The document defining the mandate and operational principles of the Climate Change Regional Activity Centre (CC/RAC), established by the decision of the 23rd Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention (COP 23), was unanimously adopted at the 24th Meeting of the Contracting Parties (COP 24), held in Cairo, Egypt, on 2–5 December 2025 in which Türkiye was represented at the Conference by a delegation chaired by Ms. Fatma Varank, Deputy Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change.
As clearly defined in the mandate document adopted at the meeting, the CC/RAC will provide support to all Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention in the areas of climate change adaptation and mitigation policies, access to climate finance, and capacity building. With this decision, it is aimed to enhance climate adaptation capacities across Mediterranean countries, strengthen mitigation and adaptation policies, and promote nature-based solutions.
Operating in Istanbul, Türkiye, the CC/RAC will serve as a regional hub for climate finance, scientific data generation, capacity development, and the strengthening of regional cooperation. The Centre will also assume a leadership role in implementing the 2026–2035 Mediterranean Regional Climate Change Adaptation Framework (RCCAF), coordinating efforts to enhance climate resilience across the Mediterranean region.
This development represents a strategic milestone for Türkiye in terms of climate diplomacy, regional leadership capacity, and its vision for a sustainable future in the Mediterranean. Furthermore, the hosting of the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) by Türkiye will further elevate the visibility and impact of Türkiye’s contributions to global climate governance.
In this context, the establishment of the CC/RAC and the adoption of its governance document will provide a strong scientific, institutional, and political foundation for COP31 agendas and negotiations, further consolidating Türkiye’s role in regional and global climate policymaking.
