Shifting towards low-emissions and resilient buildings in the Mediterranean region

The Mediterranean region is among the hardest hit by the consequences of climate change. Some areas might become inhabitable by 2050. Buildings and construction already make up about 40% of greenhouse gas emissions, and the global building stock is growing rapidly. As temperatures rise, cooling needs are becoming a key driver in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Energy demand for air conditioning is expected to triple by 2050. Energy-efficient building designs and appliances are essential to achieve a greener urban future in the Mediterranean region, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and leading to more livable and resilient cities. Bold policies, massive investments and capacity building at scale are needed to transform the buildings and construction sector. The Networking Event will highlight the efforts and growing commitment of national governments towards low emissions and resilient buildings in the region and showcase successful and upcoming initiatives funded by the European Commission to support this transition. This includes examples of how to promote Energy-efficient buildings and appliances through capacity building and policy support across eight countries, with support from the Mitigation Enabling Energy Transition in the Mediterranean Region project (meetMED II). Egypt, host of the next climate change summit, will present “demo actions” on the potential of district cooling and technologies in South Mediterranean countries. Morocco will present its experience in developing a national financing mechanism for energy-efficient residential building supported by climate financing, developed in collaboration with The Programme for Energy Efficiency in Buildings (PEEB). PEEB combines financing for large-scale financing projects with national policy support and technical assistance and will expand its financing support with the launch of a new regional initiative in South Mediterranean countries funded by the European Commission later this year. The panel will include representatives from the Moroccan Ministry of National and Urban Planning, Housing and City Policy and the Egyptian Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities who will highlight the work of their respective countries towards low emissions and resilient urban futures. Representatives of the Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE), the Mediterranean Association of National Agencies for Energy Management (MEDENER), the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) will present ongoing actions and upcoming support and how to scale them up, in the region.