Conference Agenda

Presenters:

Anastasios Xepapadeas, University of Bologna and Athens University of Economics and Business

Catarina Roseta-Palma, Istituto Universitário de Lisboa

Katarina Elofsson, Aarhus University

Renan-Ulrich Goetz, University of Girona and President of the Spanish-Portuguese Association of Environmental Economists

The UN Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) is “a unique legally binding instrument promoting the sustainable management of shared water resources, the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, the prevention of conflicts, and the promotion of peace and regional integration”. With a gradual expansion of signatories, spanning almost all regions of the world, perhaps less known are its origins as a regional pan-European framework for transboundary water cooperation. Our proposal takes momentum from this precedent: the evidence that regional cooperation is not only an end in itself, but equally an opening to global cooperation and progress. European and Mediterranean cooperation have been, and can be, examples and precursors for each other and for others.

Water resource management is of critical importance in the Mediterranean, a region acutely affected by water scarcity and its socio-political ramifications. At the intersection of Europe and North Africa, it grapples with the confluence of different geographical and political realities, and how to govern a common water basin and its rivers.

On the European side, water supply systems have historically relied heavily on engineered "grey" infrastructure, such as dams and reservoirs. However, the integration of nature-based solutions (NbS), such as watershed conservation, is increasingly recognized as a key strategy for enhancing water security. Despite these advances, challenges persist, particularly as only 40% of Europe’s surface water sources were in good ecological status as of 2015. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is the world’s most water-scarce, with water- and climate-related disasters catalysing human displacement resulting from the insecurity of livelihoods, safety, and wellbeing. This displacement can feed a vicious cycle of fragility, straining already scarce resources and feeding existing community or boundary tensions. Indeed, in the Mediterranean, water management issues are compounded by the region's demographic and hydrological diversity, which underscores the need for tailored, cooperative water management practices.

The Mediterranean region faces escalating water stress due to a combination of climate change, poor management practices, and uneven water distribution, with 72% of water resources concentrated in the north and only 5% in the south. Projections indicate reduced river runoff, lower groundwater recharge, and significant declines in reservoir levels, threatening water availability and energy production across the region. The southern and eastern Mediterranean countries, where water scarcity is most acute, also grapple with transboundary water challenges, as many freshwater sources cross national borders. A regional approach focusing on shared benefits, rather than zero-sum water division, can reduce tensions and promote equitable resource allocation.

Adapting to these challenges requires a multifaceted strategy that combines NbS with technical and policy-driven solutions. Nature-based interventions, such as dune restoration and watershed management, can help mitigate environmental impacts and enhance resilience8. Simultaneously, technical measures like desalination, improved water distribution networks, and wastewater reuse can bolster water supplies. Policy efforts should include promoting transboundary cooperation, integrating inter-sectoral benefits, and ensuring equitable resource distribution9. A coordinated effort across sectors and borders, learning from and with inter-continental partners and neighbours, is needed for the Mediterranean to address its water crisis, safeguarding resources for its ecological health and socio-economic stability, not only within the region but in Europe, Africa, and Asia.

To address these critical problems, MEDAERE – the network of the Mediterranean Association of Environmental and Resource Economists that was established in 2024 and presented at COP29 – intends to propose this policy session aimed at discussing the issues briefly described above.