The Policy Session on “Climate and Energy Policies in the Mediterranean Basin” has been organized in the framework of the 5th World Congress of Environmental and Resources Economists in Istanbul on June 29th, 2014.

The event has been organized by Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM), International Center for Climate Governance (ICCG) and Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (CMCC).

The Mediterranean basin is one of the most vulnerable regions in the world due to the impacts of climate change interrelated consequences, its precarious socio-economic conditions, and its fragile political systems. In parallel, the energy scenario in the region is changing rapidly, with a decreased energy demand in Europe and on the other hand a growing energy demand in the Southern Mediterranean basin. Moreover, the recent hydrocarbon discoveries in the Eastern Mediterranean basin, the creation of a gas spot market and the impact of renewable energies on the existing market mechanisms, are all suggesting the need for a more integrated Euro Mediterranean Energy System, along the South-North and East-West axes. Given the peculiarities and the new scenario characterizing the Mediterranean region and that climate change and energy are two cross boundary issues – the energy sector being the source of two-thirds of global greenhouse-gas emissions – a regional comprehensive approach is necessary for a serious rethink of the entire climate and energy policy framework. In order to reach a coherent policy design, the strong involvement of all regional stakeholders: decision makers, scientists, communication specialists, international organizations and international financial institutions – based on a new cooperation paradigm – is highly recommended.

The conference is open to a limited and selected audience.

Agenda and speaker profiles