Through its recent contributions at COP24, MedECC reaffirmed its mission to deliver high-quality scientific assessments that inform policy and support coordinated regional action to protect the Mediterranean from rapid climate change, severe environmental degradation, insufficient mitigation and adaptation efforts at scale and over the long term.
Endorsement of the WEFE Nexus SPM
At the 24th Meeting of the Contracting Parties (COP24) to the Barcelona Convention, MedECC actively achieved a key milestone for Mediterranean climate and environmental governance: the formal endorsement of the Summary for Policymakers (SPM) of the MedECC Special Report Interlinking climate change with the Water–Energy–Food–Ecosystems (WEFE) nexus in the Mediterranean Basin. The Contracting Parties examined and formally endorsed Decision IG.27/10, recognising that the SPM constitutes a strong, science-based foundation for integrated policymaking across Mediterranean countries. This marks a significant step forward for Mediterranean countries seeking integrated, science-based approaches to address interconnected environmental and socio-economic challenges.
MedECC was represented by Dr. Mohamed Abdel Monem (FAO Regional Office for the Near East; Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Egypt), Steering Committee member and co-coordinator of the report, and supported by Antoine Lafitte, the current Plan Bleu Director by interim. The SPM provides a robust scientific foundation for policymaking under the Barcelona Convention, and this endorsement reflects the continued commitment of the UNEP/MAP – Barcelona Convention system to grounding regional policy in trusted, independent, and region-specific scientific knowledge. In 2025, the Summary for Policymakers was made available in Arabic, French, Spanish and Catalan, and illustrated summaries were also developed.
📚 Access the full report and outreach materials: Special Report Interlinking climate change with the Water – Energy – Food – Ecosystems (WEFE) nexus in the Mediterranean Basin – MedECC
Mediterranean Carbon Budget and Regional Cooperation
MedECC also contributed to the scientific dialogue on the region’s carbon budget with the participation of Dr. Mohamed Abdel Monem to the side event “A Carbon Budget for the Mediterranean Region”, organised by OceanCare. Experts and stakeholders gathered to discuss the findings of the new BC3 report “Remaining carbon budget allocation to Mediterranean countries” that examines the remaining permissible CO₂ emissions for the region until 2050 and explores different pathways for sharing mitigation responsibilities among Contracting Parties. Dr Mohamed Abdel Monem highlighted the accelerating environmental pressures documented in MedECC assessments, stressing the urgency of collective action and the potential of the BC3 study to support dialogue on shared carbon budgets and enhanced regional cooperation. The discussion underscored a stark reality: the Mediterranean Basin is the second fastest-warming region in the world, after the Arctic. Without ambitious and coordinated mitigation efforts, the region risks exceeding the 2°C threshold of the Paris Agreement well before mid-century.
📘 Access the Study ‘Remaining Carbon Budget Allocation to Mediterranean Countries: Carbon Budget of Mediterranean soon Exceeded – OceanCare