Who we are
Promoters:
Supported by:
The MEDSEC Secretariat is managed by Greening the Islands Foundation in close cooperation with RCREEE
Our priorities
Outlining a regional climate diplomacy
A new climate diplomacy launched with a collaboration between countries that focuses on a matter that concerns everyone, while at the same time targeting the sustainable development of the region. Efforts need to be upscaled with high profile governmental and institutional engagement. International cooperation must be strengthened, ensuring inclusive representation of different countries and stakeholders.
Building political will
The region is still highly dependent on fossil fuels; building an alternative pathway cannot be done in isolation, but it needs politics and policies to be shaped through advocacy and diplomacy directly involving national decision-makers and key stakeholders/influencers. Advocacy actions are necessary to translate overarching climate diplomacy into national objectives, supported by enabling policies, progress monitoring systems, and multistakeholder dialogue.
Improving financing mechanisms
The investment required for an ambitious energy transition is significant but lower than the planned yearly investment in oil and gas for most countries. Financial mechanisms need to be improved for both public and private investments, and bilateral financing opportunities should be considered. The expenditure for fossil fuel consumption subsidies is still considerably high across the region including for electricity and transportation. These resources should be redirected to set up incentives for both citizens and businesses to increase clean energy consumption.
Tackling administrative and regulatory barriers
Regulatory and market rules need to be reviewed through capacity building and knowledge sharing in order to overcome bottlenecks and accelerate progress. Permitting schemes for grid-scale renewables and energy storage need to be streamlined. Transparent competitive procurement frameworks can be implemented on the basis of success cases in Europe, including offshore deployment.
Upgrading grid infrastructure
Strengthening the reliability of the grid should remain a priority for the integration of large volumes of renewables and long-duration energy storage solutions. Reducing the technical power losses can lead to higher affordability of electricity. This includes strengthening and expanding strategic interconnection capacity for electricity exchanges, as well as stand alone grids.
Promoting circularity and nexus
Technology and policy changes should consider innovative solutions such as integrated/hybrid systems, agrivoltaics, WEFE (water-energy-food-ecosystems) nexus, electric mobility, and green hydrogen. The market is expanding and the demand volumes for renewables will increase; as in the case of the water sector, where energy consumption is expected to double by 2040 mainly due to the expansion of water desalination and treatment segments.
Spotlighting socio-economic development
Ambitious regional targets for the development of the renewable energy market represent a significant opportunity for localised economic growth as well as consequent employment. Renewable energy supply chain decentralisation trends can stimulate sustainable supply chains close to markets. This represents a further opportunity for investment and jobs creation. Policies should also stimulate local and national companies to be the first movers to take this opportunity and encourage others to do so.