"The parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution (the Barcelona Convention) have estimated that planned activities to address environmental degradation of the Mediterra-nean Sea will require some US$9.973 billion during the period 1998-2008.
The largest com-ponent of this, US$ 6453 billion, will address high-priority pollution sources, or "hot spots". A further US$ 2.8 billion is estimated for solid waste management and reduction of atmospheric emissions in coastal cities with populations over 100,000 (34 cities with a total population exceeding 18 million).
Also required are US$ 461 million for the implementation of best available technology and best environmental practice, US$ 195 million for the protection of 54 sensitive areas, US$ 37 million for monitoring and enforcement, US$ 13 million for capacity building, US$ 11 million for the development of national plans, programmes and regulations, and US$ 3 million for information and public participation.
Even this level of investment represents a careful tar-geting of priorities. A first estimate by the World Bank of total investment requirements to promote environmentally sustainable development in the region in a 'do everything' scenario is US$ 58-78 billion over the ten year period.
This represents 1.3-1.8% of regional GDP, which is comparable to current expenditure on environmental protection in most OECD countries. The World Bank also estimates that environmental neglect in the region costs some US$ 11.5-14 billion annually – or US$ 115-140 billion over the ten years – in health impacts, lost productivity and tourism revenues alone. The cost of "doing nothing", then, far outweighs that of the Action Plan."
GESAMP71:68
GESAMP (IMO/FAO/UNESCO-IOC/WMO/WHO/IAEA/ UN/UNEP Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection). 2001. Protecting the oceans from land-based activities - Land-based sources and activities affecting the quality and uses of the marine, coastal and associated freshwater environment. Rep. Stud. GESAMP No. 71, 162 pp. ISBN 82-7701-011-7.