05/12/2025
ON 3RD DAY IN A RAW, COP24 MEETINGS RESUME IN CAIRO WITH FOCUS ON PROTECTION OF MEDITERRANEAN, ENHANCEMENT OF THE BLUE ECONOMY
Cairo: EgyPulse – News Desk
Dr. Manal Awad, Egypt’s Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of Environment, and President of the current session of the 24th Conference of the Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Environment against Pollution (Barcelona Convention) COP24, inaugurated the ministerial segment of the conference, December 4, 2025.
Acting Minister of Environment and the Minister of Local Development Manal Awad said that as the Mediterranean Sea unites the countries bordering it culturally, geographically, and humanly, it places upon those countries the responsibility of ensuring its sustainability for future generations to overcome the escalating challenges it faces, including marine pollution, increasing pressure on coastal ecosystems, the impacts of climate change, and biodiversity loss.
The opening was attended by Dr. Ibrahim Saber, Governor of Cairo; Lieutenant General Ahmed Khaled Hassan, Governor of Alexandria; Lieutenant General Osama Rabie, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority; Ms. Tatiana Hima, Coordinator of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Coordinator of the Mediterranean Action Plan; Ms. Susan Garner, Director of the Environmental Resources Division at UNEP and representative of the Executive Director of the Programme; Dr. Ali Abu Senna, Head of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency; ministers and representatives from 21 Mediterranean countries; heads of delegations from the States Parties; representatives of regional and international organizations; and representatives of civil society.
Awad added that the Barcelona Convention, signed in 1976 and updated in 1995, has become one of the most comprehensive legal frameworks for marine protection at the regional and global levels. Its seven protocols have contributed to building an interconnected system that combats pollution from land-based and marine sources, regulates maritime activities and reduces risks, protects coastal areas and biodiversity, and integrates the principles of integrated management and sustainable development.
Awad stated that the scale of the environmental challenges currently facing the Mediterranean basin necessitates accelerating implementation, strengthening financing mechanisms, expanding the scope of nature-based solutions, and adopting innovation and clean technologies. She also emphasized that Egypt’s hosting of this conference underscores its deep commitment to protecting the marine environment. As a Mediterranean country with a long, highly sensitive, beautiful, and biodiverse coastline, Egypt relies on this coastline for the livelihoods of millions of its citizens and forms a cornerstone for vital sectors such as tourism, maritime transport, fisheries, and marine energy, she continued.
Manal Awad added that the Egyptian government, represented by the Ministry of Environment, has worked over the past years to coordinate advanced national policies. These include developing the general framework for a participatory blue economy strategy, strengthening the marine environmental monitoring system, protecting the most environmentally sensitive areas and establishing new marine reserves, developing sustainable infrastructure for ports and maritime transport, implementing plans to reduce plastic pollution and marine debris, and integrating environmental and marine considerations into the state’s investment and development plans.
The Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of Environment added that choosing the Blue Economy as the theme for this year’s conference reflects a belief in its potential as a key driver of development in the coming decades, provided it remains based on the rational use of marine resources and adherence to environmental standards.
Dr. Manal Awad noted that this year’s meeting of the Parties comes at a critical juncture for the Mediterranean region, one of the world’s most vulnerable to climate change and facing accelerating environmental pressures. She expressed hope that the intensive discussions among delegations over the past two days would lead to the adoption of several important decisions, including the adoption of the Regional Framework for Climate Change, the approval of biodiversity and marine protected areas plans, and support for governance and the transition to a blue economy.
The Minister explained that the “Cairo Declaration” will be a landmark, reflecting the shared political will of member states and laying out a roadmap for promoting environmental sustainability, a fair and inclusive blue economy, innovation and green transformation, mitigating the impacts of climate change, and enhancing community participation, particularly for youth and women.
For his part, Ambassador Peter Thomson, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Ocean Affairs, thanked the Minister of Environment and the Egyptian government for their hospitality. He emphasized the importance of the COP24 meeting of the contracting parties in supporting regional efforts to preserve the health of the oceans and the Mediterranean Sea, which are suffering significant degradation due to human activity resulting from increased carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases caused by the use of fossil fuels. This leads to the loss of biodiversity, fish stocks, and coral reefs, as confirmed by the World Meteorological Organization’s report for last year. He stressed the necessity of international and regional action through various international agreements and conferences, based on scientific evidence, and working to fulfill these international commitments.
Tatjana Hema, UNEP Coordinator for the Mediterranean Action Plan and the Barcelona Convention presented an action plan for the Mediterranean Sea that has been implemented during the last round of the COP 23. She affirmed the ongoing support for the parties of the convention despite the challenges and overcome they have experienced over the past two years.
She continued that the action plan has seven focal points including removing pollution from the Mediterranean Sea, enhancing the ecological systems, sea resilience, circular economy and support of the government to build up their capabilities. Reducing the use of the plastic waste. She also shed light on the protocols regarding the dealing with the ships and oil leaks into the sea.
Hema noted that there are ongoing projects aiming the protection of the biodiversity in Arab countries of Algeria, Libya, Lebanon and Tunisia. The importance of women empowerment was affirmed by Hema in her speech.
Blue Economy for a Resilient and Healthy Mediterranean:
The first ministerial session on the sustainable blue economy for a resilient and healthy Mediterranean was convened. The participants have discussed the opportunity for communication and cooperation among Mediterranean countries through the blue economy to address challenges such as climate change and pollution affecting agriculture, fishing, shipping, and other sectors. The goal is to achieve sustainable development and regional prosperity through regional frameworks, market mechanisms, and best practices that balance economic development with ecosystem protection, while engaging youth, women, the private sector, and civil society.
Mr. Alberto Pacheco Capella, Head of the Regional Seas Unit at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), emphasized that the blue economy is closely linked to people’s livelihoods, resilience, jobs, tourism, maritime transport, energy, and fisheries. He noted that fisheries alone provide nearly 50% of the world’s animal protein. He reiterated UNEP’s commitment to preserving the Mediterranean region, which is considered the world’s largest tourism market, and highlighted the organization’s efforts to help countries halt environmental degradation and protect wetlands, which serve as major carbon sinks.
Mr. Torsten Thiel, an expert in ocean governance and sustainable finance and founder of the Global Ocean Fund, presented financial tools and models designed to facilitate investment in the Mediterranean and strengthen government institutions to access international financing. He referenced his participation in the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy and its work toward implementing fully sustainable ocean plans. He explained that their guide outlines financial considerations and funding mechanisms essential for enabling the growth of the blue economy within a comprehensive strategic framework.
Thiel underscored the importance of the financial sector’s understanding of the blue economy and its unique characteristics. He noted that the complexity of marine ecosystems requires stronger information and data systems. He stressed the need to move beyond traditional thinking, close existing gaps, and build on blended finance mechanisms that incentivize investment. This approach, he said, helps integrate the blue economy into broader development strategies, mitigate risks, and accelerate growth. He called for greater focus on the Mediterranean and its investment potential, noting that the blue economy represents a viable investment opportunity and a key contributor to halting environmental degradation.
Patricia Charlebois, Deputy Director of the Ocean Policy and Pollution Response Division at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), explained that the IMO oversees global marine pollution preparedness, ocean policy, and the implementation of technical cooperation related to IMO environmental conventions. She emphasized that the IMO’s 53 international treaties ensure a fair and specialized system for maritime transport, which carries 80% of global trade. She added that shipping is central to the Mediterranean’s economy, contributing to the growth of the blue economy and supporting sustainable development. The IMO is working toward the decarbonization of shipping, including through an efficiency index that assesses ships’ carbon emissions. She stressed the need for investment in alternative fuels, sustainable infrastructure, and the establishment of nitrogen oxide–free coastal zones.
During the second part of the session, participants discussed best practices, lessons learned, and tools for translating these ideas into actionable solutions. Mr. Miguel Bernal, Executive Secretary of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), stated that fisheries are a cornerstone of the region’s blue economy, making the search for sustainability strategies essential. He urged member states to adopt sustainability frameworks, noting that fisheries are vital sources of income, livelihoods, and food security. He also emphasized the importance of agriculture in meeting rising food demand and providing employment in coastal communities.
Bernal highlighted marine spatial planning as a powerful tool to achieve environmental balance across sectors, ensure ecological health, and foster regional coordination on effective planning. Similarly, Mr. Kamal Nasser, Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean, highlighted the importance of cooperation and shared responsibility among regional countries to preserve the Mediterranean Sea, especially amid current geopolitical complexities. He stressed the need for continued technical cooperation to advance sustainability and the blue economy, referring to the 2015 ministerial declaration outlining the vision for a sustainable blue economy and the 2021 declaration signed by 14 countries. He noted the Union for the Mediterranean’s ongoing efforts to support member states, including the implementation of three projects in Egypt, Morocco, and Jordan, funded by the Mediterranean Partnership Fund.
