In a context of growing and intersecting pressures, the Mediterranean is facing increasing climate change impacts, with temperatures rising 20% faster than the global average (MedECC, 2020). 

The green transition is no longer a matter of debate. The question is how this transition will happen and be implemented. Within this debate, a Just Transition emerges as a key framework to ensure that the green transition is socially grounded. 

At MedWaves, great efforts are made to ensure that circular economy policies embed social concerns and contribute to territorial and social cohesion. 

This is why, within the Community4Innovation (C4I) project of the Interreg Euro-MED Innovative Sustainable Economy (ISE) Mission, we published a policy paper exploring how ISE thematic projects contribute to a Just Transition, even when this framework is not explicitly embedded. The paper argues that projects advancing sustainable solutions must integrate social considerations in order to generate a positive impact in the contexts where these solutions are implemented. Otherwise, these solutions risk contributing to progress in some areas while creating negative impacts for certain territories or social groups. To this end, the paper advocates for aligning EU agendas and upholding Cohesion policy principles, leveraging EU budgets, strengthening Accountability and Compliance Mechanisms, applying intersectional impact assessments, ensuring multi-helix participation and mechanisms for co-creation, addressing capacity gaps, investing in local implementation capacity, among other measures. The paper also highlights the importance of considering the external dimension of the transition, ensuring that the shift towards circularity does not export social or environmental burdens to third countries. It argues that a territorially just transition within the EU must also account for global justice, responsible sourcing, fair value chains, and respect for human rights and labour standards beyond EU borders. 

The policy paper was officially launched during Circle the Med, an annual forum held in Greece that brings together policymakers, political and business leaders, experts and key stakeholders to engage in interactive dialogue on the urgent need to accelerate the green transition towards climate neutrality and resilience in the Mediterranean.

This event granted the opportunity to advocate for socially grounded green policies. MedWaves’ Director, Roger Garcia i Noguera, participated as a keynote speaker in the panel “Financing the Pact: Mobilising Sustainable Investment and Enabling a Circular Economy for a Just Transition and a Resilient Mediterranean”. In his speech, he highlighted that: 

• Advancing the green transition requires collective action and sustained cooperation, with all relevant stakeholders engaged in shaping the process. 

• Ensuring a socially grounded green transition requires taking into account the intersecting dimensions at play and assessing who benefits from the transition and who bears its burdens. 

• Accelerating the transition towards sustainability requires mobilising venture capital and private investment 

• Resource valorisation and effective e-waste management are key to advancing sustainability, transforming traditionally discarded materials into new opportunities while reducing environmental pressure and promoting a more circular economy. 

The event was attended by the President of the Hellenic Republic and Mr. George Papandreou, former Prime Minister of Greece and President of Circle the Med Forum. 

The event highlighted the urgent need to achieve stable peace in the Mediterranean region, strengthen cooperation mechanisms to jointly address the effects of climate change, and promote shared prosperity, as “the decisions we make now are crucial to which future we share.”