Minister of Environment, Yasmine Fouad, took part on Thursday, June 12, 2025, in a high-level session titled “Scaling Up Solutions for a Plastic-Free Mediterranean”, held during the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France. The session, organized by the Stimson Center, IFREMER, ADEME, and the European Commission’s Blue Mission Med, brought together senior officials and experts from across the Mediterranean region.

Fouad underscored the severe impact of plastic pollution in the Mediterranean, alongside other pressing environmental challenges such as rising sea levels linked to climate change. She highlighted Egypt’s pioneering efforts in adopting nature-based solutions to protect coastal areas, particularly around Alexandria, and emphasized the need for low-cost, innovative technologies developed through strengthened North-South Mediterranean cooperation.

The minister also outlined Egypt’s progressive environmental policies, including the 2020 Waste Management Law — the country’s first comprehensive legislation addressing single-use plastics — and ongoing awareness campaigns along the Red Sea coast. Dr. Fouad called for robust governance frameworks, political momentum, inclusive stakeholder engagement, and women’s empowerment as key factors in tackling plastic pollution across the region.

The session spotlighted the Circe.Med network and its PlasticMed Lab initiative, aimed at promoting innovative circular economy solutions to combat marine plastic pollution in the Mediterranean.

Ministry of Environment

Edited by SIS