TY - JOUR
T1 - Climate mitigation in the Mediterranean Europe
T2 - An assessment of regional and city-level plans
AU - Salvia, Monica
AU - Olazabal, Marta
AU - Fokaides, Paris A.
AU - Tardieu, Léa
AU - Simoes, Sofia G.
AU - Geneletti, Davide
AU - De Gregorio Hurtado, Sonia
AU - Viguié, Vincent
AU - Spyridaki, Niki Artemis
AU - Pietrapertosa, Filomena
AU - Ioannou, Byron I.
AU - Matosović, Marko
AU - Flamos, Alexandros
AU - Balzan, Mario V.
AU - Feliu, Efren
AU - Rižnar, Klavdija
AU - Šel, Nataša Belšak
AU - Heidrich, Oliver
AU - Reckien, Diana
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2021/10/1
Y1 - 2021/10/1
N2 - In Europe, regions in the Mediterranean area share common characteristics in terms of high sensitivity to climate change impacts. Does this translate into specificities regarding climate action that could arise from these Mediterranean characteristics? This paper sheds light on regional and local climate mitigation actions of the Mediterranean Europe, focusing on the plans to reduce greenhouse gases emissions in a representative sample of 51 regions and 73 cities across 9 Mediterranean countries (Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain). The study investigates: (i) the availability of local and regional mitigation plans, (ii) their goals in term of greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets on the short and medium-long term, and (iii) the impact of transnational climate networks on such local and regional climate mitigation planning. Results of this study indicate an uneven and fragmented planning, that shows a Mediterranean West-East divide, and a link with population size. However, overall, both regional and city action seem insufficiently ambitious with regards to meeting the Paris Agreement, at least at city level. While national frameworks are currently weak in influencing regional and local actions, transnational networks seem to be engaging factors for commitment (at city level) and ambitiousness (at regional level). The uneven and fragmented progress revealed by this study, does not align with the characteristics shared by investigated regions and cities in terms of environmental, socio-political, climatic and economic conditions. The results support the call of a common green deal at the Mediterranean level to further address specific Mediterranean challenges and related needs. This will allow to capitalise on available resources, generate local-specific knowledge, build capacities, and support Mediterranean regions and cities in preparing the next generation of more ambitious mitigation plans.
AB - In Europe, regions in the Mediterranean area share common characteristics in terms of high sensitivity to climate change impacts. Does this translate into specificities regarding climate action that could arise from these Mediterranean characteristics? This paper sheds light on regional and local climate mitigation actions of the Mediterranean Europe, focusing on the plans to reduce greenhouse gases emissions in a representative sample of 51 regions and 73 cities across 9 Mediterranean countries (Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain). The study investigates: (i) the availability of local and regional mitigation plans, (ii) their goals in term of greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets on the short and medium-long term, and (iii) the impact of transnational climate networks on such local and regional climate mitigation planning. Results of this study indicate an uneven and fragmented planning, that shows a Mediterranean West-East divide, and a link with population size. However, overall, both regional and city action seem insufficiently ambitious with regards to meeting the Paris Agreement, at least at city level. While national frameworks are currently weak in influencing regional and local actions, transnational networks seem to be engaging factors for commitment (at city level) and ambitiousness (at regional level). The uneven and fragmented progress revealed by this study, does not align with the characteristics shared by investigated regions and cities in terms of environmental, socio-political, climatic and economic conditions. The results support the call of a common green deal at the Mediterranean level to further address specific Mediterranean challenges and related needs. This will allow to capitalise on available resources, generate local-specific knowledge, build capacities, and support Mediterranean regions and cities in preparing the next generation of more ambitious mitigation plans.
KW - City
KW - Climate mitigation
KW - Local mitigation planning
KW - Mediterranean Europe
KW - Region
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85111004736&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113146
DO - 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113146
M3 - Article
C2 - 34186317
AN - SCOPUS:85111004736
SN - 0301-4797
VL - 295
JO - Journal of Environmental Management
JF - Journal of Environmental Management
M1 - 113146
ER -
