From the Mediterranean to the World: Interreg NEXT MED Empowers Climate Action at COP29

With participation in 13 events, Interreg NEXT MED actively contributed to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 12 to 17, 2024. This continued engagement reaffirmed the Programme’s pivotal role in driving Mediterranean climate action.

Publication Date
06/12/2024

Reading Time
4 minutes

At COP29, the Interreg NEXT MED Programme built on the success of its groundbreaking participation in COP27 (Sharm El-Sheikh) and COP28 (Dubai), reinforcing its long-term role as a key player in addressing climate change in the Mediterranean. Under the theme “Together for a Change“, the Programme strategically focused on advancing the core objectives of its global vision:

Establishing itself as a strategic partner of the Mediterranean Pavilion, working under the coordination of the Union for the Mediterranean and in collaboration with other key regional stakeholders.
Showcasing the Programme’s most notable achievements and best practices globally, highlighting the Mediterranean as a leader in the fight against climate change.
Gaining insights from other prominent global players and initiatives to ensure Mediterranean organizations remain interconnected with international climate action efforts.

This year, significant attention was dedicated to the upcoming Interreg NEXT MED call for green transition projects, set to launch by the end of 2024 with a total EU funding allocation of €83.6 million. Dedicated sessions were held across various Pavilions at COP29 to highlight the key features of the call for proposals and provide guidance on how organizations from the Mediterranean (and beyond) could collaborate as partners to drive climate action through innovative and mutually beneficial projects.

On top of this, these events revealed how the Mediterranean youth can take action to combat climate change by joining the Interreg NEXT MED ‘eco-youth’ projects, a specific type of project aimed to be implemented by and for the younger Mediterranean generations. To provide the perspective of the youth, the Programme counted on the extremely valuable presence of different climate young activists or experts of international fame such as Youssef Aroog (Mediterranean Youth Foundation, Egypt), Mariana Gomes (Último Recurso, Portugal) and Valeria Sinisi (Friedrich Naumann Foundation, Spain).

Below is the list of the events organized or attended by Interreg NEXT MED during COP29 in Baku.

Participation in a UNFCCC COP29 high-level side event

Interreg NEXT MED had the privilege of being the sole partner of the Mediterranean Pavilion to join the Union for the Mediterranean during the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UFCCC) high-level side event on Just Transition. This prestigious gathering brought together prominent global organizations, including the International Labour Organization, the Islamic Development Bank, and the Global Ethical Finance Initiative. The event aimed to foster a more inclusive and equitable path toward sustainable development while inspiring innovative initiatives and projects that promote a Just Transition.

4 events organized across key COP29 venues

Several Pavilions hosted dedicated sessions spotlighting the Interreg NEXT MED, providing a platform to disseminate the opportunities offered by the Programme’s call for green transition aimed at addressing climate change. Each event featured a focus on eco-youth projects:

The Spanish Pavilion, with the participation of Ines Duarte (Union for the Mediterranean) and Mariana Gomes (Último Recurso).
The Pavilion of the International Organization for the Francophonie, with the participation of Marie Claire Boillot (Union for the Mediterranean) and Oumaya Marzouk (CEREMA, France).
The European Union Pavilion, with the participation of Grammenos Mastrojeni, Senior Deputy Secretary General (Union for the Mediterranean).
The Climate Mobility Pavilion, with the participation of Youssef Aroog (Mediterranean Youth Foundation) and Valeria Sinisi (Friedrich Naumann Foundation).

The audience gained valuable insights into how to access the Programme’s funding opportunities, whether as a project partner or an associated partner, while also exploring ways to collaborate and share knowledge across the Mediterranean region.

3 participations in global pavilions

In addition to the dedicated sessions hosted across various pavilions, the Programme was honored to participate in three events. These occasions provided an opportunity to showcase its funding and cooperation opportunities while emphasizing the critical need for connectivity with other global regions to enhance and optimize climate action in the Mediterranean.

Arab League Pavilion: “Stimulating Climate Finance Strategies and Their Importance in Capacity Building to Address Environmental Challenges.”
Kyrgyzstan Pavilion: “The Role of Green Buildings in Climate Policy: Regional Integration and Best Practices for Low-Carbon Development.” organised by UNISON Group.
Food and Agriculture Pavilion, Transforming Agriculture through Innovation, Technology and Finance to achieve food security and sustainability.

It is noteworthy that throughout Interreg NEXT MED’s participation in COP29, and in nearly every event attended, stakeholders from outside the Mediterranean – such as Mauritania, Brazil, and Kyrgyzstan – expressed strong interest in engaging with the Programme through the role of associate partner.

3 events at the Mediterranean Pavilion

Interreg NEXT MED confirmed its central role in the Mediterranean Pavilion by organizing 3 dedicated events on key aspects of the green transition. Beyond a general event to inform on the aforementioned call for proposals, the other 2 dealt with the boosting of Circular Economy in the Mediterranean (co-organized by MedWaves) and with the importance of developing green skills to meet the future demand of competencies by an ever-greener global job market.

Many were the remarkable speakers that contributed to the quality of the discussions in these 3 events. In particular, Mr. Moray Gilland, Head of Unit for Macro-regions, Transnational/Interregional/External Cooperation, DG Regio, European Commission, introduced the first event called “Call for Green Transition Projects: Highlighting Interreg NEXT MED Financing Opportunities for Climate Action” reminding how Interreg NEXT MED fosters regional cooperation to build a smarter, greener and more inclusive Mediterranean.

The Programme also took part of 2 events organized by the Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association (EMEA) on Leveraging Guarantee Schemes as well as on Nature Finance.

Road to COP30 and beyond

Encouraged by the very positive response from both our community of stakeholders and from the global actors of the different global pavilions on the Programme participation to COP29, Interreg NEXT MED is already looking ahead to future opportunities.

In 2025, the first generation of Interreg NEXT MED funded projects will start their implementation and the first ever cooperation projects led by the Mediterranean youth will be kicked-off. COP30, in Brazil, in November 2025, will be the perfect venue to showcase our new projects operating in the field of climate change and give them the opportunity to connect with relevant global stakeholders in order to considerably enhance and increase the impact of their individual actions.

As it was so often reminded during COP29, the Mediterranean region is a hotspot of climate change and, as such, the region has the responsibility to lead the way towards a greener world. The Interreg NEXT MED Programme, together with its strategic partners from the Mediterranean Pavilion, will be a crucial player in that journey setting the ideal framework for the green transition to happen.

Together for a Change! And for a Greener World!