IUCN at COP24 Barcelona Convention – Cairo, 2–5 December 2025
Today, we join the celebration of the Mediterranean Day, a moment to honour our shared sea and the cooperation that unites the region. This year is especially meaningful, as it marks the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Process, a milestone in strengthening dialogue, peace, and shared prosperity across the Mediterranean.
This long-standing spirit of collaboration is central to the Barcelona Convention, whose Contracting Parties will meet next week in Cairo, Egypt for the COP24 to advance coordinated action for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea.
COP24, held under the theme “Mediterranean Blue Growth: Towards a Resilient and Sustainable Future,” will gather Mediterranean countries, the European Union, regional organisations and key stakeholders committed to protecting the region’s marine and coastal environment. The meeting will review progress in the implementation of the Barcelona Convention and the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development, and will adopt new decisions to strengthen environmental governance and regional cooperation.
The IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (IUCN Med) team will participate actively throughout COP24, contributing scientific expertise, policy insights and collaborative solutions across several side events organised by partners and institutions working in the region.
Below is the list of the side events in which IUCN Med is participating as a speaker or organiser:
📅 2 DECEMBER 2025
🌊 Strengthening Mediterranean cooperation on plastics pollution: From City Action to Regional Legal Frameworks
🕒 14:00 – 15:00
📍 Malachite I+II, Floor 2
🌊 Towards a coordinated technical and scientific support mechanism for the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework in the Mediterranean
🕒 18:00 – 18:30
📍 Malachite I+II, Floor 2 – In streaming here
📅 3 DECEMBER 2025
🌊 Conservation and restoration of Mediterranean coastal wetlands
🕒 12:30 – 14:30
📍 Malachite I+II, Floor 2
🌊 Blue Future: Inclusive pathways towards a regional vision for integrated coastal and marine management
🕒 13:30 – 14:30
📍 Astor Plenary Hall, Floor 1
🌊 Restoring Mediterranean wetlands and forests: Technical innovations and governance for climate resilience
🕒 17:45 – 18:45
📍 Malachite I+II, Floor 2
📅 4 DECEMBER 2025
🌊 From Science to action: Strengthening conservation and cooperation for priority Mediterranean species and habitats
🕒 09:00 – 10:00
📍 Astor Plenary Hall, Floor 1
🌊 Advancing management effectiveness of marine protected areas in the Mediterranean
🕒 13:00 – 14:00
📍 Astor Plenary Hall, Floor 1
🌊 Pathways to a thriving Mediterranean blue economy: resilience, innovation, and sustainability
🕒 14:00 – 15:00
📍 Malachite I+II, Floor 2
🌊 Implementation and monitoring of sustainable development commitments
🕒 14:15 – 15:00
📍 Astor Plenary Hall, Floor 1
Through these contributions, IUCN Med reinforces its commitment to supporting Mediterranean countries and partners in building a sustainable and resilient future for the region’s marine and coastal environments.
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