Egypt will host the 24th Conference of the Parties to the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean
Ministers, senior officials and environmental experts from Mediterranean countries will participate in the 24th Conference of the Parties to the Barcelona Convention (COP24), to be held from 2 to 5 December 2025 in Cairo. Egypt will assume the presidency of the Barcelona Convention for a two-year term.
This event will bring together the 22 Contracting Parties to coordinate actions against pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change pressures, with the aim of protecting the marine environment, promoting sustainability and implementing collective measures for one of the world’s most fragile marine ecosystems. One of the main expected outcomes will be the adoption of the new Regional Framework for Adaptation to Climate Change in Coastal and Marine Areas (RCCAF 2026-2035).
The main topics covered will include the sustainable blue economy, reducing marine pollution, protecting marine biodiversity and coastal areas, and cooperation between Mediterranean states to combat climate change, human pressures and marine protection.
During COP24, participants will discuss and adopt: the Ministerial Declaration, the 2026–2027 Work Programme and Budget, technical decisions, scientific presentations, and side events.
The event will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of UNEP/MAP, established in 1975, for which a digital campaign, Odyssey Reloaded, has been launched — a platform hosting a series of “pan-Mediterranean” events.
Looking at the achievements of the past 50 years, the anniversary will be an important opportunity to strengthen and renew joint commitment for the coming decades and to build a more resilient future for the Mediterranean Sea.