May 3, 2023 - Mediterranean cities are in danger of droughts, fires, heat waves, and water shortages, so the cooperation of all countries in the area is needed to combat the consequences of climate change, the Deputy Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) warned.
"For the inhabitants of the Mediterranean basin, this is alarming. In addition to the fact that the region is susceptible to climate change, it also has one of the fastest rates of urbanization in the world," said Erdal Sabri Ergen, head of transport and urban development at UfM, reported Poslovni (Hina).
Turkish diplomat Sabri Ergen, who will participate in the 3rd Ministerial Conference of the Union for the Mediterranean on sustainable urban development in Zagreb on Thursday, announced the event with a text titled "Green cities will save lives."
"Cities in the Mediterranean region are already dangerously exposed to the impacts of climate change, including water shortages, droughts, forest fires, and heat waves. In addition, they face increasing threats from rising sea levels, coastal flooding, and storms," he stated.
Zagreb to host an urban planning conference
In recent weeks, droughts and fires have raged in Spain, Portugal, and France, where temperatures are at July levels. The Mediterranean Sea and its coasts are warming 20 percent faster than the world average, so it is the second most threatened area after the Arctic in the north, according to data from the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM).
"That's why we call for more energetic international cooperation to encourage sustainable development, where cities must be at the center of action," added Sabri Ergen.
The Union for the Mediterranean, an intergovernmental organization based in Barcelona, includes all the countries of the European Union and the countries of the southern and eastern Mediterranean, a total of 43 of them.
The Zagreb meeting of the ministers in charge of urban planning is the third such meeting after those held in Cairo in 2017 and Strasbourg in 2011. Five years ago, the Union for the Mediterranean presented its urban agenda, and to fulfill its goals, it launched an action plan. It is the framework that all countries should adhere to in implementing policies to reduce urban and underwater pollution, build energy-efficient homes, provide water for citizens, preserve historical landmarks, and implement sustainable tourism.
"Looking forward, the UfM countries have embarked on implementing an ambitious action plan for the further progress of sustainable urban development in the region. Measuring progress will be key, and as part of the 'Strategic Action Plan for Urban Development 2040', we have established indicators for monitoring and reporting on the progress achieved," said Sabri Ergen.
Urban areas cover only 2 percent of the world's land, but they produce 70 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and use 78 percent of the world's energy.
"Our cities leave a huge mark on the environment," emphasized Sabri Ergen.
He notes that there are more benefits to sustainable urban development. The health organization ISGlobal estimates that cities in Europe could prevent up to 43,000 premature deaths each year if they followed the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations on access to green spaces.
"Through our recent collaboration with the WHO, we are promoting healthier and more pleasant cities that prioritize the well-being of their residents," said Sabri Ergen. "The effect of this partnership will be highlighted during the ministerial conference in Zagreb on Thursday," he added.
The conference should be attended by Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, European Commissioner for EU Funds Elisa Ferreira, and UfM Secretary General Nasser Kamel, as well as Croatian Minister of Spatial Planning Branko Bačić.
Sabri Ergan says that one of the key areas of discussion will be the lack of energy efficiency in buildings.
"Today, buildings and structures generate 37 percent of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. This takes us away from achieving the ambitious goal of complete decarbonization by 2050 because by then, global energy consumption in the construction sector will double, and the need for cooling in buildings will triple," he warned.
For more, make sure to check out our dedicated News section.
