Istanbul, 8–9 July 2025 – Delegates from Mediterranean countries and experts met in Istanbul to review and update the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Framework (RCCAF).
The revised framework, covering the period from 2026 to 2035, will be submitted for adoption at the 24th Meeting of Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention in Cairo in December.
With the Mediterranean warming 20% faster than the global average and heavily urbanised coastlines, adaptation is an urgent priority, especially for low-lying zones.
Opening the meeting, Fatma Varank, Türkiye’s Deputy Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change and Chief Climate Negotiator, called for swift and collective action: “The Mediterranean cannot afford delayed action—we must act together, and we must act now.”
Discussions highlighted the need for greater investment in climate resilience through international mechanisms, national budgets, and private sector engagement, as well as stronger knowledge sharing. Participants recommended the wider dissemination of UNEP/MAP-led studies, including Med50, as well as the analysis of harmful subsidies in the region.
A key innovation in the new RCCAF is the Performance Monitoring Matrix, an accountability tool with indicators and targets. ICZM Protocol-based Coastal Plans will serve as one of the benchmarks of progress.
