Egypt is preparing to host the 24th Conference of the Parties (COP24) to the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution, scheduled to take place from 2 to 5 December, the Ministry of Environment announced on Saturday. Acting Environment Minister Manal Awad chaired a coordination meeting to follow up on preparations for the event, which will bring together Mediterranean states to address regional environmental challenges. The meeting was attended by Ali Abou Sena, Head of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, along with senior officials in charge of coastal management, climate change, and international cooperation. Awad said preparations include signing the host country agreement, designing the framework for side events, and coordinating with the convention's secretariat in Athens to review proposals for scientific and cultural activities. She added that work is also underway on a draft ministerial declaration and the review of draft decisions to ensure their finalisation and adoption at the closing session. Heba Shaarawi, coordinator of the Mediterranean Action Plan, presented progress made this year under the convention, including financial contributions and the proposed budget for regional centres, which were discussed at the latest executive bureau meeting. Awad stressed the importance of ensuring the success of the conference and adopting decisive measures to curb Mediterranean pollution, safeguard marine biodiversity, and promote sustainability for all coastal states. Abou Sena noted that the first draft of the ministerial declaration will be prepared in September, ahead of a liaison meeting scheduled from 16 to 20 September. He said the declaration will revolve around the theme "Sustainable Blue Economy for a Resilient and Healthy Mediterranean." He added that a logistics task force, led by the Environment Ministry in collaboration with other national bodies, has been established, with Egypt pushing for priority issues such as phasing out single-use plastics. The Barcelona Convention, adopted in 1976 under the UN Environment Programme's Regional Seas framework, brings together 22 contracting parties committed to reducing pollution and protecting the Mediterranean Sea's fragile ecosystem.
