History of MCCI
The Mediterranean Climate Change Initiative (MCCI) was proposed by the Greek Government as a regional governmental collaboration in recognition of the serious threat climate change poses to the region’s stability and prosperity, and the opportunity that a low carbon development model provides to jointly address financial, energy and climate challenges.
The Initiative stems from a belief that regional collaborations on issues of climate change can play a significant and complementary role to global climate change negotiations. Successful Mediterranean climate action could uniquely inspire other regions as well as the global community, because of the rich diversity of interests it would have to address: it includes both Annex I and non-Annex I countries at varying stages of economic development. It includes oil exporting and importing countries as well as a substantial share of the shipping industry. It also captures an important diversity in cultures and religions.
MCCI Launch 2010
To formalise participation in this Initiative, the Prime Minister of Greece invited leaders from across the Mediterranean to join him in signing a Joint Declaration at the MCCI launch event on 22 October 2010 in Athens, Greece. 18 Political Delegations, including four Prime Ministers and 13 Ministers, signed the Declaration (details of the Declaration can be found at www.medclimatechangeinitiative.org and more countries are set to join in the next few months.
The Launch of the MCCI also attracted academics, business leaders, and financial Institutions to consider the role of the MCCI in the region and in climate change discussions. Opening the day’s event, Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University called the MCCI “a crucial initiative” and commended Greece and other leaders “for taking on the challenge…it is nothing less than saving [the] region.” Phillipe Maystadt, head of the European Investment Bank mentioned that the “launching of the MCCI is a major step for the future of the [Mediterranean].” Addressing the conference through video, Rachenda Pachauri argued that regional initiatives such as this one “will show the way and will...give us some global momentum.”
As the MCCI promotes project-based collaboration of nations as well, specific green projects were also proposed including: A Mediterranean Climate Sensitive Charter, A Mediterranean Climate Service Network, Mediterranean-wide Financing Co-Development, and Sustainable Mediterranean Cities. Details on specific projects can be found at: www.medclimatechangeinitiative.org.
MCCI 2011 and Beyond
Called “unprecedented in its ambition by Prime Minister Papandreou, news of the MCCI’s success has already traveled beyond the borders of the region. For example, the European Union Council has officially acknowledged the MCCI, encouraging similar “regional initiatives to tackle climate change and promote green growth.”
Mediterranean Countries have vowed to continue the initiative’s momentum into 2011 and beyond. In early 2011, Malta will host a Ministerial-level Working Group to address specific adaptation policies and challenges, as well as to review the Initiative’s growth and progress so far. Turkey will then host the Second Annual Meeting of the MCCI in late 2011, to advance the mission and agenda of the Initiative.
In the meantime, the MCCI aims to grow into an independent, sustainable initiative, providing a strong and reliable voice for the Mediterranean in global and local climate change discussions.
