The Mediterranean region comprises a wide variety of landscapes, cultures, and economies. It also faces major environmental, climate, and geopolitical challenges. With the overall aim of improving the environmental status of the Mediterranean region and promoting a sustainable blue economy, the 24th Meeting of the Contracting Parties (COP 24) to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean (Barcelona Convention) and its Protocols addressed some of the challenges facing this region.

COP 24 convened under the theme “Mediterranean Blue Growth: Towards a Resilient and Sustainable Future” and within the framework of the UN Environment Programme – Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP). It came just after the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference that took place in Belém, Brazil; during the final stages of negotiations on a new international treaty to address plastic pollution; and “in stormy political waters,” in the words of UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell. Against this backdrop, the Barcelona Convention serves as an example of how to translate global environment and sustainability commitments into regional legal instruments and action.

Highlights of the COP 24 agenda included:

• a Ministerial Session under the theme “Sustainable Blue Economy for a Resilient and Healthy Mediterranean”’;
• adoption of the Cairo Declaration for regional cooperation, addressing key Mediterranean environmental challenges such as marine pollution and climate change;
• adoption of the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development 2026-2035;
• adoption of a Regional Climate Change Adaptation Framework for the Mediterranean Marine and Coastal Areas 2026-2035;
• announcement of the winner of the Istanbul Environment Friendly City Award (2024-2025); and
• signature of Memorandums of Understanding between UNEP and the Centre for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE), as well as between UNEP and MedCities, a regional network of 57 cities and metropolitan areas from 15 Mediterranean countries that works to promote urban sustainable development.

COP 24 also reviewed progress achieved during the 2024-2025 biennium, consider strategic documents, and adopt several additional decisions, including on the Programme of Work and Budget for 2026-2027.

The overarching goal of the Barcelona Convention is to enhance the protection of the Mediterranean region’s marine and coastal environment in the context of sustainable development. The Convention’s main objectives are to: assess and control marine pollution; ensure sustainable management of natural marine and coastal resources; integrate the environment into social and economic development; protect the marine environment and coastal zones through preventing and reducing pollution and, as far as possible, eliminating both land- and sea-based pollution; protect the natural and cultural heritage; strengthen solidarity among Mediterranean coastal States; and contribute to improving the quality of life.

COP 24 was organized by UNEP/MAP and took place from 2-5 December 2025 in Cairo, Egypt. Accredited representatives of the 22 Contracting Parties (21 coastal Mediterranean countries and the European Union) attended, as well as observers/MAP Partners, and intergovernmental organizations.

The Earth Negotiations Bulletin writers for this meeting were Nienke Beintema; Olivia Freeman; and Olivia Pasini. The Digital Editor was Mika Schröder. The Editor was Leila Mead. Video coverage by Rosalie Boyle and Andrés Carvajal.