ClimaSouth pursues investments in capacity development promoting access to climate finance in the Mediterranean region. Three training sessions were held during the months of October and early November, in Tunisia (09 – 10 October), Jordan (15 – 19 October) and Morocco (01 – 03 November 2017).

The second edition of the Climate Chance Summit was held in Agadir, Morocco between 11-13 September 2017. Organized by the Climate Chance Association. The Summit was the biggest event gathering non-State actors engaged in climate action before the COP23. The summit reviewed the status of climate negotiations with key actors involved in the implementation of the Paris agreement.

A new climate action information system was presented at the Beirut Energy Forum (BEF), held in the Lebanese capital on 18 – 20 September. The BEF is an international event dedicated to sustainable energy issues and projects, which has been held on a yearly basis since 2010. The new tool was unveiled during a session dedicated to the Partnership with the European Union: “Il Mare Nostrum: Fostering the Euro‐Med Cooperation”.

Supporting South Mediterranean countries to access funds for climate action. Two training sessions were held by the ClimaSouth project on 2 - 4 July in the Algerian capital Algiers, and on 18 – 20 July in Amman, Jordan. The training sessions focused on enhancing capacity for future access to climate finance, while supporting the development of concrete proposals eligible for financing.

The one-year ceremony of the Lebanon Climate Act (LCA), was held in Beirut, Lebanon on the 10th of July. The event was attended by representatives from the private sector and civil society, involved in the establishment of the Business Knowledge Platform and the launch of a guidebook on “How to create value from climate change for businesses”.

European Climate Diplomacy Week. A day of information and communication during the Climate Diplomacy Week was held by the European Union (EU) Delegation in Algeria on the 21st of June. The high level meeting saw the participation of Directors from the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Environment as well the EU Ambassador, and Ambassadors from Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Sweden.

The main functions and design features of the Centre of Excellence (CoE) have been defined in a technical paper recently published by the ClimaSouth project. The document covers the strategic framework for the establishment of the CoE, as well as detailing the complete work-plan with key activities, timeframe and funding requirements. The establishment of the CoE is one of the priorities the Egyptian Government to address climate change, and was presented at a dedicated side event at the COP 22 in Marrakech.

A project proposal has been presented to enhance the agricultural Early Warning System (EWS). The proposal is based on a comprehensive needs assessment, previously conducted by the Lebanese Agriculture Research Institute (LARI), in collaboration with the Lebanese Ministry of Environment and the EU funded ClimaSouth project.

Training on climate finance targeting staff from the public administration in Lebanon and Palestine. Two training sessions were held by the ClimaSouth project in Beirut, Lebanon, on 25 – 27 April and in Ramallah, Palestine on 2 - 4 May, focusing on the Environment, Agriculture, Energy, Transport and Finance sectors.

The ClimaSouth project held its 6th Steering Committee meeting on Wednesday 29th March 2017 in Amman, Jordan. The main aim was to bring together the ClimaSouth National Focal Points and the rest of the project team to discuss the progress in project activities, since the previous Steering Committee (SC) meeting held in Brussels, Belgium, on the 2nd and 3rd of March 2016.

An assessment of the economic impact of climate change in Palestine was presented at a national workshop held in Ramallah on 13 February 2017. The event, hosted by the Palestinian Environment Quality Authority in partnership with the EU-funded ClimaSouth project, was attended by representatives of key government ministries, civil society organizations, research centers and universities, as well as several bilateral donor agencies, including AFD, SIDA, and the Belgian and Czech Embassies.

“Be Inspired” was the theme of the latest session to build a Business Knowledge Platform, supported by the Lebanon Climate Act partnership. The session was held on 1 - 2 February 2017, at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Beirut, Lebanon.

A new Early Warning System (EWS) to optimize irrigation and water management in Lebanese agriculture was presented to potential donors. The results of a comprehensive needs assessment conducted by the Lebanese Agriculture Research Institute (LARI) with support from the EU funded ClimaSouth project, were presented to representatives of national and donor Institutions, at a workshop hosted by the European Union Delegation on 6th of February in Beirut, Lebanon.

Two training sessions were held in Tal Amara Station, Lebanon, from 5 to 16 December 2016, for 13 researchers and technicians of the Lebanese Agriculture Research Institute (LARI).

A new proposal for financing Solar Water Pumping in the Jordan Valley was presented at a workshop in Amman, Jordan, on 5 December 2016. The program targets approximately 10,000 farm units, covering about 35,000 hectares of irrigated land in the Jordan valley.

Lebanon Climate Act is looking for active NGOs and Municipalities to design and implement innovative climate change projects in Lebanon. Lebanon Climate Act, a project initiated by UNDP and Green Mind with the support of BDL, Federation of Chamber of Commerce in Lebanon and the EU ClimaSouth project, is a platform that allows Lebanese companies to be engaged in climate change action through 1) implementing mitigation or adaptation measures within their premises or line of work or 2) partnering with local NGOs and municipalities to execute projects related to climate change.

Lebanon, Tal Amara Station, 23 January – 3 February 2017. The Lebanese Agriculture Research Institute (LARI) has established an Early Warning System (EWS) to support farmers in attenuating damages that could be caused by destructive climatic conditions. Changes in microclimate throughout the country, are monitored using Agrometeorological Weather Station (AWS).

The establishment of a Center of Excellence (CoE) for Climate Change in Egypt was presented at a side event during the COP22 in Marrakech, Morocco. The Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) and the ClimaSouth project, co-organizers of the event, presented the key findings of a recent feasibility study.

Government, the private sector and civil society, a climate action triangle in favour of a low-carbon economy. A roundtable on the "Lebanon Climate Act" was organised by the Lebanese delegation during the COP22 in Marrakesh, Morocco. Vahakn Kalbakian, head of the Lebanese delegation, explained that this initiative aims to support the business sector, NGOs and state structures in order for them to develop according to the demands of the fight against climate change.

The 3rd workshop on “Fire Spread and Behavior Modelling in a context of Climate Change”, was held in Sassari, Italy, from 26 to 29 July 2016. The workshop was organized by the ClimaSouth project as part of its support to the implementation of a national activity in Algeria.

EU-funded climate change projects operating in the South Mediterranean region were presented during a lively side-event at the COP22 on 15 November. The event showcased the work of the Facility for Policy Dialogue on Climate Change and the CES-MED, ClimaSouth and SUDEP South projects, highlighting their respective achievements to date.

Improving the flow of climate finance in the South Mediterranean region was the focus of a dedicated side-event held at the COP22 in Marrakech on 15th November 2016. The main barriers hampering small and medium sized enterprises in accessing climate finance were examined, with a focus on current initiatives in Morocco aiming to overcome such constraints.

The establishment of a Centre of Excellence on Climate Change (CECC) is one of the priorities of the Egyptian Government to address climate change adaptation and promote low carbon development. A feasibility study being implemented in collaboration with the EU- funded ClimaSouth project, is currently assessing the main factors for the effective design and implementation of the CECC.

A new initiative was launched on 4 September in Beirut, Lebanon, to promote the establishment of a Business Knowledge Platform. The aim is to engage the Lebanese private sector in the transformational change towards a low-carbon global economy called upon by the Paris Agreement.