Climate Action in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East: Regional Cooperation Empowered by Science and Innovation

The International Conference “Climate Action in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East: Regional Cooperation Empowered by Science and Innovation” took place between April 8–9, 2026, in Nicosia. The high-level event, co-organized by the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy and the Eastern Mediterranean & Middle East Climate Change Initiative (EMME-CCI) Secretariat under the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, brought together world leaders, scientists and policymakers to converge on regional climate action.

In his opening speech, President Nikos Christodoulides delivered a powerful call to transform the climate challenge into an opportunity for resilient economies, emphasizing that in one of the world’s most vulnerable regions, science and regional cooperation must lead the way.

CARE-C meaningfully contributed to the discussions shaping the conference. The director of CARE-C, Prof. Jean Sciare convened the panel discussion on “Physical Drivers Framing Regional Action in the EMME” with contribution as panellists from CARE-C Affiliate and EMME-CARE Advanced Partner PI Prof. Philip Ciais, and CARE-C Research Scientist Dr. George Zittis, along with EMME regional collaborators.

Further, CARE-C Prof Nikos Mihalopoulos convened the panel on “Climate Change and Society: Bridging the Adaptation Deficit” with input from EMME-CARE professorship network Prof. Costas Cartalis, and CARE-C’s Associate Research Scientist, Dr. Marco Neira. Dr Neira, also served as a member of the local organising committee for the Conference.

The Conference concluded with a clear message: switching to clean technologies and green energy is no longer optional. By aligning innovation with diplomacy, Cyprus is spearheading the effort to build a safer, more sustainable future for the entire Mediterranean and Middle East.

To this end, an Informal EU Summit on the subject is scheduled later this month, for which the conference served as a critical milestone.