In his speech at the 5th edition of the Mediterranean Water Forum, the French Ambassador to the Mediterranean, Karim Amellal, emphasized the crucial importance of addressing the challenges posed by climate change in the Mediterranean region. He highlighted the devastating impacts of this phenomenon on biodiversity, water resources, and coastal populations, noting that the effects of climate change are already being felt on a daily basis in all Mediterranean countries, resulting in deteriorating living conditions, devastating fires, increased water stress, and other extreme weather events.
Amellal also stressed the urgent need for coordinated action at the regional level, highlighting the Mediterranean as a potential laboratory for innovative and collaborative solutions to counter the impacts of climate change. He emphasized the importance of strengthening existing measures, such as the protection of marine biodiversity, ecological transition, and coordination between states to combat plastic pollution and water stress. Additionally, he called for greater solidarity among Mediterranean countries, particularly in terms of funding and energy transition to ensure a sustainable future for the region. In summary, Karim Amellal underscores the need to recognize the climate urgency in the Mediterranean region and calls for collective and innovative action to address these major challenges.
