REMPEC welcomes landmark decisions at UNEP/MAP COP24 Cairo – Dec 08, 2025

    REMPEC welcomes landmark decisions at UNEP/MAP COP24 Cairo - toward low-carbon, sustainable Mediterranean shipping and strengthened regional cooperation
    REMPEC welcomes landmark decisions at UNEP/MAP COP24 Cairo

    COP24 - Cairo 2025.png

    The 24th Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention (COP24) held in Cairo, between 2 and 5 December 2025, has delivered a comprehensive package of decisions and commitments that mark a new chapter in the regional effort to safeguard the Mediterranean Sea. As the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea, REMPEC welcomes the outcome and underscores its relevance for maritime pollution prevention, enforcement, and sustainable shipping.

    Key highlights from COP24 for REMPEC

    • The adoption of the Cairo Declaration — a 46-point ministerial statement reaffirming the commitment of Mediterranean States to conserve and sustainably use the Mediterranean Sea and its marine and coastal resources. Specifically relevant for REMPEC’s maritime pollution mandate, the Declaration welcomes the adoption of the regional “Roadmap for Transitioning to Low-Carbon Shipping in the Mediterranean”, as a regional contribution to global efforts on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction from ships.  
    • The Declaration also acknowledges the entry into force of the Mediterranean Sea Emission Control Area for Sulphur Oxides and Particulate Matter (Med SOX ECA) and commits Parties to work toward the possible future designation of the Mediterranean as a Nitrogen Oxides Emission Control Area (Med NOX ECA) under MARPOL Annex VI.  
    • Concerning offshore activities, the Declaration urges enhanced cooperation on monitoring, data collection, early warning systems for pollution, and notably calls for upscaling the implementation of the Mediterranean Offshore Action Plan 2026–2035 under the Offshore Protocol.  

    COP 24 has also adopted a number of important Decisions, on work coordinated by REMPEC, particularly:

    • Decision IG.27/11 on Marine Pollution from Ships: Revision of the Terms of Reference of the Mediterranean Network of Law Enforcement Officials relating to MARPOL in the Mediterranean Sea (MENELAS) and Roadmap for Transitioning to Low Carbon Shipping in the Mediterranean Sea; 
    • Decision IG.27/12 on Mediterranean Offshore Action Plan 2026-2035 in the framework of the Offshore Protocol; and 
    • Decision IG.27/14 on MAP Programme of Work and Budget 2026-2027.

    For REMPEC, the decisions reaffirm the Centre’s critical role: bridging enforcement, prevention, capacity-building, and regional cooperation to ensure that maritime transport and offshore activities evolve in line with environmental, climate and sustainability goals.

    COP24 has delivered a historic and transformative mandate for the Mediterranean region — one that puts maritime transport, offshore activities, and climate action at the core of the regional environmental agenda. REMPEC stands ready to turn political commitment into concrete action, mobilizing its network, expertise, and partnerships to safeguard the Mediterranean Sea for present and future generations.