UfM and Turkish COP31 presidency hold Antalya Mediterranean Climate Dialogue consultation in Cairo

13 July 2026, Cairo. The second of seven Antalya Mediterranean Climate Dialogue consultations took place today at the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Cairo. Organised by the UfM alongside the COP31 president and host country, the initiative aims to promote a unified Mediterranean voice ahead of the conference, with conclusions from these talks consolidated into a Mediterranean Synthesis Note that will be presented in Antalya this November. As a hotspot warming 20% faster than the global average, the Mediterranean faces growing climate and environmental pressures that underscore the urgent need for enhanced regional cooperation on the matter. Following the initial discussion in Rabat last week and Cairo today, consultations will also be taking place in France, Spain, Italy, Jordan and Algeria in the coming weeks.

Today’s event, held in cooperation with the Egypt’s Ministry of Local Development and Environment and overseen by Turkish Ambassador Salih Mutlu Şen and UfM Deputy Secretary General for Sustainable Development Nisreen Tamimi, brought together Egypt’s main climate actors around three thematic round tables aligned with the COP31 Action Agenda: electrification and the energy transition; access to climate finance and its implementation; and synergies between the Rio Conventions and adaptation. Participants emphasised the need for climate action to advance hand in hand with sustainable development, especially as it relates to urban planning and transport as well as the blue and green economy.

“As the host of COP31, Türkiye has made strengthening the Mediterranean dimension of global climate action one of the of the focuses of its Presidency. Our ambition is for COP31 to leave a lasting legacy for the Mediterranean by strengthening regional cooperation and advancing practical implementation across the region. Through the Antalya Mediterranean Climate Dialogue, we seek to reflect the experience, priorities and aspirations of governments, civil society, private sector and academia in our region into the Action Agenda of COP31. I am particularly pleased to host the Egypt consultation of the Antalya Mediterranean Climate Dialogue while COP27 legacy in Sharm El-Sheikh is still reinforcing Africa’s and the Mediterranean’s voice within the global climate process,” said Türkiye’s Ambassador to Egypt, Salih Mutlu Şen.

“Extreme climate conditions such as heatwaves, droughts, wildfires and flash floods are becoming an increasingly urgent concern for millions of people in our region,” said UfM Deputy Secretary General Nisreen Tamimi. “The Antalya Mediterranean Climate Dialogue consultations are an opportunity to move forward together on climate action that also advances sustainable development, strengthening resilience, protecting natural resources, and supporting more inclusive and prosperous communities across the Mediterranean. As a cross-border challenge, climate change must be addressed through cross-border action.”

Given the impact of climate change on our region, the UfM is once again working to organise a Mediterranean Pavilion at this year’s COP, the first of its kind on the shores of our shared sea. The pavilion will allow Mediterranean countries, scientific experts, the private sector and civil society to showcase their commitments to climate action and sustainable development. It will also serve as a platform to present the Mediterranean Climate Action Plan following the consultation process the UfM launched earlier this month at the 3rd Mediterranean Green Week. By joining forces with key regional players, the UfM aims to ensure the region’s unique climate challenges are present in global climate processes.