A special edition of the Medadapt Awards has just been launched, on the theme of adaptation of the buildings and the construction sector. Candidates have until April 9, 2023 to submit their applications. The award ceremony will take place on May 11, 2023, during the MeetMED Week in Marrakech.
A competition to encourage territories to adapt to climate change!
The Mediterranean Climate Change Adaptation Awards identify and mobilise the key players involved in implementing projects to adapt to climate change from coastal, urban and rural territories across the Mediterranean.
The French Agency for ecological transition (ADEME) is the initiator of this new edition, in partnership with Plan Bleu, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC) and its working group “Adaptation”, the meetMED project supported by MEDENER and RCREEE, and Resallience.
This special edition will specifically highlight adaptation solutions in the building sector. It will allow to mobilise the actors of adaptation to climate change from all the countries of the Mediterranean basin and to promote their projects. It will also illustrate how Mediterranean stakeholders answer to the Call to action proposed by the GlobalABC.
It will reward actions relating to buildings, equipment, infrastructure and facilities, linked to the building sector, designed or renovated in a resilient manner. This could include, for example, bioclimatic developments (shaded structures, ventilation, etc.), management of rainwater or drinking water resources, thermal comfort in buildings in summer, or actions aimed at reinforcing the robustness of networks and infrastructures to climatic events.
The aim of these awards is to encourage other territories to adapt to climate change by drawing inspiration from the winning projects. Previous editions have identified and highlighted over 100 projects from 18 countries around the Mediterranean.
Adapting to climate change: a priority for the Mediterranean region
The Mediterranean basin, with its 500 million inhabitants, is the second-most impacted area by climate change after the Arctic, as shown in the recent MedECC (Mediterranean Experts on Climate and Environmental Change) report.
Temperatures in this climate change hotspot are increasing faster than the global average, and major impacts are expected as soon as 2050. These include up to a 10% drop in the availability of freshwater as well as an increase in the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events such as heatwaves, droughts, and floods. Further major impacts are also predicted in the long term. By 2100, it is predicted there will be a temperature increase of 5.6 °C, a 20% drop in rainfall and a potential 90cm rise in sea levels.
Cities and rural communities across the Mediterranean must therefore work to create stable social, economic and environmental conditions so that the region is better able to deal with the impact of extreme weather and events linked to climate change.
This special edition of the Mediterranean Climate Change Adaptation Awards is an opportunity to raise awareness of the urgent need to take action, for he building sector, and the importance of working together to create inspiring and innovative solutions that can be used throughout the region.
Key competition dates
Competition start date: March 2023
Competition end date: 9 April 2023
Award Ceremony: 11 May 2023, during the Second Edition of the meetMED Weeks held in Marrakech (Morocco).
APPLICATIONS CLOSING DATE: 9 April 2023
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