Euro- Mediterranean cooperation on environment and climate change : UfM ministerial meeting
During the first Ministerial Meeting on Environment and Climate Change of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) , occured on May 13th in Athens, Ministers in charge recognized the urgent need to address the impact of climate change in the Mediterranean region and to move towards sustainable consumption and production patterns for a green and low emission economy. They highlighted the cross-sectorial nature of environment and climate change challenges and the importance of stimulating growth and job creation while ensuring better quality of life and a sustainable future. As a result of the meeting, Ministers agreed to launch the second phase of the Horizon 2020 Initiative for the depollution of the Mediterranean Sea, fully involving the UfM Secretariat. They welcomed the adoption of the Ten Year Framework Programme on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patters (SCP) by the Heads of State in Rio+20, and strongly supported the collaboration between the European Union and the UfM Secretariat on the implementation of the SWITCH-MED and the Med ReSCP projects, respectively.