Managing Climate Change in the Mediterranean: The Union for the Mediterranean and the Challenges of Fragmentation

Abstract:

This Profile analyses the challenges of interregional coordination for the Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean regarding climate change mitigation and adaptation. Mediterranean climate governance is structured around complex governance arrangements, where multiple actors attempt to integrate the issue of climate change. Two key projects offer several opportunities for integrated climate governance in the Mediterranean: the Mediterranean Solar Plan and the Depollution for the Mediterranean. However, the lack of financial commitments for long-term infrastructure investments and bilateral differentiation under the EU's Neighbourhood Policy undermine region-wide cooperation. As a result, fragmentation challenges the Secretariat's efforts to govern each climate sector.