Cairo is hosting the 24th Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention (COP24) from 2–5 December 2025, bringing together ministers, regional organizations, experts, and civil society groups from 22 Mediterranean countries.
This year’s theme, Mediterranean Blue Growth: Towards a Resilient and Sustainable Future, focuses on advancing a sustainable blue economy and supporting the region’s broader environmental transition.
On this occasion, El-Shaer, Regional Director of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) – West Asia, tells Ahram Online about the office’s role at COP24 and its plans to strengthen cooperation and capacity-building across the region.
Ahram Online (AO): From your perspective, how can COP24 help address environmental and development challenges in the Mediterranean?
Hani El-Shaer (HE): The meeting aims to respond to the region’s environmental and sustainability challenges while renewing political commitment to collective action. It highlights the sustainable blue economy as a driver of low-carbon and circular development. Delegates will also consider adopting the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development 2026–2035 and the Regional Climate Adaptation Framework 2026–2035.
AO: What will your participation focus on?
HE: I will participate in a session on Technical and Scientific Support Centres across the Mediterranean, which looks at how these centres help countries meet their obligations under both the Barcelona Convention and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
For us, it is an opportunity to present the role of the new West Asia Centre in advancing the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Our work centres on strengthening regional cooperation, building scientific and technical capacities, and giving countries access to IUCN standards and knowledge products.
AO: Who are your main partners in developing the centre?
HE: We have a strong partnership with the League of Arab States, which will anchor the centre’s governance and institutional structure. The centre will operate with strategic support from the League’s representatives in West Asia, and a steering group of national focal points will keep it aligned with regional priorities on environment and climate change. This model ensures regional ownership and relevance to member states, CBD focal points, youth, and local communities.
AO: When will the centre be officially launched?
HE: We will formally sign the agreement establishing the Technical and Scientific Support Centre in December, during UNEA-7 in Nairobi. This is a major step forward for the region and reflects our commitment to supporting countries in achieving their biodiversity and environmental goals. It brings together political will, scientific expertise, and practical implementation support.
AO: The Red Sea is globally recognised for its rich biodiversity. How does IUCN West Asia view the importance of protecting these ecosystems?
HE: Marine protected areas in the Red Sea have been a priority for decades. Networks of protected sites now extend along the Red Sea coast and the Gulf of Aqaba, beginning with Ras Mohammed’s designation in 1981.
Countries are now expected to protect at least 30 percent of their national territories under global biodiversity commitments, up from the previous 10 percent.
At COP24, we discussed this issue with Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, focusing on capacity building and the IUCN Green List. Ras Mohammed and Wadi El-Hitan were included on the Green List in 2018, and eight protected areas in the region received IUCN awards this year for meeting international standards.
AO: What are the main environmental challenges facing West Asia?
HE: The region is largely arid or semi-arid, and IUCN studies show it is among the areas most affected by climate change and rising temperatures.
AO: How has the West Asia office addressed these challenges?
HE: We have developed specialized programmes for drylands, rangelands, biodiversity, and local communities, including the Healthy Ecosystems for Rangeland Development (HERD) Project in Egypt.
We also partnered with Saudi Arabia and Egypt—countries with strong technical capacities—to advance the Green List initiative and nature-based solutions. These efforts are built on internationally approved standards developed by IUCN scientific experts.
AO: How do you assess the importance of investment in protected areas?
HE: Investment is crucial. Understanding the economic value of ecosystem services is necessary to design sustainable and effective investment models for protected areas.
AO: How many IUCN offices operate globally, and how does the West Asia office work with Egypt?
HE: IUCN has 11 regional offices worldwide. The West Asia office covers 13 countries and works with Egypt in partnership with the IUCN Mediterranean Office under a memorandum of understanding (MoU).
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