Highlights and images for 5 December 2025

On the closing day of COP 24, delegates spent the morning enjoying the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum, the largest museum in the world dedicated to a single civilization.

Reconvening in the afternoon, COP President Ali Abo Sena welcomed delegates back to plenary, where Croatia was announced as the host of COP 25 in 2027, which delegates warmly welcomed. Croatia emphasized that “hosting COP 25 is both an honor and a responsibility that Croatia embraces with full seriousness and enthusiasm.”

Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, Ambassador of France for the Poles and Maritime Issues, delivered a message on behalf of Emmanuel Macron, President of France, and as France’s Special Envoy for the Third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) that was held in Nice in June 2025. Poivre d’Arvor was pleased to see the commitments from UNOC3 were clear and present at COP 24. Celebrating the recent success of the High Seas Treaty, including its first anticipated Conference of Parties, he congratulated all countries that have ratified this agreement and urged those in the Mediterranean that have not yet ratified, to do so to ensure they have a seat at the table.

“Plastics are an insidious poison. Not only for marine organisms, but for all of us”, said Poivre d’Arvor, emphasizing the importance of taking immediate action as the Mediterranean is one of the most polluted seas in the world and particularly vulnerable to climate change. “If the Mediterranean becomes a place for dialogue, it will be the world at large that benefits, but if it becomes a conflict zone, everyone will suffer.”

Following on the Istanbul Environment Friendly City Award ceremony on Thursday, participants watched a video showcasing the winner, the Spanish city of Almería. The video highlighted blue governance as a key element driving progress and underscored the importance of integrating research, monitoring, and modelling.

The plenary then reviewed the meeting’s 14 draft decisions and draft report, which were all adopted without major comment.

In closing, COP President Ali Abo Sena expressed his appreciation for the successful meeting and hard work of all participants. He noted Egypt is always ready to support peace and coexistence, and to promote environmental matters for the health and prosperity of all people.

Commending the outstanding spirit of the meeting, Alberto Pacheco Capella, Chief of the  Regional Seas Branch, UNEP, thanked the Egyptian Government for their hospitality and congratulated them on recent opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum. He underscored the many challenges that the parties will have to consider on their road to a sustainable blue economy and called for them to efficiently implement the Convention’s Protocols.

Tatjana Hema, UNEP/MAP Coordinator, described the take-home messages from COP 24 as solidarity, consensus, and going in the right direction, adding that “the next biennium to COP 25 starts tomorrow!”

At the official close of the meeting at 6pm, delegates left in a congratulatory spirit and energized for the work ahead.