• Biodiversity
• Climate Change

Mediterranean regions around the world face common climate challenges. Droughts, wildfires, and extreme heat are becoming more frequent and putting pressure on ecosystems, biodiversity, and local communities.  Yet, these similar climate conditions offer them a unique opportunity for cross-border cooperation: to learn from one another and act together. Catalonia is helping lead this effort through the Mediterranean Climate Action Partnership (MCAP). 

From shared risks to collective action

The Mediterranean Climate Action Partnership (MCAP), launched in 2023, brings together regions with Mediterranean-type climates, including parts of Europe, North and South America, Africa, and Australia, to strengthen climate resilience and biodiversity protection.

Rather than working in isolation, participating regions collaborate to exchange policy approaches and governance models, develop joint solutions to climate risks, strengthen technical capacity and access to funding and raise awareness of shared environmental challenges

This cooperation is structured through Technical Working Groups focused on drought, wildfire, and extreme heat, three of the most pressing threats to Mediterranean ecosystems.

Tracking progress

MCAP monitors progress through tools such as the Action Index, which compiles and compares resilience actions across regions, helping identify what works and where further efforts are needed. Together, these tools strengthen the science–policy interface, turning data into actionable guidance for governments and stakeholders.  

MCAP tracks progress through tools such as the Action Index, which compiles and compares resilience actions across regions, helping identify what works and where further efforts are needed. With this kind of support, the partnership strengthens the science–policy connection, turning data into actionable guidance for governments and stakeholders.  

Through regular exchanges, study visits, and joint initiatives, MCAP creates a platform where regions can learn from each other while accelerating concrete adaptation efforts. 

Bridging science and policy: the MECEMB project 

One of the partnership’s flagship initiatives is the MECEMB-MCAP project (Main Effects of Climatic Extreme Events on Mediterranean Biodiversity), co-led by Catalonia and California in collaboration with research institutions. 

The project focuses on a key gap: understanding how extreme climate events directly affect biodiversity, and how this knowledge can inform policy. 

To do so, participating regions, including Catalonia, California, Santiago de Chile, New South Wales, and Western Cape, contribute to scientific reports and literature reviews, regional data and case studies and expert insights from researchers and policymakers. 

These inputs are combined into a comparative analysis that identifies: 

• Common trends across regions  
• Key vulnerabilities in ecosystems  
• Knowledge gaps and research needs  
• Transferable solutions for adaptation  

MECEMB is applying a structured methodology that combines scientific analysis with expert validation. Its findings are aligned with regional and international policy frameworks, ensuring that results are directly usable for decision-making.  

While the initial phase of data collection and comparative analysis between Catalonia and California has been concluded, continued research from other participating regions’ scientific institutions will lead to the first cross-regional assessment of the impacts of extreme climate events on Mediterranean ecosystems.  

By translating scientific evidence into policy-relevant insights, the project helps decision-makers design more effective biodiversity and climate strategies. 

Early results and growing momentum 

Although in its early stages, the MCAP partnership is already delivering tangible outcomes:  

• Established a global alliance with a shared action agenda (2024–2026)  
• Mobilized over $1.8 million for climate adaptation and collaboration  
• Launched pilot projects through “Mini Sprints” to test scalable solutions  
• Created technical working groups to support on-the-ground action  

These efforts are helping regions move from fragmented responses to more coordinated, evidence-based strategies, benefiting both ecosystems and communities. 

Why this matters for COP17 

As climate impacts intensify, the link between biodiversity and climate adaptation is becoming impossible to ignore. 

Catalonia’s leadership within the Mediterranean Climate Action Partnership highlights an important shift: effective biodiversity action increasingly depends on cross-regional cooperation and shared knowledge. 

By connecting science, policy, and practice across continents, this approach helps: 

• Strengthen resilience to climate extremes  
• Improve the effectiveness of biodiversity strategies  
• Accelerate learning and scaling of solutions  
• Align regional action with global biodiversity goals  

As discussions advance toward COP17, this experience offers a clear lesson: addressing biodiversity loss in a changing climate requires collaboration beyond borders, grounded in evidence and driven by shared challenges. 

GBF targets addressed: 4, 8, 11, 12, 14, 20, 21. 
Focus area: Climate adaptation; Biodiversity resilience; Science–policy interface; Multilevel cooperation. 

Read More: MCAP’s Annual Convening 2026 

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