April 2007
A monthly e-newsletter by UNEP/MAP
IN THIS ISSUE:
UNEP NEWS
MAP COMPONENTS
and BARCELONA CONVENTION
UNEP To Provide Solar Energy To Developing
Experts Conduct Countries Assessment Within
Programme Offi cer for Sustainable Develop-
Countries
Horizon 2020 Initiative
ment appointed at UNEP/MAP
The UN is to expand its pilot solar energy project to some
Within the framework of the EC Horizon 2020 Initiative, a fi rst
Mr. Spyros Kouvelis, a Greek national, was the successful can-
developing countries to enable their populations to enjoy
joint EIB/MAP visit to Egypt took place between 16 ­ 22 April
didate following the vacancy announcement for Programme
regular power supply.
2007.
Offi cer for Sustainable Development at UNEP/MAP
IPCC Confi rms That Cost-effective Policies And
Israel' Clean Coast Programme: 85% Of The
Ambassadors Of The Environment (AOTE)
Technologies Could Greatly Reduce Global
Beaches Are Clean
An Environmental Education Program
Warming
Between 70 and 85% of the Israeli beaches targeted by the
The Athens Environmental Foundation (AEF), a non profi t,
A new assessment by the Intergovernmental Panel on Cli-
"Going for a Clean Coast" programme were rated clean and
non governmental organization, in collaboration with Jean
mate Change (IPCC) concludes that the world community
above by the end of a 3-years campaign launched by the
Michel Cousteau, who is a member of the Board of Directors',
could slow and then reduce global emissions of greenhouse
Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection in 2005.
is continuing successfully the environmental program "Am-
gases (GHGs) over the next several decades by exploiting
bassadors of the Environment".
cost-effective policies and current and emerging technolo-
Desalination And Water Resources In The Medi-
gies.
terranean
ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
The need for desalting seawater is becoming more and more
pressing in many parts of the world.
Double Hulled Tankers for Heavy Oil Now Law in
Europe
REMPEC Hosts 8th Meeting Of Focal Points In
A requirement that only double hulled tankers carrying
Malta
heavy oil can enter European ports was signed into law by
The Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre
the European Parliament at the end of April.
for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC) held its 8th Meeting of
offi cial governmental focal points in Malta from 7 to 11 May.

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INDEX
UNEP NEWS
UNEP TO PROVIDE SOLAR ENERGY TO
IPCC CONFIRMS THAT COST-EFFECTIVE
sulphur hexafl uoride, PFCs and HFCs.)
UNEP NEWS
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
POLICIES AND TECHNOLOGIES COULD

UNEP to provide
GREATLY REDUCE GLOBAL WARMING
By adopting stronger climate change policies,
however, governments could slow and reverse
solar energy
these emissions trends and ultimately stabilize the
to developing
A new assessment by the Intergovernmental
level of greenhouse gases remaining in the
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
countries
atmosphere.
concludes that the world
community could slow and then
IPCC confi rms
The report's Summary for
reduce global emissions of
that cost-effective
Policymakers (SPM) was fi nalized
greenhouse gases (GHGs)
policies and
and adopted this week by
over the next several
technologies could
representatives from 105
decades by exploiting
greatly reduce
countries. The full set of
cost-effective policies and
global warming
underlying chapters, written
current and emerging
by 168 authors (some 40% of
technologies.
whom are from developing
The UN is to expand its pilot solar energy project
and transition countries)
"Climate change will
to some developing countries to enable their
and reviewed by hundreds of
touch every corner and
populations to enjoy regular power supply.
other experts, will be available
every community on
Currently, an estimated 100,000 people in a rural
shortly.
this planet but equally,
community in India are receiving several hours
overcoming climate change
of reliable solar-powered lighting every night
The report addresses ways of
can touch on every facet of
under a UN-backed project, according to the UN
reducing emissions from key sectors,
the global economy in a wealth
Environmental Programme (UNEP).
such as the energy supply sector,
of positive ways. Measures to reduce
"The project underlines the multiple benefi ts
buildings, transport, industry, agriculture,
emissions can, in the main, be achieved at
accruing by providing clean and renewable energies
forests, and waste management.
starkly low costs especially when compared with the
in developing countries," said UNEP's Executive
costs of inaction. Indeed some, such as reducing
Director Achim Steiner.
For more information:
emissions by 30 per cent from buildings by 2020,
He disclosed that the Indian success "should also
www.ipcc.ch
actually contribute positively to GDP," said Executive
serve as a catalytic blueprint for similar schemes
www.wmo.int
Director Achim Steiner of the UN Environment
across the developing world and lead to the scaling
www.unep.org
Programme (UNEP) which, together with the World
up of renewable energies everywhere".
Meteorological Organization, established the IPCC.
The US$1.5 million pilot scheme, managed by UNEP,
has already inspired a sister effort in Tunisia, where
"It is now up to governments to introduce the
the market for solar water heaters has gone up.
mechanisms and incentives to unleash the ingenuity
Similar programmes are planned for China, Indonesia,
and creativity of the fi nancial and technological
Egypt, Mexico, Ghana, Morocco and Algeria.
markets in order to realize these economic, social and
environmental gains," he said.
According to "Climate Change 2007: Mitigation
of Climate Change", without additional action by
governments the emissions from the basket of six
greenhouse gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol will
rise by 25 to 90% by 2030 compared to 2000. (The
six gases are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide,

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INDEX
MAP COMPONENTS and BARCELONA CONVENTION
MAP
EXPERTS CONDUCT COUNTRIES
and support the implementation of the pollution
The aim of the Clean Coast programme was to
COMPONENTS
ASSESSMENT WITHIN HORIZON 2020
reduction commitments undertaken in the framework achieve and ensure clean beaches at all times, not just
and
INITIATIVE
of the Barcelona Convention. Horizon 2020 will be
during the summer months. The programme aims at
grouped under the following four components:
improving beach cleanliness by promoting a variety
BARCELONA
(i) pollution reduction projects, in particular those
of solutions to the litter problem while generating
Within the framework of the EC Horizon 2020
CONVENTION
identifi ed in the National Action Plans (NAPs)
a change of attitude in the public regarding the
Initiative, a fi rst joint EIB/MAP visit to Egypt took
prepared by MEDPOL, (ii) capacity building measures,
importance of the issue.
place between 16 ­ 22 April 2007 to review the
Experts conduct
(iii) research and (iv) monitoring, steering and review.
The Clean Coast Programme implements
investment projects included in its National Action
countries
several activities simultaneously: routine cleanup
Plans, prepared in the framework of the MED POL
assessment within
of unauthorized beaches by local authorities;
Programme, and assess their capacity to be bankable.
ISRAEL' CLEAN COAST PROGRAMME: 85%
Horizon 2020
educational activities in the country's schools and
The next visit is scheduled at the beginning of
OF THE BEACHES ARE CLEAN
initiative
youth movements; enforcement
May, when EIB/MEDPOL experts will visit Tunisia to
against polluters of coats and
establish initial contacts for the implementation of the
Israel' clean coast
non-cooperative municipalities;
pollution reduction component of the Horizon 2020.
programme: 85%
information and public relation
Syria will follow soon after.
of the beaches are
activities.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) and MEDPOL,
clean
Marine litter is a growing
the UNEP/MAP component to fi ght land-based

environmental problem
pollution in the Mediterranean, have launched a
Desalination and
worldwide. All coastal countries
process to create a pipeline of bankable investment
water resources in
suffer from the litter deposited
projects within the framework of the EC's initiative
the Mediterranean
upon their coastlines. 185 km
Horizon 2020, in close collaboration with the
of Israeli beaches suffer from
European Commission. The investment projects
REMPEC hosts 8th
accumulation of litter. Located
will be identifi ed among those listed in the National
meeting of Focal
in the easterly part of the
Action Plans to address land-based pollution that
Points In Malta
Mediterranean, current and
every country has prepared in the framework of the
wind regimes are responsible
MED POL Programme. In the autumn, after all country
Programme Offi cer
for the deposit of signifi cant
visits will have taken place, a synthesis of the fi ndings
for Sustainable
quantities of waste, especially
will be prepared and the draft fi nal report will be
Development
during the winter and summer
circulated for comments among all stakeholders.
appointed at UNEP/
storms.
The countries targeted by the programme are
MAP
Enhanced public awareness,
those that fall under the non-European Partnership:
combined with enforcement measures against
they must be non-EU countries, and should be no
Between 70 and 85% of the Israeli beaches targeted
Ambassadors Of The
polluters, were the means chosen to prevent people
candidate for future membership, indicating mainly
by the "Going for a Clean Coast" programme
Environment (AOTE)
from littering.
countries in North Africa and the Middle East.
were rated clean and above by the end of a 3-
An Environmental
Dissemination of the programme via the education
Horizon 2020 was launched in December 2005 and
years campaign launched by the Israeli Ministry of
Education Program
system that runs schools should ensure that even if
adopted by the 3rd Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial
Environmental Protection in 2005, in cooperation with the budget for the programme runs out, educational
Conference on the Environment in Cairo on 20
the Nature and Parks Authority. The programme was
programmes will be integrated into the schools'
November 2006. The main aim of this initiative is to
launched under the auspices of MEDPOL, the marine
curricula and the message continuously delivered.
reduce the level of pollution in the Mediterranean
pollution assessment and control component of
According to the organisers, two major tasks still
Sea by identifying and tackling the most signifi cant
UNEP/MAP.
remain for future action: the need to raise public
pollution sources by the year 2020.
At the beginning of the programme, in June 2005,
awareness even further, as the general public doesn't
The initiative builds on existing institutions and
only 27% of the beaches were defi ned as clean.
always relate litter with personal behaviour, and the
results, fi lling gaps where it can bring added value.
The fi nal achievement by 2007 was the result of
lack of authentic willingness of some local authorities
It will operate within the framework of existing
routine clean-up procedure, of pressure on the local
to assume full responsibility for their coastlines.
and developing environment policy instruments,
municipalities and enhanced public awareness.

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INDEX
MAP COMPONENTS and BARCELONA CONVENTION
MAP
DESALINATION AND WATER RESOURCES IN
REMPEC HOSTS 8th MEETING OF FOCAL
COMPONENTS
THE MEDITERRANEAN
POINTS IN MALTA
and
The need for desalting seawater is becoming more
The Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response
BARCELONA
and more pressing in many parts of the world. During
Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC) held its
CONVENTION
the period 1950 to 1990 the worldwide consumption
8th Meeting of offi cial governmental focal points in
of water tripled, while the population grew by 2.3
Malta from 7 to 11 May.
Experts conduct
billion people.
The objective of the meeting was to present and
countries
In the Mediterranean, water needs are constantly
evaluate the implementation of the REMPEC activities
assessment within
increasing. It is estimated that by the year 2010 water
programme 2006 ­2007, as well as the status of
Horizon 2020
demands in the region will increase by 32% at least for
implementation by REMPEC of the EU funded
initiative
the southern and eastern countries. There is no doubt
SAFEMED project (Euromed Cooperation on Maritime
that such needs can be met only if non-conventional
safety and Prevention of Pollution from Ships). Special
Israel' clean coast
resources of water are utilized, like water-recycling
emphasis was given to the discussion about the
programme: 85%
and desalination.
technical lessons learnt after the recent accidents that
of the beaches are
MEDPOL attended the conference "Desalination
occurred in the Mediterranean Sea, and in particular
clean
and Environment" in Thessaloniki on 23rd April,
through a membrane. Today, Spain is the country with the oil spill that affected the Lebanese and Syrian

where MEDPOL representatives presented a paper
the largest capacity of seawater desalination plants in
coastline during the summer 2006.
Desalination and
on the possible impacts of desalination activities in
the Mediterranean region.
A draft preparatory programme 2008 ­ 2009 was
water resources in
the Mediterranean region on the state of the marine
The desalination industry is steadily growing in
discussed and agreed, and will be submitted to
the Mediterranean
environment.
the Mediterranean region. This coastal land-based
the next Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the
In the Mediterranean, desalination has been for a
activity is unique and there is a mutual interaction
Barcelona Convention in December 2007 in Almeria
REMPEC hosts 8th
long time a major source of water, with the fi rst plant
between the desalination plants and the marine
meeting of Focal
installed in Marsa Alam in Egypt with a capacity of
coastal environment. A clean marine environment is
Points In Malta
500m3/day. In 1983 Malta became one of the fi rst
a prerequisite for the production of clean water. On
places to use RO processes for seawater desalination
the other hand, the effl uent and emissions produced
Programme Offi cer
on a large. Reverse osmosis (RO) is a process in
by the desalination plants cam affect the fragile
for Sustainable
which the water from a pressurized saline solution
ecosystem of the Mediterranean.
Development
is separated from the dissolved material by fl owing
The European Desalination Society (EDS) and
appointed at UNEP/
MEDPOL cooperate to increase the awareness of
MAP
the possible impacts of desalination plants on the
marine environment. MEDPOL has developed and
Ambassadors Of The
disseminated a guideline for a sound management of
Environment (AOTE)
desalination plants in the Mediterranean. The paper
An Environmental
highlights the major socio-economic trends and
Education Program
the resulting pressure on the marine environment
resulting from the current and planned desalination
projects.
The conference, organized by the European
Desalination Society and sponsored by MEDPOL,
brought together some 400 participants from over
60 countries, representing governments, institutions,
industry, scientists and engineers dealing with
seawater desalination.

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INDEX
MAP COMPONENTS and BARCELONA CONVENTION
MAP
(Spain).
and follow up and support to the formulation and
get to know the ecosystems and their problems, facts
Participants to the meeting reviewed guidelines
implementation of NSSDs.
about Nature and its environmental issues related to
COMPONENTS
on prevention of pollution from pleasure craft
At their last meeting in Portoroz, Slovenia, the
energy, recycling, biodegradation, biodiversity, the
and
activities, as well as guidelines on places of refuge
Contracting Parties had agreed that the position
food chain and the role of the terrestrial and water
BARCELONA
for ships in need of assistance. Another important
of temporary Programme Offi cer for Sustainable
bio ­ societies. They become Ambassadors of the
CONVENTION
issue under discussion was related to port reception
Development, which was due to expire at the end
Environment and they adopt a new way of life in order
facilities for collecting ship-generated wastes, with
of February, 2006, would be extended until the next
to contribute in the preservation of our planet.
Experts conduct
specifi c emphasis to the Special Area Status of the
meeting of the Contracting Parties in 2007.
"Let's make our children Ambassadors of the
countries
Mediterranean under the MARPOL Convention
Environment"
assessment within
(International Convention for the Prevention of
AMBASSADORS OF THE ENVIRONMENT

Horizon 2020
Pollution from Ships).
(AOTE)
For further information:
initiative
Participants to the meeting were the
Tel.: +30 210 64 26 055, FAX: +30 210 64 26 419
representatives from all Mediterranean coastal states,
An environmental education program
www.athensenvironmental.org
Israel' clean coast
from the European Community, all Contracting

programme: 85%
Parties to the Barcelona Convention, representatives
The Athens Environmental Foundation (AEF),
of the beaches are
from relevant UN organisations, such as UNEP/MAP
a non profi t, non governmental organization,
clean
and IMO, the International Maritime Organisation.
in collaboration with Jean Michel Cousteau,

A number of governmental and non-governmental
who is a member of the Board of Directors', is
Desalination and
organisations and associations also attended the
continuing successfully the environmental program
water resources in
meeting as observers.
"Ambassadors of the Environment".
The program, which was designed by J.M. Cousteau
the Mediterranean
PROGRAMME OFFICER FOR SUSTAINABLE
and his team of experts, has been already operating
successfully in other parts of the world and accepts
REMPEC hosts 8th
DEVELOPMENT APPOINTED AT UNEP/MAP
children 8 to 14 years old.
meeting of Focal
Points In Malta
Mr. Spyros Kouvelis, a Greek national, was the
successful candidate following the vacancy
Programme Offi cer
announcement for Programme Offi cer for Sustainable
for Sustainable
Development at UNEP/MAP. He has joined UNEP/MAP
Development
as Sustainable Development Offi cer on 2 May 2007.
appointed at UNEP/
Spyros Kouvelis holds a BSc in Economics from
MAP
the University of Athens and an MSc in Agricultural/
Environmental Economics from the University of
Ambassadors Of The Reading in the UK. He has worked extensively with
Environment (AOTE) the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) since 1991
An Environmental
and as Acting Chief Executive Offi cer of WWF Greece
Education Program
from 1995 to 1997. In 1997 he was appointed Advisor
to the Deputy Minister of Environment, Planning
and Public Works of Greece, where he worked until
2001. Since 2001, he held the position of MedWet
The expert multilingual instructors reveal the
Coordinator, directing the MedWet Coordination Unit
environmental problems to the children and show
in Athens, a Ramsar outposted unit responsible for the them ways to protect the environment through
coordination of the Mediterranean Wetlands initiative. games and actual techniques. The program is
He is fl uent in Greek, English and French.
especially effective and differs from others, since it
Mr. Kouvelis will be responsible for matters
is based not only in theory but in action as well. The
related to the MCSD, the implementation of MSSD
children have the opportunity within two weeks to

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INDEX
ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
UNEP/MAP Key 2007 Dates
ENVIRONMENTAL DOUBLE HULLED TANKERS FOR HEAVY OIL
NEWS
NOW LAW IN EUROPE
In addition, regardless of what fl ag they are fl ying,
21-22 May
Reporting Meeting,
only double hulled tankers will be able to enter
Istanbul, Turkey
member states' harbors or anchor in their territorial
Double hulled tankers A requirement that only double hulled tankers
waters.
23-25 May
Compliance Meeting,
for heavy oil now law carrying heavy oil can enter European ports was
European lawmakers began to pay close attention
Istanbul, Turkey
in Europe
signed into law by the European Parliament at the end to oil spill damage after the single hulled Maltese
30-31 May
MCSD,
tanker Erika broke
Istanbul, Turkey
up and sank off
the French coast
5 June
World Environment Day Exhibition
on December 12,
on climate change "Envisioning
1999, spilling an
Change",
estimated 3,000
Oslo, Norway (until 20 August).
metric tons of
It will then travel to Brussels, Belgium and
next year to Chicago, United States
heavy fuel oil that
formed a slick 15
5-7 June
Joint meeting BP/PAP/INFO/RACs
kilometres long. It
Focal Points, Palermo, Italy
polluted the north
6-9 June
SPA/RAC Focal Points,
and south banks of
Palermo, Italy
the Loire River and
the Brittany coast.
26-28 June
MED POL Focal Points,
Concern
Hammamet, Tunisia
intensifi ed after
2-3 July
Bureau of the Contracting Parties,
the Bahamas-
Madrid, Spain
fl agged single
hulled tanker, the
September
publication of UNEP's 4th Global
Prestige, sank off
Environmental Outlook ­ GEO4
Spain in November
2002, releasing
16-19 October
MAP Focal Points,
80 percent of the
Madrid, Spain
tanker's 77,000
24-27 October
First International Conference on
metric tons of fuel
Marine Protected Area, France
oil into the waters
of April. The law was enacted in response to disastrous off Spain's northeast coast.
10-13
10-13
15
15th
th Meeting of the Co
Meeting of the C n
o t
n r
t a
r c
a ting
ting
oil spills from single hulled tankers the Erika in 1999
Because the leaking Prestige drifted at sea for eight
Dece
Dec mber
ember
Pa
P r
a ties to the Barc
ties to the Bar e
c lona
elona
and the Prestige in 2002.
days, the spill contaminated six countries, with the
Co
C n
o v
n e
v nt
n ion, Al
tion, A meria, Spain
lmeria, Spain
President of the European Parliament Hans-Gert
worst impacts seen in Spain, Portugal, and France.
Pottering said the law represents an important
Experts predict the Prestige spill will affect
response to offshore tanker accidents and will lead
marine life until at least 2012 because the oil spilled
to better protection of the seas and the environment
contained polyaromatic hydrocarbons. These toxic
from oil spills.
chemicals poison plankton, fi sh eggs and crustaceans,
Under the new regulation, oil tankers transporting
causing carcinogenic effects in fi sh and other animals
heavy oils will only be allowed to fl y the fl ag of a
higher up the food chain.
European Union member state if they are double
hulled.

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