Given this situation, it is essential that universities in the Mediterranean basin play a key role as drivers for training and innovation to address this critical situation, which is expected to worsen significantly in the coming decades. Training for sustainable development, risk mitigation and adaptation to new future scenarios must be promoted within the framework of a true ecological transition of the Mediterranean countries towards models that favour socio-environmental resilience and economic and political stability.

The SubNetwork “Climate and environmental change” aims to connect the main actors involved in the topic, promote synergies, knowledge-exchange and partnerships among the involved Universities, support policy dialogue and strengthen consultation in the Mediterranean. At the same time, it aims to engage universities with research centers, public administrations, private companies and NGO’s working in this field to develop and share initiatives and projects.
SubNetwork Objectives
– Promoting regional and cross-cutting cooperation between the two shores of the Mediterranean, to create new partnerships and develop joint projects related to climate and environmental change, heritage conservation, mitigation, adaptation, resilience and ecological transition.
– Supporting Universities in the definition of key competences and learning program’s related to climate and environmental change, heritage conservation, mitigation, adaptation, resilience and ecological transition to facilitate studies and trainings for a new generation of students, scientists, professionals and entrepreneurs.
– Increase the awareness and understanding of the risk associated to climate and environmental change and contributing to provide innovative solutions to this global challenge for the future of Mediterranean biodiversity and cultural heritage and its impact on the different territories, economies and societies.
– Encouraging the awareness and understanding of the importance of the Cultural and Natural Heritage in the Mediterranean context.
– Organizing international events (workshops, conferences, webinars, trainings) to improve the flow of knowledge and exchange of experiences.
– Developing and reinforcing virtual exchange in all kind of activities developed inside the subnetwork.
– Gathering and sharing information, to collaboratively carry out studies, analysis and research papers on the thematic, and to support knowledge-based policy making.