Egypt is ramping up its preparations to host the 24th Meeting of the Contracting Parties (COP24) to the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution, set to take place from December 2 to 5, 2025. The event marks a significant milestone in Egypt’s regional leadership on marine environmental governance and sustainable development.
In a high-level coordination meeting held this week, Dr. Manal Awad, Egypt’s Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of Environment, reviewed the strategic roadmap for the conference. Joined by senior officials from the Ministry of Environment and the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA), the session focused on aligning logistics, policy priorities, and international cooperation ahead of COP24.
Among the priorities discussed were finalizing the Host Country Agreement, coordinating with the Convention Secretariat in Athens to structure side events, and preparing a draft Ministerial Declaration that will reflect regional aspirations for marine sustainability. The team also reviewed technical documentation and planned pre-conference meetings, including a pivotal Contact Group session scheduled for September 16–20.
Dr. Awad emphasized Egypt’s ambition to deliver a high-impact, solution-oriented COP24, with decisions that address urgent environmental challenges facing the Mediterranean. “This is a pivotal opportunity to safeguard one of the world’s most vital yet vulnerable marine ecosystems,” she stated.
Dr. Ali Abu Senna, head of the EEAA, announced that Egypt has proposed “A Sustainable Blue Economy for a Resilient and Healthy Mediterranean” as the overarching theme for the Ministerial Declaration. He also confirmed the formation of a national logistics task force, led by the Ministry of Environment and supported by multiple government agencies. Egypt’s top environmental priorities include tackling marine pollution, phasing out single-use plastics, and advancing coastal zone management and biodiversity conservation.
The Barcelona Convention, adopted in 1976 and administered by the United Nations Environment Programme’s Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP-MAP), remains the central legal instrument for regional cooperation on protecting the Mediterranean Sea. With 22 contracting parties—including all coastal states and the European Union—the Convention serves as a framework for joint action against pollution, habitat degradation, and climate-driven threats.
Egypt’s long-standing commitment to the Convention has positioned it as a key regional actor in environmental diplomacy. The December summit in Cairo is expected to bring together ministers, policymakers, scientists, civil society organizations, and international partners to renew commitments and accelerate implementation.
Dr. Hiba Shaarawy, head of the Coastal and Marine Zones department and coordinator of the Mediterranean Action Plan, presented an overview of this year’s progress, along with updates on funding and proposed budgets for the regional centers. She noted that the upcoming declaration will include calls for enhanced financial mechanisms, technology transfer, and capacity-building initiatives across the Mediterranean region.
In closing, Dr. Awad reaffirmed Egypt’s resolve to host a scientifically grounded, diplomatically strategic, and globally relevant COP24 that aligns with both regional environmental goals and Egypt’s Vision 2030 for sustainable development.
