Marine Environment and Resources

Climate change is already impacting the marine environment of the EMME region, the effects are expected to be exacerbated in the second half of the century, with implications on ocean circulation, biogeochemical cycling and marine biodiversity. Warmer seawater and ocean acidification will affect and restructure ecosystems. Moreover, sea-level rise and the intensification of extreme events is expected to affect human activities as tourism, maritime transport, port activities, offshore energy production and desalination.

This report provides an overview of the impact of climate change on the marine environment of the EMME region taking into consideration changes in physical and biogeochemical properties, and the vulnerability of ecosystems. The report also provides information on the effects of these changes on the relevant human activities and resources such as tourism, large infrastructures such as ports, desalination plants, sewage systems, energy plants and so on.

Furthermore, the report provides a review of existing policies on conservation efforts and highlights the benefits of incorporating climate change into marine spatial planning and examples of best practices for defining a framework for the sustainable management and governance of the sea.


Task Force Marine Environment and Resources

Task Force Coordinator

  • Dr Karageorgis Aristomenis (Aris),
    Hellenic Centre for Marine Research – HCMR, Greece

Task Force Members

  • Prof Abualnaja Yasser, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology -KAUST, Saudi Arabia
  • Dr, Capt. Agamy Kazem, Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport, Egypt
  • Dr Hadjioannou Louis, Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute – CMMI, Cyprus
  • Dr Hassoun El Rahman, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany
  • Prof Hoteit Ibrahim, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology -KAUST, Saudi Arabia
  • Dr Iona Sissy, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research – HCMR, Greece
  • Prof Kanakidou Maria, University of Crete, Greece  
  • Dr Papadopoulos Tasos, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research – HCMR, Greece
  • Dr Papandroulakis Nikos, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research – HCMR, Greece
  • Dr Rilov Gil, Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, Israel
  • Dr Schlegel Robert, Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche, France
  • Dr Schroeder Katrin, Institute of Marine Sciences – National Research Council (CNR), Italy
  • Prof Tragou Elina, University of the Aegean, Greece
  • Prof Velegrakis Antonis, University of the Aegean, Greece
  • Prof Yfantis Elias, Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute-CMMI, Cyprus