Climate mitigation in the Mediterranean Europe: An assessment of regional and city-level plans

Monica Salvia; Marta Olazabal; Paris A. Fokaides; Léa Tardieu; Sofia G. Simoes; Davide Geneletti; Sonia De Gregorio Hurtado; Vincent Viguié; Niki Artemis Spyridaki; Filomena Pietrapertosa; Byron I. Ioannou; Marko Matosović; Alexandros Flamos; Mario V. Balzan; Efren Feliu; Klavdija Rižnar; Nataša Belšak Šel; Oliver Heidrich; Diana Reckien

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113146

Climate mitigation in the Mediterranean Europe: An assessment of regional and city-level plans

Monica Salvia^*
, Marta Olazabal
, Paris A. Fokaides
, Léa Tardieu
, Sofia G. Simoes
, Davide Geneletti
, Sonia De Gregorio Hurtado
, Vincent Viguié
, Niki Artemis Spyridaki
, Filomena Pietrapertosa
, Byron I. Ioannou
, Marko Matosović
, Alexandros Flamos
, Mario V. Balzan
, Efren Feliu
, Klavdija Rižnar
, Nataša Belšak Šel
, Oliver Heidrich
, Diana Reckien

^*Corresponding author for this work

Climate Change Adaptation

National Research Council of Italy
BC3 Basque Centre for Climate Change
Frederick University
Université de Montpellier
National Laboratory of Energy and Geology
University of Trento
Technical University of Madrid
Centre International de Recherche sur l'Environnement et le Développement
University of Piraeus
PwC Savjetovanje
Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology
Scientific Research Centre Bistra Ptuj
Newcastle University
University of Twente

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

53 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

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.

Original language	English
Article number	113146
Journal	Journal of Environmental Management
Volume	295
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113146
Publication status	Published - 1 Oct 2021

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 13 Climate Action

Keywords

City
Climate mitigation
Local mitigation planning
Mediterranean Europe
Region

Access to Document

10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113146

Cite this

Salvia, M., Olazabal, M., Fokaides, P. A., Tardieu, L., Simoes, S. G., Geneletti, D., De Gregorio Hurtado, S., Viguié, V., Spyridaki, N. A., Pietrapertosa, F., Ioannou, B. I., Matosović, M., Flamos, A., Balzan, M. V., Feliu, E., Rižnar, K., Šel, N. B., Heidrich, O., & Reckien, D. (2021). Climate mitigation in the Mediterranean Europe: An assessment of regional and city-level plans. Journal of Environmental Management, 295, Article 113146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113146

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title = "Climate mitigation in the Mediterranean Europe: An assessment of regional and city-level plans",

abstract = "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.",

keywords = "City, Climate mitigation, Local mitigation planning, Mediterranean Europe, Region",

author = "Monica Salvia and Marta Olazabal and Fokaides, \{Paris A.\} and L{\'e}a Tardieu and Simoes, \{Sofia G.\} and Davide Geneletti and \{De Gregorio Hurtado\}, Sonia and Vincent Vigui{\'e} and Spyridaki, \{Niki Artemis\} and Filomena Pietrapertosa and Ioannou, \{Byron I.\} and Marko Matosovi{\'c} and Alexandros Flamos and Balzan, \{Mario V.\} and Efren Feliu and Klavdija Ri{\v z}nar and {\v S}el, \{Nata{\v s}a Bel{\v s}ak\} and Oliver Heidrich and Diana Reckien",

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year = "2021",

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doi = "10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113146",

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Salvia, M, Olazabal, M, Fokaides, PA, Tardieu, L, Simoes, SG, Geneletti, D, De Gregorio Hurtado, S, Viguié, V, Spyridaki, NA, Pietrapertosa, F, Ioannou, BI, Matosović, M, Flamos, A, Balzan, MV, Feliu, E, Rižnar, K, Šel, NB, Heidrich, O & Reckien, D 2021, 'Climate mitigation in the Mediterranean Europe: An assessment of regional and city-level plans', Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 295, 113146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113146

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

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 - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85111004736

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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 -

Climate mitigation in the Mediterranean Europe: An assessment of regional and city-level plans

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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