After a successful participation in last year’s ‘COP27’ in Sharm El-Sheikh, Interreg NEXT MED Programme will be present at the United Nations Climate Change Conference ‘COP28’ to take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 30 November - 12 December 2023. 

A pivotal moment in global transformative climate action, the Conference of the Parties to the Convention (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is a prime opportunity for the Programme community to share results achieved and solutions developed in addressing climate change effects in the Mediterranean area with a global audience.

In addition to participating in the ‘Mediterranean Coalition Office’, representatives of Interreg NEXT MED Programme will be involved in events organized by the pavilions of the European Union, France, Italy, Spain and of the ‘Francophonie’.

Under the theme ‘TOGETHER FOR A CHANGE’, the presence of the Programme at COP28 aims to be a platform to amplify the efforts of Mediterranean stakeholders in delivering joint solutions on crucial topics such as circular and blue economy, green entrepreneurship, sustainable water management, energy efficiency. 

MEET US AT COP28

Networking and synergies are key to increase efforts in addressing climate change.

As members of Interreg NEXT MED Programme will be in Dubai for most of the duration of COP28, do not hesitate to contact us to set an appointment if you would like to learn more about our priorities, funding and cooperation opportunities related to climate action. We will get back to you and propose a slot for a meeting based on the availability of our staff. Please send an email to: Martin Heibel (mheibel@regione.sardegna.it); Vincent Ernoux (ernoux_vina@gva.es) and Esmat AlKaradsheh (ekaradsheh@aseza.jo). 

FOLLOW US AT COP28

A first set of events planned across the two weeks of COP28 is available below. This draft program may be supplemented with additional events.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: all events will take place in Dubai local time, corresponding to CET+3. In the list below, you will find both the timing in local time and in Central European Time (CET).

Events at the ‘Mediterranean Coalition Office’

Throughout the two weeks of the COP28 – the ‘Mediterranean Coalition Office’ will host numerous activities and events in view of highlighting both the urgent challenges the region faces, and the innovative solutions already being developed, eventually raising awareness on a region overlooked in the climate negotiations.

Located in the COP28 Blue Zone, the Mediterranean Office led by Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) will gather organisations dealing with climate action in the Mediterranean, including among others the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM), PRIMA programme, MedWaves, the Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association (EMEA), etc. 

As partner of the Mediterranean Office, Interreg NEXT MED will organize the following events. All events will be livestreamed via Zoom.

• The Circular Construction Economy – how a traditional sector can enter the green era by applying the principles of circular economy - WATCH LIVE STREAMING 

Date and hour: Sunday, 3/12/2023 from 14.00 to 15.15 Dubai local time. 11.00 to 12.15 CET
Brief description: Thanks to the ENI CBC MED ‘RE-MED’ project, the Mediterranean building sector has made substantial progress in adopting circular economy innovation practices in the construction of public roads. A real breakthrough in the field.
Agenda
Live stream on Zoom

• Empowering Young Innovators: Catalyzing Climate-Friendly Businesses - WATCH LIVE STEAMING

Date and hour: Monday, 4/12/2023 from 12.00 to 13.00 Dubai local time. 9.00 to 10.00 CET
Brief description: Discover how ENI CBC MED Programme has empowered Mediterranean youth in setting the framework for the development of sustainable business ideas.
Agenda
Live stream on Zoom

 

• The Mediterranean leading the way for a cleaner sea: our biggest ally in the fight against climate change! - WATCH LIVE STREAMING

Date and hour: Tuesday 5/12/2023 from 12.30 to 13.50 Dubai local time. 9.30 to 10.50 CET
Brief description: With two dedicated projects, COMMON and Plastic Busters CAP, the Programme has showed that the Mediterranean is at the forefront of the fight against marine litter and plastics in the sea. Let’s show the world how the practices developed by these projects can be replicated globally.
Agenda
Live stream on Zoom

Still in the framework of the Mediterranean Office, Interreg NEXT Programme will be featured in the following events: 

• Built Environment and Green Living Areas as resilience/adaptation to climate change in cities – by Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association (EMEA)

Date and hour: 6/12/2023 from 15.00 to 16.30 Dubai local time.12.00 to 13.30 CET
Agenda
Live stream on Zoom

• Agroforestry sector in the Euro-Mediterranean region: Towards novel policies, cooperation and financing frameworks – by International Center for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies

Date and hour: 9/12/2023 from 14.00 to 15.30 Dubai local time.11.00 to 12.30 CET 
Agenda

Event at the Italian Pavilion

• Fit for 55? Innovative solutions for energy efficient buildings

Brief description: Are we ready to achieve the goals of the EU 'Fit for 55' package and enhance energy efficiency in buildings? The event will look at successful examples of energy renovation pilots and measures implemented in Italy and across the Mediterranean region under the ENI CBC Med Programme. Discussions will provide an overview of scalable and replicable solutions at technical, regulatory and cultural level to promote the wider implementation of energy-efficient interventions and energy-saving behaviors, also taking into account different types of buildings (schools, universities, public facilities, heritage and historical buildings, etc.). ORGANISED BY INTERREG NEXT MED
Date and hour: 9/12/2023 from 11.30 to 13.00 Dubai local time. 08.30 to 13.00 CET
Agenda
Live stream on Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security’s YouTube channel

EU Pavilion

• Advancing skills and capacities to boost energy efficiency in the Mediterranean

Brief description: A high level of technical knowledge and specific skills are needed for accelerating the transformation towards a climate-neutral building stock. Strengthening the capacities of public authorities, especially at local scale, is also crucial to prepare and implement good renovation projects. The session will showcase results of EU-funded projects to empower stakeholders on both sides of the Mediterranean for a sustainable, decarbonized future. Organized by Interreg NEXT MED in collaboration with European Commission's DG REGIO. 
Date and hour: 12/12/2023 from 11.00 to 12.00 CET. 
CONCEPT NOTE AND AGENDA
REGISTER

Pavilion of the Francophonie

• SMEs, essential partners for a just transition towards a circular economy with low energy consumption 

Brief description: Organized by SEED “Promoting entrepreneurship for sustainable development” , the event will be a global discussion on how the SMEs can integrate Circular Economy in their business and on what are the stakes a such a green and fair transition. More information.
Date and hour: 5/12/2023 from 14.45 to 15.45 Dubai local time. 11.45 to 12.45 CET.
Live stream on E-Pavillon Climatique (francophonie.org)

French Pavilion

• Building a climate-friendly and resilient future for a sustainable construction in the Mediterranean region and West Africa – Mobilizing local construction value chain for decarbonization of buildings 

Brief description: In the framework of the Pavilion of France, the event will show how the local stakeholders of the construction sector are implementing the transition to circular economy to reduce CO2 emissions and enter the green era. 
Date and hour: 6/12/2023 from 9.30 to 11.00 Dubai local time. 6.30 to 9.30 CET.

Tunisian Pavilion

• La Tunisie joue un rôle clé dans la transition écologique méditerranéenne

Brief description: The event, under the premises of the Tunisian Pavilion, and co-organized by Tunisian Ministry of Environment and the Interreg NEXT MED Programme, will feature some of the main green results achieved by Tunisian organizations in the framework of ENI CBC MED projects. INSTEM, UTICA, MEDREC and BUSINESSMED will be the Tunisian institutions showcased.
Date and hour: 6/12/2023 from 9:30 to 10:30. Dubai local time. 6.30 to 7.30 CET. 
Agenda

• Nouvelles opportunités pour financer la transition écologique en Tunisie à travers le Programme Interreg NEXT MED 

Brief description: The event, under the premises of the Tunisian Pavilion, and co-organized by Tunisian Ministry of Environment and the Interreg NEXT MED Programme, will show the upcoming opportunities of the Interreg NEXT Programme first Call for Proposals in the field of Green Transition. 
Date and hour: 6/12/2023 from 10:45 to 11:45. Dubai local time. 7.45 to 8.45 CET. 
Agenda

Egyptian Pavilion

• Strengthening Community Resilience 

Brief description: The event, under the premises of the Egyptian Pavilion, and co-organized by the Arab Office for Youth and Environment (AOYE) and the Arab Network for Environment and Development (RAED), will address the issue of Strengthening Community Resilience. Civil Society's Role in Mainstreaming Climate Actions in Rural and Urban settlements will be discussed.
Date and hour: 6/12/2023 from 17:00 to 17:45 Dubai local time. 14.00 to 14.45 CET.

Pavilion of the Arab League 

• Adaptation to Climate Change and measures to mitigate its effects

Brief description: The event, under the premises of the Arab League Pavilion, and co-organized by the Egyptian Sustainable Development Forum (ESDF) and the Arab Network for Environment and Development (RAED), will address adaptation to Climate Change and measures to mitigate its effects. Experiences from the Arab region on inclusiveness and sustainability will be shared. 
Date and hour: 8/12/2023 from 17:00 to 18:00 Dubai local time. 14.00 to 15.00 CET.
Live stream on League of Arab States

The participation of the Programme, for the second time in a row, in a global event such as the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP shows the relevance of ENI CBC MED/Interreg NEXT MED as a cooperation platform among 15 countries enabling innovative and effective solutions to actively address the numerous environmental challenges that characterize the Mediterranean region. 

If you are at COP28, make sure to join us at the Mediterranean Office or in any of the above-mentioned relevant pavilion where we will disseminate the valuable results of our projects. 

Stay tuned on this page for updates!

For more information, please contact:
Martin Heibel
Communication manager
Interreg NEXT MED Programme
0039 070 606 2482
mheibel@regione.sardegna.it