The voice of science makes itself heard at MedCOP 2023 climate conference in Tangier

CREAF took part in the international conference MedCOP 2023 'From COP 27 to COP 28 - Driving climate action in the Mediterranean at local and regional levels' held in Tangiers (Morocco). Alicia Pérez-Porro –the center’s scientific coordinator- and Adriana Clivillé –in charge of the international communication- have taken part in the scientific forum 'Enhancing Tink Tank Contributions to Address Climate Change', in which several think tanks and research centres have shared how they contribute from their territories to climate action in the Mediterranean.

"For environmental public policies to be effective, all actors, including science, must be part of the design process from the conception phase" Alicia Pérez-Porro

Pérez-Porro stressed the importance of science being present at international negotiation and decision-making tables from the outset. In other words, it should be taken into account from the outset, when considering dialogue with management and political decision-making when assessing actions to mitigate global change and protect biodiversity loss. "For environmental public policies to be effective, all actors, including science, must be part of the design process from the conception phase. At the same time, science must have a gender perspective and not only be based on the global north", in the words of CREAF's scientific coordinator.

On her side, Clivillé explained that CREAF's international communication work aims to reach the media that influence the definition of the media agenda on climate."We try to reach media professionals who are a source of information for people with management and political responsibility and who therefore have a public voice. . In addition to working with specialised and generalist journalists, logically"

With the common thread of climate change, the round tables, working sessions, exhibitions and workshops that make up the convention have addressed topics such as nature-based solutions, water management,, agriculture and food security, mobility, urban planning, resilience, circular economy, waste management, women and climate vulnerability, migration and cooperation, to name the main ones.

Some of the organisations present at MedCOP 2023 2023 are UN Habitat, UNFCCC, UNEP/MAP, FAO, ICLEI, Union for the Mediterranean, Regions4, IEMed, Plan Bleu, the Department of Climate Action of the Generalitat of Catalonia, among many others, as well as representation from civil society, associations and the government of the Maghreb.