Speaking to Ahram Online on the sidelines of the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), held last week in Nice, France, Amellal said these challenges require immediate action through collective work amid current conflicts and instability in the region.
UNOC3 held a special Mediterranean Day that brought renewed focus to the region’s environmental challenges and cooperation efforts.
Ambassador Amellal discussed the critical importance of joint action, especially in collaboration with Egypt, to address plastic pollution, maritime connectivity, and the region's looming climate crisis.
In this exclusive interview, Amellal shares his insights on diplomacy, sustainable development, and the future of the Mediterranean basin.
Ahram Online: Why was it important to dedicate a whole day to the Mediterranean at UNOC3?
Karim Amellal: It's really crucial to dedicate one entire day to the Mediterranean during this significant UNOC3 conference because the Mediterranean Sea, despite covering less than 1% of the world's surface, carries a massive.,,,, concentration of maritime traffic and economic activity. Over 25% of global trade traffic passes through this region.
Yet, the Mediterranean faces numerous environmental, economic, and geopolitical challenges. Hosting UNOC3 in Nice, right on the Mediterranean coast, made focusing on these issues all the more imperative. We held a high-level summit with President Emmanuel Macron and other Mediterranean heads of state, concentrating on blue economy themes like port decarbonization and maritime connectivity. It was a very business-oriented approach aimed at strengthening cooperation to benefit millions living in this region. It’s essential for the collective work around the Mediterranean.
AO: Plastic pollution has come up repeatedly during the Mediterranean Day. How serious is the issue, and what actions are being taken?
KA: Plastic pollution is the most critical environmental issue in the Mediterranean today. It’s the most polluted sea in the world—more than the Pacific or Indian Oceans. This affects tourism, fisheries, public health, and biodiversity.
The French Minister for the Sea, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, brought together environment ministers from across the region to address this. We're working on building a coalition of countries to push forward on this issue. A major round of negotiations concerning plastic pollution is scheduled for Geneva this August, and we're hoping for concrete commitments.
But we know it isn't easy. For countries like Egypt, it's also an economic challenge. We must strike a balance between economic development and environmental necessity.
AO: How do you view the relationship between France and Egypt in the context of Mediterranean cooperation? Do you know if specific initiatives are underway?
KA: We have a strategic and multi-faceted relationship with Egypt. One major initiative is the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC)—a Western counterpart to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. This massive infrastructure project involves green energy transport corridors stretching from India to Europe, passing through Gulf countries and Egypt. It’s a great example of what we can achieve through economic cooperation.
We’re also exploring joint efforts in higher education, research, cultural heritage protection, and energy. There is significant potential in all these sectors, and Egypt is an essential partner in ensuring regional stability and sustainability.
AO: With so many pressing geopolitical issues, including the Gaza conflict, how can environmental cooperation remain a priority for the region?
KA: It's a real dilemma. In many Mediterranean countries, conflict and instability understandably take precedence. However, climate change and environmental degradation are not secondary issues. Scientific studies suggest the Mediterranean could be a dead sea in 40 or 50 years if we continue on this path.
What does that mean? No tourism, no fish, no biodiversity. Temperatures could reach 45 or 50 degrees Celsius. Alexandria, for example, might be underwater in a few decades. We’re already witnessing climate-induced disasters yearly, such as wildfires in Turkey, Italy, and France, and extreme weather events in Alexandria and elsewhere.
So we cannot wait. Climate change must be treated as a top priority alongside security and humanitarian crises. These are not separate tracks; they are deeply interconnected.
AO: France has voiced support for the recognition of a Palestinian state. How do you see this evolving diplomatically?
KA: President Macron has consistently supported a two-state solution but has emphasized that recognition must come as part of a broader, multilateral initiative involving other countries.
The situation is unbearable and must end, but the road to peace is through a collective, diplomatic process.
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