In a fourth COP27 EMEA led side-event, panellists discussed initiatives working “Towards an innovative and integrated transformative action to tackle climate change” in the Mediterranean Pavilion on Science Day – 10.11.22
Prof. Rym Ayadi opened the panel by emphasising the need to fortify the links between science, policy, and action – a key goal for the Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association. Transition is an outdated approach, now we need to act. Prof. Ayadi highlighted the relevance of the Sustainable Transformative Alliance an initiative that aims to accelerate innovative action for climate adaptation. You can learn more about the initiative here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlquCgqrwI4 and visit the website.
The keynote speaker, Dr Mark Hutchinson, CEO of Fortescue Future Industries (FFI), began the discussion by explaining the innovative and technological efforts taken by FFI, an Australian iron-ore mining company, to become carbon neutral. He emphasized that the best way to decarbonize is to start at home and use the ideas of your team. FFI is leading the way on these innovative technologies in a sector that is extremely difficult to decarbonise.
The distinguished panel included Dr Ralph Chami, Assistant Director, International Monetary Fund and an Advisory Board Member at EMEA; Mr Rick Fox, CEO at Partanna; Dr Harris Eyre, Co-founder of Brain Capital Alliance, and Advisory Board member at EMEA; Mr Enrique de Villamore, Director at Medwaves; and Dr Cynthia Echave, Project Coordinator and Senior Researcher at EMEA.
Catch up on the event here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCzdKkh8jqc
Prof. Rym Ayadi also participated as a panellist in the event Ocean conservation and climate protection in the Ocean Pavilion. The event was organised by the Scientific Centre of Monaco and aimed to bring together biologists, economists, and IPCC authors and to show to decision-makers, stakeholders and climate change negotiators how nature-based solutions could help reconcile saving the Ocean, fighting climate change, and improve the well-being of people. Prof. Rym Ayadi contributed to the discussion by demonstrating the link between economics and ocean conservation.
Dr Ralph Chami, Advisory board member of EMEA, also contributed to the panel discussing the potential of natural capital to bring down carbon emissions and how to value marine ecosystem services.
Following that, Dr Cynthia Echave participated in the event The Role of Regional Cooperation in the issues of the Circular Economy, Sustainable Consumption and Production in the Turkish Pavilion.
In this event, Dr Echave discussed the role of urban planning in reaching a circular economy. She explained that there is a need to create new infrastructure in the ways we deal with waste, switching to renewable energy use, and better public transport to ensure that not only urban areas are resilient rural ones too. This contributes to resilient urban planning where we consider land use, biodiversity, and the impact on human health. The Sustainable Transformative Alliance has a lot of potential to tackle this as it deals with four key pillars (1) biodiversity and natural capital; (2) territorial resilience; (3) sustainable finance; and (4) sustainable entrepreneurship whilst forging partnerships across sectors. This approach is needed to ensure resilient communities, both cities and rural areas. You can watch the event here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dgggkmXeWo (Skip to 5:05:00)
Finally, on the 12th of November 2022, Prof. Rym Ayadi participated in the event The crucial role of a Mediterranean partnership – Towards a Euro-Mediterranean Green Deal led by OMC in the Mediterranean Pavilion.
The event discussed the political, economic, and financial conditions required to develop a Euro-Mediterranean green deal to advance energy transition and achieve climate change mitigation goals in accordance with the Paris Agreement. Prof. Ayadi contributed to the panel by discussing the financial dimension of the European Green Deal. She highlighted that the external dimension of the European Green Deal could be used as a lever for the Mediterranean to ensure the deal benefits the region. She also touched on the importance of well-designed guarantee-based investment plan that would allow Mediterranean countries to boost their renewable energy sectors.
You can catch up on the event here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbESKYiBRXk
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