Euro-Mediterranean universities advocate for stronger collaboration in advancing climate action
27 June 2025, Girona, Spain – The UfM Higher Education Stakeholders’ Meeting, titled “Greening Education in the Mediterranean – A Cross-Cutting Challenge for Universities”, convened over 40 academic leaders and experts from across the region to advance preparations for a bold new initiative: the Euromed University Initiative for Climate Action. Held within the framework of the 2nd Mediterranean Green Week, the event was co-organized by the UfM, UNIMED, and the University of Girona.
A key outcome of the meeting was the collaborative development of a draft Manifesto for a Euromed University Initiative for Climate Action. This document, soon to be released for endorsements, represents an open and inclusive call to action. It invites universities, students, faculty, research centres, policymakers, and civil society actors across the Mediterranean to unite in fostering academic platforms for climate action. The initiative aims to promote knowledge sharing, interdisciplinary climate education, and targeted faculty training programmes.
The first plenary session focused on identifying the primary challenges and opportunities faced by higher education institutions in their transition toward greener programmes and practices; it also facilitated the articulation of expectations and recommendations for the forthcoming initiative for climate action. A second plenary session delved into embedding sustainability within academic curricula, highlighting innovative approaches and institutional experiences. In addition, parallel working group sessions addressed three key thematic areas: fostering green skills; enhancing research and innovation for climate action; and building robust partnerships for climate action.
