A Transformational Change for Nature and People

Better understanding and responding to zoonotic threats

COVID-19 is a reminder of the importance of better understanding potential risks of transmission of zoonotic diseases from marine species (including highly migratory ones, such as birds and marine mammals) to humans, including pathways, and of responding to zoonosis risks adequately.

The principal legal basis for this work in the UNEP/MAP—Barcelona Convention system is the SPA/Biodiversity Protocol. In this respect, due consideration will be given to the aforementioned considerations in the development of the Post-2020 SAP BIO, also taking into account the way that relevant issues are addressed at global level; from the development of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework under the CBD to UNEP response articulation, including the development of a zoonotic risk and response programme, national zoonotic risk reduction action plans and increased ambition and commitment to new global biodiversity targets.

UNEP/MAP response will address the following priority issues:

examining the need to reassess Action Plans on key species (particularly marine mammals, sea birds, and marine turtles) and habitats under the SPA/BD Protocol and, if need be, revising them to address the aforementioned issues.
given that illegal fishing and trade of marine species is still observed in the Mediterranean, improving the assessment and understanding of potential transmission of pathogens and diseases from marine species to humans, as well as strengthening the enforcement and control measures for illegal fishing, in close cooperation with the FAO General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM).
exploring and establishing links with the ICZM Protocol implementation, specifically regarding the management of anthropogenic activities that have an impact on the safety and security in pathways of wildlife and wildlife products, including habitat encroachment and destruction and landscape fragmentation. Mainstreaming biodiversity conservation and human health concerns into marine and coastal activities and sectoral planning and development can be achieved through ICZM and ecosystem-based Marine Spatial Planning (MSP).
Assessment of human activities’ impacts on coastal artificialisation can be based on the Candidate Indicator 25 on Land Use Change under the UNEP/MAP Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme (IMAP). While this is still a candidate indicator, thus monitored on a voluntary basis, the COVID-19 response calls for the strengthening of expert knowledge and scientific advancement in view of developing it into a Common Indicator, the monitoring of which is mandatory in the framework of IMAP.

Better understanding poverty, human and environment health linkages

The assessment of linkages between environment and human health is very relevant to UNEP/MAP work:

The LBS Protocol provides the legal basis to support action in this respect, as its provisions explicitly stipulate the consideration of risks and potential impacts on human health from pollution (Article 7 par.1 and Annex I part A, and Annex II part E). A strong partnership was built on this basis between MED POL and WHO, and a WHO Unit was established within the Secretariat, focusing on assessment of and responses to human health risks from marine pollution from land-based sources. In the course of the past decade, this form of collaboration with WHO was terminated and work in this field suffered as a consequence. The response to the COVID-19 crisis provides an opportunity to rebuild this collaboration on the basis of the LBS Protocol.
The SPA/BD Protocol will serve as an instrument to address links between human health and the status of marine and coastal biodiversity, including the assessment of possible pathways for human disease transmissions, potential risks for human health from the introduction of non-indigenous species and genetically modified species, and from wildlife trafficking.

UNEP/MAP response will address the following priority issues:

under the implementation of the LBS Protocol and relevant Regional Plans: giving due consideration to the potential risks for human health from the increased use of single-use items and sterilisation chemicals, as well as cleaning products and disinfectants. This could entail the possible inclusion of new substances into the Mediterranean List of Priority Contaminants and the Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme (IMAP).
considering the potential of plastic litter to serve as a substrate for the transmission and spread of pathogens and viruses as part of a reinvigorated effort to prevent and reduce plastic marine litter; and addressing knowledge gaps in this field in collaboration with scientific institutions.
exploring the assessment of the potential impacts of the virus and of new/emerging chemicals used for its prevention on the quality of bathing waters and beaches in the Mediterranean.
in addition to the implementation of the Med SOX ECA roadmap–linking the Post-2021 Mediterranean Strategy for Prevention of and Response to Marine Pollution from Ships, under preparation in the 2020-2021 biennium, with the COVID-19 response. In this context, future measures to limit the emission of other harmful substances from ships, such as NOx, should be also considered. Atmospheric pollution (linked to maritime transport) is to be further assessed as an aggravating factor for human health and respiratory diseases. COVID-19 has brought linkages between air pollution and human health to the fore, as individuals subject to greater levels of air pollution are potentially more vulnerable to airborne diseases and their physiological impacts such as respiratory denudation.

Background on SOx ECA

At global level, through regulations established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the limit for sulphur in fuel oil used on board ships operating outside designated emission control areas has been reduced to 0.50% m/m (mass by mass) since 1 January 2020. The Mediterranean region is considering a step beyond by exploring the possible designation of the Mediterranean Sea, as a whole, as an Emission Control Area for SO_X(Med SO_X ECA), with special requirements to reduce ship emissions in line with a road map adopted by COP 21. According to a Technical and Feasibility Study carried out by REMPEC, the Med SO_X ECA would lower emissions by 78.7% for SO_X and 23.7% for PM2.5, when comparing to the global sulphur limit (0.50% m/m), thus positively contributing to human health

assessing and reducing the impacts on key marine and coastal species of new/emerging chemicals present in cleaning and disinfectant products being used in the prevention of COVID-19, including by promoting good practices on their use and disposal.
advocating the strengthening of Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMIs) and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) networks based on the role they play in supporting environmental health, human well-being and socioeconomic stability.

These actions need to be based on strong scientific evidence and research. Taking into account the limited resources of UNEP/MAP system to conduct such specialised studies, it is important to identify new or strengthen existing partnerships and networks with scientific and research institutions and other specialised agencies, especially the WHO, including its Vulnerability and Risk Assessment and Management (VRAM) structures, as highlighted in the beginning of this chapter. In addition:

The work of the UNEP/MAP Plan Bleu Regional Activity Centre on the observation and foresight of environment and development will play a pivotal role in assessing links between environment and human health. These links were addressed in the State of the Environment and Development Report (SoED) and will be further analysed under the MED 2050 foresight study. UNEP/MAP participation in the implementation of the UN Decade on Ocean Science can also facilitate actions in this field.
UNEP/MAP will explore and promote citizen science as an important source of information, including the reporting of unusual phenomena encountered in the marine and coastal environment. Efforts in this field will be pursued through the Information and Communication Regional Activity Centre (INFO/RAC).

Making progress on the climate, biodiversity and chemical crises

Transformational change includes ensuring an ambitious approach to safeguarding environmental support systems in key areas, including climate, biodiversity and chemicals. All these areas are covered by the UNEP/MAP mandate and its key role in maintaining healthy and functioning ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea and coasts.

The COVID-19 crisis may raise risks of weakened environmental regulation and enforcement in cases where emergency responses do not adequately integrate environmental protection as an important dimension. The UNEP/MAP response can address the multi-faceted nature of the challenge through the strategic and programmatic framework, legal and regulatory instruments, policy measures, monitoring and assessment activities as well as capacity building.

UNEP/MAP response will address the following priority issues:

enhancing its efforts to ensure that Contracting Parties’ commitments and action are maintained and reinforced through the Barcelona Convention governance structure and processes, and advocacy with the participation of MAP partners and civil society. The post COVID-19 period provides an opportunity for strengthening the environmental law and its implementation and enforcement, and thus it should be used by decision makers and civil society to push the environmental agenda with concrete proposals, backed by solid assessments including on links between environment and human health. Attention will be placed on promoting nature-based solutions and management of pressures, strengthening enforcement on illegal dumping prohibition, supporting environmentally sound management of municipal waste including medical waste, preventing illegal ecosystem degradation and highlighting the importance of restoration of degraded ecosystems (linked with the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration).
addressing key elements and emerging issues raised during the COVID-19 crisis in the development of the next Medium-Term Strategy 2022-2027, which will define the MAP vision and priorities.
considering emerging pollution-related issues, including the increase in medical waste and the use of chemicals for COVID-19 prevention, in ongoing work on updating the Annexes to the Pollution related Protocols.
redirecting the development or updating of several regulatory and policy instruments in the current biennium in order to fully take into account emerging issues and pressures that the pandemic has brought up. Relevant instruments include:

- The Post-2020 Strategic Action Programme for the Conservation of Biodiversity and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in the Mediterranean (Post-2020 SAP BIO);
- The new/updated Regional Plans under the LBS Protocol (Regional Plan on Municipal Wastewater Treatment; Regional Plan on Sewage Sludge Management; Regional Plan on Marine Litter) and relevant Guidelines;
- The Regional Strategy for Prevention of and Response to Marine Pollution from Ships;
- The Mid-Term Evaluation of the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development (MSSD) and of the Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) Regional Action Plan;
- New/Updated Species and Habitats Action Plans;
- Set of regional measures to support the development of green and circular businesses in the Mediterranean.
reviewing and updating (where applicable) the monitoring programmes under the ambitious UNEP/MAP Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme (IMAP) in order to adequately cover new/emerging pollutants generated by the response to COVID-19, affecting both marine environment and human health, including the identification of pathways. In this respect, the UNEP/MAP List of Priority Contaminants may need to be updated in view of integrating these elements.
considering the impacts of COVID-19 in the next UNEP/MAP assessment products on the marine and coastal environment as well as socioeconomic aspects. The 2023 Mediterranean Quality Status Report (2023 Med QSR) will address elements highlighted above related to municipal and medical wastes, hazardous wastes, illegal and uncontrolled dumping, occurrence of new/emerging chemicals, impacts on the status of key marine and coastal species and habitats, and links between human and environment health. Focus will be also placed on drivers of pressures, including an assessment of whether and to what extent reduction of human activities during the first months of the outbreak affected the status of marine ad coastal environment. COVID 19-related issues will also be addressed by the forthcoming MED 2050 Foresight Study under a perspective and scenario analysis.
assessing socioeconomic impacts from the COVID-19 crisis focusing on economic sectors with a particular importance for the Mediterranean region, including tourism, maritime transport, fishing and aquaculture, as well as socioeconomic impacts on MPAs. In this respect, the work undertaken by the UNEP/MAP Regional Activity Centre Plan Bleu will be instrumental in acquiring valuable insights. UNEP/MAP will also support Contracting Parties in undertaking national socioeconomic assessments focused on the COVID-19 impacts, to the extent possible.
given the need for additional efforts at national level: exploring the possibility of providing further support and capacity building to the Contracting Parties in the implementation and enforcement of the UNEP/MAP—Barcelona Convention system’s legal and regulatory framework, in particular regarding the management and disposal of medical waste and illegal dumping. In this respect, partnerships with key actors in the region and engagement in the H2020 Initiative will be strengthened.