Can the Mediterranean Region still comply with the Paris Agreement?
On March 17th 2026, OceanCare, the Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3) and the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats jointly hosted a high-level event within the European Parliament discussing the urgent need to elaborate a strategic pathway for Mediterranean decarbonisation and regional cooperation in response to the climate crisis.
The Mediterranean is a climate change hotspot. Having surpassed the 1.5°C threshold, it is the second fastest warming region in the world, exceeded only by the Arctic. The Mediterranean region is already experiencing severe impacts of global warming: rising temperatures, more frequent extreme weather events and the continued decline of biodiversity all underscore the growing urgency for action. Yet, at the same time, activities that undermine the region’s resilience still persist such as the continuation of exploration permits searching for new hydrocarbon deposits.
Mr César Luena, MEP of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, delivered the opening remarks providing additional insights about opportunities to tackle the climate crisis and the need to speed up the pathway for independency from fossil fuels.
“Climate change is no longer a future risk for the Mediterranean. It is a present reality. If we want to keep the Paris Agreement alive, we need to act together and act now. The Mediterranean must become a space of cooperation, where countries align their efforts to reduce emissions and strengthen resilience. At a time of growing geopolitical instability, accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels is not only about protecting the climate, but also about reducing our vulnerabilities and building a more secure and independent Europe”, stated César Luena, S&D MEP.
Regional cooperation is essential
The event allowed elaboration and discussion about the current policy framework in place to address the crisis, including the opportunities arising within the recent decisions made by Range States on the United Nations Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP-Barcelona Convention), as well as the European Union’s launch of the Pact for the Mediterranean, carrying forward the cornerstones of the Green Deal and Clean Industrial Deal.
In that respect keynote interventions were given by Ms Valvanera Ulargui, Cabinet Expert of the First Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, and Ms Tatjana Hema, Mediterranean Action Plan Coordinator UNEP/MAP.
“The UNEP/MAP Barcelona Convention system promotes and encourages the implementation of the Paris Agreement. As reaffirmed by the Cairo Ministerial Declaration of COP24 in December 2025, the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention are fully committed to accelerate and scale up climate action. In this respect, the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development 2026-2035 and the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Framework adopted by COP24, set clear objectives, priority actions and concrete targets. The newly established Regional Activity Centre on Climate Change hosted by Türkiye is expected to play an instrumental role in supporting the Contracting Parties in their endeavours”, declared Tatjana Hema, UNEP/MAP.
Science provides a way forward
Dr María Victoria Román, from the Basque Centre for Climate Change and lead author of the report “Remaining Carbon Budget Allocation to Mediterranean Countries”, commissioned by OceanCare, presented the core findings and allocations rules that could attract Range States to enter negotiations for a joint pathway on how the targets of the Paris Agreement could still be met by collective efforts within the region.
“This report provides alternative pathways for the achievement of the Paris Agreement global warming goal. While the collective challenge is to decarbonize the Mediterranean region at an unprecedented speed from 2030 to 2050, the options provided modulate the effort in each Mediterranean country depending on their financial capacity, population and historical responsibility. Countries can use this report to align their future NDCs with the level of required ambition and to agree regional approaches to join efforts and resources in this collective endeavour”, reflected María Victoria Román, BC3.
OceanCare’s Director for International Relations, Nicolas Entrup, stressed the Pact for the Mediterranean and UNEP/MAP decisions together provide an ideal framework for developing a comprehensive Regional Mitigation Action Plan, guided by the region’s remaining carbon budget.
“Business as usual is not an option, as it leads to severe consequences for marine wildlife, ecosystems and people. An all-hands-on-deck approach is required for the Range States to engage in joint mitigation activities to address the climate crisis and ensuring to restore a healthy and resilient Mediterranean Sea”, said Nicolas Entrup, OceanCare.
Shared responsibility – a shared opportunity
Mr Nicolás González Casares, MEP of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, provided the closing remarks, expressing the need to move away from fossil fuels rapidly and make decisive progress in the energy transition towards energy efficiency and renewable energy, thereby avoiding our unhealthy dependence on fossil fuels – a dependence that the war in Iran has starkly highlighted, causing price volatility that is severely affecting the livelihoods of European citizen.
“The Mediterranean is not only one of the world’s climate hotspots — it is a shared sea, a shared responsibility, and a shared opportunity. If we act together, it can become a space of climate leadership, driving clean energy, stability and resilience for the entire region”, stated Nicolás González Casares, S&D MEP.
