Over 600 participants gather to shape a resilient and sustainable future
Cairo – The Mediterranean was at the heart of discussions at COP24, held in Cairo from 2 to 5 December under the theme “Blue Growth in the Mediterranean: Towards a Resilient and Sustainable Future.”
The conference also marked important anniversaries: the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Environment Programme – Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP) and the 30th anniversary of the post-Rio Barcelona Convention.
Presided over by Abo Sena, COP24 brought together around 600 participants, including representatives from the Contracting Parties, UN agencies, research institutes, the private sector, youth organizations, and civil society.
The highlight of COP24 was the adoption of the Cairo Ministerial Declaration, in which the Contracting Parties committed, among other actions, to accelerating climate action; working to extend marine protection to 30% of the total area by 2030; and strengthening inclusive local and regional cooperation and financing.
Other key topics addressed during COP24 included:
- The adoption of the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development (MSSD) 2026-2035, a Regional Climate Change Adaptation Framework for Mediterranean Marine and Coastal Areas 2026-2035, and the Ecosystem Approach (EcAp) Policy and Roadmap 2026-2035;
- The announcement of Almería, Spain, as the winner of the Istanbul Environment Friendly City Award 2024-2025; and
- The signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) between UNEP and the Centre for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE), as well as between UNEP and MedCities, a regional network of 57 cities and metropolitan areas from 15 Mediterranean countries working to promote sustainable urban development.
In parallel with COP24, more than 40 side events took place. Organized by various organizations, institutions, and initiatives, including the UNEP/MAP program, these events focused on circular economy; blue economy; shipping and oil pollution; pollution and coastal restoration; biodiversity; protected areas; and climate change.
Finally, in the Cairo Ministerial Declaration (UNEP/MED IG.27/CRP.2), celebrating the 50th anniversary of UNEP/MAP and the 30th anniversary of the post-Rio Barcelona Convention, the Contracting Parties committed, among other actions, to:
- Accelerate and scale up climate action, including integrating climate change adaptation into national plans and commitments, aligned with RCCAF (2026-2035) and CC/RAC;
- Strengthen and expand Marine and Coastal Protected Areas and other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures, aiming to protect 30% of the Mediterranean by 2030;
- Address marine and land-based pollution, including plastics, through regulation and the gradual elimination of harmful single-use plastics and chemicals of concern by 2030, while supporting low-carbon transitions, notably in the shipping sector;
- Promote blue and circular economies, prioritizing integrated and nature-based solutions for a healthy, well-monitored, and resilient Mediterranean;
- Emphasize the empowerment of women and youth and strengthen stakeholder engagement, including with international organizations, the public and private sectors, and civil society.
The Contracting Parties thus reaffirmed their shared commitment to the conservation and sustainable use of the Mediterranean Sea and its marine and coastal resources, as a foundation for regional stability, prosperity, and sustainable development.
For Egypt’s Acting Minister of Environment and Local Development, Manal Awad Mikhai:
“Protecting the Mediterranean is a shared responsibility. A healthy, sustainable sea requires science, policy, finance, and partnerships built on trust and mutual responsibility.”
In closing, UNEP/MAP Coordinator Tatjana Hema highlighted that the key messages of COP24 were solidarity, consensus, and moving in the right direction, reminding delegates that “the next biennium towards COP25 starts tomorrow!”
The next COP25 will take place in 2027 in Croatia, with exact dates and location to be announced.