Turkey, which will host the COP31 climate conference next November, held the second of seven consultative sessions within the Mediterranean Climate Dialogue at its embassy in Cairo. The aim of these sessions is to amplify the Mediterranean voice at the UN Climate conference, which will be held in Antalya.
According to a statement received by”Food & Climate from the Turkish Embassy in Egypt on Monday, July 13, 2026: “This initiative is organized by the Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean in cooperation with the host country of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP31).
The initiative aims to promote a unified Mediterranean voice ahead of the conference. The results of these consultations are being compiled into a Mediterranean synthesis memorandum to be presented in Antalya next November.
It is worth noting that Egypt hosted the COP27 climate conference in 2022, which was held in Sharm El Sheikh.
The Mediterranean region suffers from high temperatures, exceeding the global average by 20%, and therefore faces increasing pressure on its climate and environment, underscoring the urgent need to strengthen regional cooperation in this area.
The rising temperatures in the Mediterranean basin have led to a significant increase in the number and spread of forest fires in recent years.
Three roundtable discussions aligned with the agenda of the COP31 climate conference in Turkey
The second meeting of the consultative sessions was held within the framework of the Mediterranean Climate Dialogue, as part of the preparations for the COP31 climate conference.” 31, at the Turkish Embassy in Cairo, in cooperation with the Egyptian Ministry of Local Development and Environment.
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The meeting was chaired by: Salih Mutlu Şen, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Egypt, and Nesrin AlTamimi, Deputy Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean for Sustainable Development.
The meeting included three thematic roundtables, whose themes aligned with the agenda of COP31:
* Electricity and the Energy Transition
* Access to and Implementation of Climate Finance
* Complementarity between the Rio Conventions and Adaptation to Climate Change.
Participants emphasized the need for climate action to go hand in hand with sustainable development, particularly with regard to urban planning and transportation, as well as the blue and green economies.
Turkey Aims for a Legacy for the Mediterranean Region
Salih Mutlu Şen, Ambassador of Turkey to Egypt, stated: “As the host country of COP31, Turkey has made strengthening the Mediterranean dimension of global climate action one of the priorities of its presidency of the conference.”
He added: “We aspire for COP31 to leave a lasting legacy for the Mediterranean region by strengthening regional cooperation and driving practical implementation across the region.”
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He continued: “Through the Antalya Mediterranean Climate Dialogue, we aim to reflect the experiences, priorities, and aspirations of governments, civil society, the private sector, and academia in our region within the conference’s agenda.”
He emphasized: “I am particularly pleased to host the consultation session of the Antalya Mediterranean Climate Dialogue in Egypt, at a time when the legacy of COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh continues to amplify the voice of Africa and the Mediterranean region within the global climate process.”
Rising temperatures in Mediterranean countries
Nesrine AlTamimi, Deputy Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean for Sustainable Development, stated: “Extreme weather conditions, such as heat waves, droughts, forest fires, and flash floods, are becoming an increasing and urgent concern for millions of people in our region.”
She added: “The Mediterranean Climate Dialogue consultations in Antalya represent an opportunity to collaborate and advance climate action, which also promotes sustainable development by strengthening resilience, protecting natural resources, and supporting more inclusive and prosperous societies across the Mediterranean region.”
“Climate change is a transboundary challenge, and therefore must be addressed through transboundary action”, she explained.
“Due to the impact of climate change on our region, the Union for the Mediterranean is once again organizing a Mediterranean pavilion at this year’s climate conference (2026), the first of its kind on the shores of our shared sea”, she added.
She continued, “This pavilion will allow Mediterranean countries, scientific experts, the private sector, and civil society to showcase their commitments to climate action and sustainable development.”
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It will also serve as a platform for presenting the Mediterranean Climate Action Plan following the conclusion of the consultation process launched by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) earlier this month, during the third Mediterranean Green Week.
She added: “By joining forces with key regional stakeholders, the UfM aims to ensure that the unique climate challenges facing the region are addressed within global climate processes.”
What is the Union for the Mediterranean?
The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) is a Euro-Mediterranean intergovernmental organization that brings together the member states of the European Union and 16 countries from the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean.
The UfM provides its member states with a platform to strengthen regional cooperation and dialogue, and to implement projects and initiatives that have a tangible impact on citizens, in order to achieve the region’s three strategic objectives: stability, inclusive development, and integration.