Read TESIM’s interview with Martin Heibel, Interreg NEXT MED’s Communication Manager.
Interview originally published on Interreg TESIM NEXT website.
Interreg NEXT MED will soon launch an €83.7 million call for proposals to tackle climate change across the Mediterranean, and 20% of this budget has been allocated to support projects designed and led by young people. The announcement, made at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, marks a decisive step toward climate resilience in an area warming 20% faster than the global average.Launching mid-January 2025, the call supports the green transition through cross-border collaboration. It extends beyond environmental concerns to include areas like business innovation and healthcare resilience across 15 Mediterranean countries.
“The climate crisis is here, and it’s the greatest challenge humanity faces. No country can beat it alone” emphasized Moray Gilland, Head of Macro-regions at the European Commission’s DG REGIO, during the COP29 presentation.
Beyond conventional areas like water management or energy efficiency, the programme backs innovative solutions across multiple sectors. Projects can range from helping SMEs adopt low-carbon business models to preparing health systems for climate-related diseases. The call wants to tackle environmental challenges while specifically supporting youth-led initiatives and emphasizes public engagement, encouraging Mediterranean residents to embrace sustainable lifestyles.
Martin Heibel, communication manager of Interreg NEXT MED, shares insights about the programme’s evolving impact and their presence at COP29:
Q: This is your third time at COP. How has Interreg NEXT MED’s role changed over the years, and what have been the key outcomes of your participation this year?
Our participation at COP29 in Azerbaijan marked a major milestone, with an ambitious agenda of 13 events organised and attended over just four days. The summit provided the perfect stage to unveil our second call for proposals – an €83.5 million investment to accelerate the Mediterranean’s green transition. This funding will support scalable, innovative solutions for climate adaptation across the region. Today, we’re even seeing exciting momentum beyond our traditional borders, with growing interest from the Sahel, Africa, and Central Asia. Perhaps most encouraging was the enthusiastic response from young people at COP29, reinforcing our vision of the Mediterranean as a dynamic hub for climate action, SME development, and social innovation.
Q: Talking about youth, how will the new call specifically support young people in leading climate projects?
Young people must be more than just beneficiaries—they need to be the true protagonists of climate initiatives. In our view, young people cannot merely be voices we occasionally applaud but fail to genuinely listen to and consider. We have observed too much ‘youth washing,’ where young people are used as ‘testimonials,’ yet we believe they have much more to offer – especially in the Mediterranean, where some countries have notably young populations. We have allocated 20% of the budget—approximately €16 million—to support projects designed and led by young people. While we recognize the challenges of investing in youth-led projects, we are committed to supporting these efforts and enabling high-quality proposals that foster their active participation in the green transition.
Q: The Mediterranean is warming faster than the global average. What specific actions will Interreg NEXT MED take to help local communities and ecosystems adapt?
Our approach is holistic and integrated, connecting environmental issues with non-traditional sectors. This includes decarbonizing business models, advancing climate technologies, strengthening healthcare systems against climate-driven diseases, and fostering inclusive governance for sustainable transitions. We firmly believe in the transformative power of people—while governments set frameworks, true green transition requires active public engagement. Non-technological solutions are just as vital as technological ones in building climate resilience across the Mediterranean. We also realise that our programme alone cannot tackle all these challenges, which is why participation in global events like COP is crucial. These platforms allow us to showcase proven solutions and foster broader collaboration for impactful action.
Last Update
23/12/2024
Next Med