In a recently published book, Niklas Bremberg analyses climate change responses and security questions in the Mediterranean region. Throughout the first chapter “Climate Security in the Mediterranean: What Prospects for Regional Cooperation?“, Niklas Bremberg draws on recent research on international cooperation in the field of climate security.  

Focusing on the climate security Mediterranean region, Niklas Bremberg brings attention to questions linked to international cooperation, climate-related risks and recent regional climate actions. His work provides examples of possible climate security issues in countries, such as Italy, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon Morocco, Spain and Syria, as well as some of the challenges faced for advancing regional cooperation. Ending with a discussion, the author encourages better Mediterranean cooperation to address climate-related security risks.

Key messages

Bremberg’s insights throughout the chapter highlight recent developments within a set of international organizations, such as the European Union and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), that are relevant for states and societies in the region. Some of the chapter’s key messages are:

• Cooperation among states is key to boost their capacity to respond to long-term climate-related risks such as desertification, prolonged periods of drought, wildfires and water scarcity. Therefore, shared vulnerabilities could be a driver for cooperation among governments.
• Projects financed and promoted by the European Union and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), such as CLIMA-MED, could facilitate the cooperation among actors at different levels.
• High dependence on hydrocarbons might make the transition into low-carbon economies harder to achieve.

Conclusion