Held in Antalya, Turkey, on 7-10 December 2021, the Barcelona Convention COP22 came at a crucial point in time, right between Glasgow UNFCCC COP 26 and Kunming CBD COP15 part 2. Participants from countries littoral to the Mediterranean Sea explored concerted actions to stave off heightened pollution and other dangers threatening the sea, aiming to work together “towards a Blue Mediterranean”.  It definitely served as the “COP for the Mediterranean” with 18 adopted decisions, all in line with EU environmental legislation and strategies. These decisions are crucial to implement requirements and commitments for biodiversity, land and marine pollution and marine litter, sustainable blue economy and climate change. Most importantly, an agreement was reached and a sulphur emissions control area in the region designated, meaning that ships steaming through the Mediterranean can only use fuels containing low sulphur with enormous benefits to water and air quality as well as human health.

On biodiversity, COP 22 adopted the Post-2020 Strategic Action Programme for the Conservation of Biodiversity and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in the Mediterranean Region (Post-2020 SAPBIO), which is aligned with the building blocks of the Global Biodiversity Framework to be finalized next year under the CBD COP15. This achievement was complemented with agreement on a Post-2020 Regional Strategy for protecting and conserving the Mediterranean through well connected and effective systems of marine and coastal protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and with Action Plans for the conservation of species and habitats under the Protocol concerning Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean.

On circular economy, a set of Regional Measures to Support the Development of Green and Circular Businesses and to Strengthen the Demand for more Sustainable Products was agreed under the United Nations Environment Programme’s Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP).

In response to the triple crisis of pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss, the Contracting Parties gave the green light to the Medium-Term Strategy (MTS - 2022-2027) of the United Nations Environment Programme’s Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP).

Finally, it is worth highlighting the adoption of the Antalya Ministerial Declaration on 9 December, calling for a “Blue Mediterranean: leaving a pollution-free legacy, protecting biodiversity and sustaining climate sustainability”. The declaration constitutes a strong expression of political support to the collective endeavour to achieve healthy, clean, sustainable, and climate resilient Mediterranean Sea and coast, with productive and biologically diverse marine and coastal ecosystems.

Read more:

• Text of the Antalya Ministerial Declaration adopted during the high-level session of Barcelona Convention COP22
• IISD/Earth Negotiations Bulletin’s coverage of COP 22 (including summary report, photos and videos)
• COP 22 secures consensus on curbing emissions of Sulphur Oxides from ships in the Mediterranean | UNEPMAP
• COP 22 adopts bold measures for the protection of the environment that can catalyze a green recovery in the Mediterranean | UNEPMAP