News
Leading scientists and policy experts from Europe, Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean gathered in Nicosia from 19 to 21 November for the international workshop 'Threats to the Mediterranean Marine Ecosystems in a Warming World'. The meeting was hosted by the Cyprus Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts at The Cyprus Institute as part of a major InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) program.
The initiative is led by the Cyprus Academy in collaboration with the European Academies’ Science Advisory Council (EASAC) and the Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) and developed in close coordination with the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East Climate Change Initiative (EMME CCI). The workshop marks a significant milestone in advancing scientific cooperation across regions that face common environmental pressures.
The opening session featured addresses by Prof. Achilles Emilianides, President of the Cyprus Academy; Prof. Stavros Malas, President of The Cyprus Institute; Dr. Ourania Kosti, Executive Director of IAP; Prof. Wim van Saarloos, President of EASAC; Dr. Jackie Kondo, President of NASAC; and Hon. Maria Panayiotou, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment.
In his keynote remarks, Prof. Costas Kadis, EU Commissioner for Oceans and Fisheries, emphasized the need for coordinated regional action. He noted that the Eastern Mediterranean is among the globe’s most climate-vulnerable regions and highlighted challenges such as rapid warming, acidification, invasive species and rising sea levels. He stated that the EU’s Pact for the Mediterranean provides a framework for joint action that brings science and innovation to the forefront.
Dr. Ourania Kosti praised the Cyprus Academy for its leadership in strengthening scientific collaboration across continents. She noted that projects of this kind show how academies can connect regional expertise with global science policy and said the initiative reflects positively on both the Academy and Cyprus.
The workshop aligned with the release of the EMME CCI Report on the Marine Environment and Resources, coordinated by Dr. Aristomenis Karageorgis of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research. The report delivers the most comprehensive assessment to date of the Eastern Mediterranean’s marine ecosystems and identifies areas where research and policy must advance urgently.
Prof. Costas N. Papanicolas, Principal Investigator of the IAP project, underlined the importance of scientific cooperation. He stated that the initiative brings together leading experts from Europe, Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean to strengthen the link between science and policy and to support the region’s capacity to address shared environmental challenges.
The three day workshop followed a public lecture and panel discussion at The Cyprus Institute on “Climate Change and the Marine Environment: Global and Regional Challenges.”
With the completion of this important milestone, the project now moves into its second phase. Work will focus on preparing and authoring the Working Group report, which will synthesize insights developed during the workshop into policy relevant recommendations.
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