Climate Justice and Biodiversity in the Mediterranean Basin

The Mediterranean, with its coasts connecting three continents and its unique geographical position, represents an area characterized by rich cultural, economic, and environmental diversity, as well as a valuable biodiversity hotspot. However, the stark dichotomy between the Northern Shore, which includes Southern European countries, and the Southern Shore, encompassing the Maghreb and Mashreq regions, presents complex challenges in the context of climate justice. These challenges are highlighted by deep inequalities and environmental vulnerabilities manifesting both between the two shores and within them. This study explores the concept of climate justice and its intrinsic relationship with biodiversity in the urban Mediterranean context, highlighting the existing disparities between the countries on both shores in addressing the global climate challenge. In particular, it analyzes the environmental, social, economic, and trade policies promoted by the European Union and the countries on the Southern Shore, emphasizing the dynamics that contribute to perpetuating inequalities and the ongoing loss of biodiversity in local ecosystems