From 21 to 23 October 2025, more than 100 representatives from NGOs, parliaments, media, women and youth, research institutions, and private-sector associations from across the Mediterranean convened in Cairo, Egypt for the Mediterranean Stakeholder Forum on Environment and Climate Action, under the theme “Making the behavioral shift happen”.
The Mediterranean: a need for rapid and coordinated action
The Mediterranean is widely recognised as a climate hotspot, where rising temperatures, water scarcity, desertification, sea-level rise and extreme weather events are already putting immense pressure on communities and ecosystems. While countries and regional actors are accelerating efforts to transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient economies, progress remains uneven and the need for rapid, coordinated action is growing.
At the same time, the region has become a front-runner in adaptation, where science-based policies, regional cooperation, community-driven innovation, and impactful awareness and education initiatives are delivering tangible results on the ground.
Turning awareness into deeper understanding and everyday action
The Forum objective is to bring diverse voices and expertise to strengthen understanding, skills, and communities of practice across the Mediterranean. It aims to help break down siloed governance approaches, foster joint narratives, and accelerate behavioral change in support of climate preparedness.
Key discussions focused on integrating environmental and climate goals into policies, business strategies, and community life to build a sustainable Mediterranean future.
MedECC Contributions
Joël Guiot, MedECC Coordinator, delivered a keynote presentation during the First Session on “Climate and Environment in the Mediterranean – Evidence and Emerging Trends”, sharing the latest MedECC findings that set the scene for discussions on regional trends and climate and environmental risks.
Mohamed Abdel Monem, member of the MedECC Steering Committee, contributed to the Session “Optimising Synergies and Managing Trade-offs – The WEFE Nexus within the S2S Continuum”, highlighting insights from the MedECC WEFE report and their relevance for major stakeholders across the region.
Who’s behind the Forum
The Forum was jointly supported by:
- The European Union (EU)
- The Mediterranean Action Plan of UNEP (UNEP/MAP)
- The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM)
- The League of Arab States,
- The Ministry of Environment of Egypt.
The event was made possible through the EU-funded Water and Environment Support – Biodiversity and Climate Action (WES-BCA) project and the GEF-funded MedProgramme, with the EU Delegation to Egypt, RAED and regional partners.
The Concept Note, Agenda and Press Release (in EN and FR) are available here: