Plan Bleu has published in January 2025 the Report “The Mediterranean by 2050: A Foresight by Plan Bleu” offering comprehensive understanding of the sustainable development issues in the Mediterranean region and future perspectives for the next 25 years.
The MED2050 report is the result of a collaboration among experts from various Mediterranean countries and fields of expertise. It presents six scenarios for the region’s future by 2050, aiming to inform policymakers on Mediterranean issues while raising awareness among the general public, particularly the younger generations. Given the growing challenges, this report serves as a foundation for coordinated action and provides valuable insights for shaping the future of the Mediterranean.
Key contributions from MedECC
The construction of the MED2050 scenarios is based on an in-depth analysis of the existing knowledge on key drivers shaping the Mediterranean. MedECC reports served as one of the central foundations in understanding climate and environmental factors, as well as current and projected regional trends. MedECC contributed permanent members to the MED2050 foresight group, coordinated the factsheets on Climate Change and Its Impacts on Land and Sea, and Adaptation Issues and Policies: Between Vulnerability and Resilience, and provided also three thematic boxes. This contribution was made by the three editors of the MedECC First Mediterranean Assessment Report (MAR1) , Wolfgang Cramer, Joël Guiot and Katarzyna Marini.
“The scale of uncertainties should not obscure the fact that the driving forces are already foreseeable and partly quantifiable in key areas: demographics and the location of inhabitants or activities, climate change and its impacts on water, terrestrial and marine biodiversity, and certain aspects of the economy. For MED2050, a significant focus was placed on demographics, and climate thanks to MedECC.”
A collective effort
MedECC reports, including contributions to MED2050, reflect the dedication of hundreds of Mediterranean experts who have volunteered their time and expertise to assess essential scientific knowledge on climate and environmental risks. With the objective of providing a solid scientific foundation to inform policy decisions and future perspectives, it is highly motivating to see how MedECC’s results have been integrated into the MED2050 Report, further strengthening the link between scientific research and policymaking. This recognition not only highlights the dedication of the 350 authors engage with MedECC over the past 10 years, but also the crucial role of policy actors who have supported and helped build this collaborative network. It reaffirms the importance of bridging the gap between knowledge and action for a sustainable Mediterranean future.