The Mediterranean is among the fastest warming regions in the world and is faced with more potent threats from climate change compared to other regions. In November 2020, the MedECC network released the 1st detailed assessment of climate change risk and environmental change in the Mediterranean region, MAR1. Among the worrying impacts of climate change on the Mediterranean are sea level rise and ocean acidification, increased risk of forest fires, droughts, and heatwaves, and modified precipitation regimes. These changes are also etched in a context of increasing pressure on natural resources due to dynamic demographic trends and the expansion of industry sectors like tourism, fishing, shipping.
Climate data has an important role to play in helping us plan for and adjust to the effects of climate change, across economic sectors. The Copernicus Climate Change Service and the Union for the Mediterranean are joining forces to ensure users from across the basin are able to access the data they need to make smart decisions.
On October 25th and 26th, Copernicus and the Union for the Mediterranean hosted a virtual workshop to present the challenges linked to climate change in the Mediterranean, and how these can be overcome by better leveraging climate data. A plenary session included presentations and Q&A focused on climate change impacts and solutions brought by climate data will take place on October 25th. An interactive session took place on October 26th to gather information about how climate data is currently used in the region, and what further datasets or tools are needed to help stakeholders plan for current and future climate change in the Mediterranean Basin.
The MedECC and main conclusions of the 1st Mediterranean Assessment Report (MAR1) were presented during the plenary session by the Lead MedECC Science Officer, Dr Kasia Marini.