, Cyprus, Lebanon, Montenegro, Palestine, Romania and Turkey, while the European Commission, the Council of Europe and the Union for the Mediterranean will be represented.
The purpose of the meeting is to strengthen cooperation and formulate a common strategy of the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean region to deal with the consequences of extreme temperatures, drought and heatwaves, while preventing the occurrence of fires. In this context, the utilization of national action plans, the exchange of know-how and the creation of enhanced cooperation relationships are necessary conditions for the development of effective initiatives in the region, which, the most recent report of the United Nations characterizes as a “hotspot” of climate change.
Stylianidis: “Several Mediterranean countries experienced prolonged periods of extremely high temperatures and heatwaves”
On the occasion of the event, but also in the context of today’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Minister of Climate Crete and Civil Protection, Christos Stylianidis, noted:
“And this year, several Mediterranean countries, including our homeland, experienced prolonged periods of very high temperatures and heatwaves, resulting in devastating fires. This year in Europe, burnt exhibitions are four times more than the average. The eastern Mediterranean is now being hit hard by the climate crisis, with the United Nations warning that the temperature in our region is about 20% higher than the global average in the coming decades.
Targeted action is limited. Joint action is the only way. No one can tackle climate change alone. It is, therefore, a special honor for our country to organize the Ministerial meeting of the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean, in the context of the Dialogue on the Road Map for Disaster Risk Reduction of the United Nations. It proves that Greece is at the forefront of international initiatives to deal with the consequences of the climate crisis.
I am confident that the meeting will be a remarkable opportunity to strengthen our cooperation in the region and promote a positive agenda of synergies in our wider region, because only together can we be effective, only together can we ensure the resilience of our societies in the face of challenges ».
In addition to the meeting of the competent Ministers and their representatives, three workshops will be held as part of the organization with the participation of the national representatives responsible for the implementation of the United Nations Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, representatives of national agencies of Politics, Local Government, the network of cities to strengthen resilience MCR2030, members of the academic community, representatives of disabled organizations, civil society, etc.
It is noted that the proceedings of the three workshops will be broadcast online from the YouTube account of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, as well as from the corresponding account of the United Nations (in English). The topics that will be the subject of discussion are:
Bridging the gap between national and local resilience policies
Climate change scenario and projections in the Mediterranean basin
Leaving No One Behind: Addressing Vulnerability in Urban Heat – Listening to Vulnerable and Experienced Voices