Institute of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis, National Research Council of Italy, C.da S. Loja, 85050, Tito Scalo, PZ, Italy.
Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), Parque Científico UPV/EHU, Barrio Sarriena, s/n, 48940, Leioa, Spain.
J Environ Manage. 2021 Oct 1;295:113146. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113146. Epub 2021 Jun 27.
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.
在欧洲，地中海地区的各个区域在对气候变化影响的高度敏感性方面具有共同特征。这是否会导致这些地中海特征产生特定的气候行动？本文聚焦于地中海欧洲的区域和地方气候缓解行动，重点研究了 9 个地中海国家（克罗地亚、塞浦路斯、法国、希腊、意大利、马耳他、葡萄牙、斯洛文尼亚和西班牙）的 51 个地区和 73 个城市的减少温室气体排放计划。该研究调查了：（i）地方和区域缓解计划的可用性，（ii）它们在短期和中长期内减少温室气体排放目标方面的目标，以及（iii）跨国气候网络对这种地方和区域气候缓解规划的影响。这项研究的结果表明，规划存在不平衡和碎片化的情况，显示出地中海西部和东部之间的差异，以及与人口规模的联系。然而，总体而言，区域和城市行动在实现《巴黎协定》方面似乎不够雄心勃勃，至少在城市层面上是如此。虽然国家框架目前在影响区域和地方行动方面较弱，但跨国网络似乎是促使各方承诺（在城市层面）和采取雄心勃勃行动（在区域层面）的因素。这项研究揭示的不平衡和碎片化进展与研究区域和城市在环境、社会政治、气候和经济条件方面所具有的共同特征不相符。研究结果支持在地中海层面上呼吁达成共同的绿色协议，以进一步应对地中海地区的具体挑战和相关需求。这将有助于利用现有资源，生成地方特定的知识，建立能力，并支持地中海地区和城市为制定下一轮更具雄心的缓解计划做好准备。
