Introduction

Abstract

Climate change—a strand of global change—is having increasingly severe impacts on natural and human systems in the Mediterranean region. These impacts include both incremental changes such as higher average temperatures as well as extreme events like unprecedented heat waves, severe droughts, and major flood events. Regional climate scenarios show an intensification of these trends, which—coupled with growing freshwater demand—are expected to negatively impact rural livelihoods and increase urban migration in the Mediterranean. However, the extent to which socio-ecological systems are vulnerable depends on their capacity to respond and adapt. Policy frameworks are a key way to reduce vulnerabilities, support the adaptive capacity of natural and human systems and to ensure human security. This can be done for example by: improving the socio-economic situation of particular population groups and thus their capacity to adapt to changing conditions; improving the state of the natural environment, thus limiting the impact of climate change; or by protecting populations against specific risks (e.g. floods) that endanger human security. The development and effectiveness of these policy frameworks varies across the region and depends on a range of socio-cultural, historical and economic factors.