From 13 to 18 November 2026, the Mediterranean Experts on Climate and environmental Change (MedECC) will bring independent science on the Mediterranean to COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, with a presence at the Med Pavilion, a press conference and three side events.
1. Scaling Up Cooperation for Climate Action in the Mediterranean Region
Friday 13 November 2026, 15:30 to 16:20 · Albania Pavilion, COP31 Blue Zone
This panel looks at how the Mediterranean can move from shared climate challenges to shared solutions and concrete cross-border projects, knowledge exchange and joint investment.
The timing is significant. In July 2026, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) launched the process for the first Mediterranean Climate Action Plan for 2027–2028, involving 43 countries and structured around four pillars:
- climate ambition and implementation;
- adaptation, resilience and climate risk;
- climate finance and project pipelines;
- enabling systems.
The Plan is expected to be presented at COP31. The panel will connect it with the experience of the Western Balkans Green Agenda, EU accession and regional cooperation mechanisms, and will explore how Albania and the Western Balkans can contribute to a stronger Mediterranean climate cooperation framework.
The discussion will cover:
- shared vulnerability, shared opportunities and shared action;
- connecting regional policy frameworks;
- turning funding instruments into regional climate projects;
- innovation, knowledge and technology for climate resilience;
- from cooperation to implementation.
Speakers include:
- Gent Gazheli, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Environment of Albania;
- Hatim Aznague, Project Analyst, Union for the Mediterranean (UfM);
- Jasmina Petkovska, Head of Department for International Cooperation, Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning of North Macedonia;
- Assem Abu Hatab, Nordic Africa Institute / MedECC Author, who will offer a multidisciplinary scientific view and stress the importance of evidence-based decision-making.
Moderator: Kristel Hasani, Co-Founder, Center for Innovation, Sustainability and Culture (CISC).
2. Why the Mediterranean needs its own climate assessment: introducing the Second Mediterranean Assessment Report (MAR2)
Monday 16 November 2026 · Mediterranean Pavilion · Panel discussion (60 minutes)
MedECC scientists are currently preparing the Second Mediterranean Assessment Report (MAR2). This session presents its objectives, scope, structure and methodology, and shows how it brings together knowledge on climate and environmental change, associated risks and responses across a region spanning the shores of three continents.
Why a Mediterranean-wide assessment? In IPCC assessments, knowledge on the Mediterranean is spread across regional chapters on Europe, Africa and Asia, and is not brought together in a single, Mediterranean-wide synthesis. MAR2 aims to provide that integrated view. It complements global assessments, strengthens the shared knowledge base for adaptation and climate action, and fosters cooperation across the region. This supports COP31 priorities on science-based action, implementation and regional cooperation.
What to expect: short keynotes followed by a moderated discussion. The panel will address:
- the Mediterranean as a climate and environmental hotspot, and MedECC’s role as a science-policy interface;
- the move from global to regional assessments, from the IPCC perspective;
- the UfM Climate Action Plan;
- the most urgent Mediterranean issues covered by MAR2;
- how to turn knowledge into action, including links with national adaptation plans and the Barcelona Convention;
- the role of local data, monitoring and Indigenous and local knowledge.
Speakers include:
- Piero Lionello, University of Salento, MedECC Coordinator;
- Ermira Fida, Deputy Secretary of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC);
- Hatim Aznague, Project Analyst, Union for the Mediterranean (UfM);
- Adel Ben Youssef, Professor of Economics, MedECC MAR2 coordinating lead author on mitigation.
- Nazli Demirel, Istanbul University / MedECC Author;
- Irem Daloğlu Çetinkaya, expert in water, governance and social-ecological systems, MedECC Steering Committee and Author;
3. Environmental change, conflict and human migration in the Mediterranean: from scientific evidence to action
Wednesday 18 November 2026 · Mediterranean Pavilion · Roundtable
This roundtable accompanies the publication of the MedECC Expert Analysis Environmental change, conflict, and human migration in the Mediterranean Basin. The Mediterranean is particularly exposed to the combined effects of environmental change, socio-economic vulnerability, political instability and human mobility.
After a short presentation of the main findings, scientists and representatives of regional and international organisations will discuss how scientific evidence can support policies on environmental change, vulnerability, conflict and human mobility. The discussion will focus on priority areas where available knowledge can inform concrete policy responses. The session supports COP31 priorities on science-based adaptation, resilience and inclusive climate action.
Speakers include:
- Piero Lionello, Full Professor at the University of Salento (Italy), MedECC Coordinator and Executive Summary editor of the report, IPCC AR6 and MedECC MAR1 Lead Author;
- Jan Wilkens, Research Fellow at the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA), Coordinating Lead Author, Chapter 6 of the report;
- Eda Acara, Coordinating Lead Author, Chapter 6; Founder of Futurecraft Studio (Canada) and former senior researcher at the Istanbul Policy Center.
The three side events below complement the MedECC press conference on human mobility in a warming Mediterranean on Monday 16 November (10:30 to 11:00, Mevlana, Press Conference Area). The full programme is available on medpavilion.com.
Between sessions, MedECC will be present at the Med Pavilion, where the Secretariat and scientists will be available to discuss the reports and the MAR2 process. Follow medpavilion.com for schedule updates.