After two years of impactful work, the MPA4Change project reaches its final event, marking a significant step forward in climate change adaptation for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) across the Mediterranean.
MPA4Change (January 2024 – December 2025) is entering its final month of implementation and is pleased to announce its Final Event: Climate Change Adaptation in Mediterranean Coastal Areas.
This event will take place on the afternoon of 25 November at the Ateneu Barcelones – Auditori Oriol Bohigas. It will offer participants the opportunity to learn about the latest project developments, discover other initiatives contributing to marine conservation in the Mediterranean, and engage with new efforts on climate change adaptation beyond the project’s closure.
For more information and the agenda, please visit the MPA4Change events page.
A side event of the NHM´s Annual Institutional Dialogue
Far from being an isolated gathering, the MPA4Change Final Event is organised as a side event of the Institutional Dialogue on Mediterranean Nature Restoration and Cooperation, taking place from 25 to 27 November 2025 in Barcelona.
The Institutional Dialogue is organised within the framework of the Interreg Euro-MED Natural Heritage Mission (NHM) by MedCities and CREAF, in collaboration with all NHM projects.
This year’s gathering coincides with several major milestones: the celebration of the EU-adopted Pacts for the Mediterranean and the Oceans, the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Process (1995–2025), and the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Barcelona Convention (1976–2026).
Key MPA4Change achievements
Through capacity building, policy advocacy, and implementation support, MPA4Change has fostered a dynamic network of stakeholders committed to climate-smart marine protection. As the project concludes, its vision lives on: empowering MPAs to become resilient frontlines in the fight against climate change.
Summary of key achievements
- Refined climate change adaptation toolkits for MPAs.
- Delivered internal training to two partner organisations: the University of Algarve (Portugal) and AP Marine Ltd (Cyprus), both of which advise MPA management bodies in their countries.
- Organised four hybrid training events for MPA managers across Europe, combining online modules via DAN Europe’s e-learning platform with in-person sessions. Three of these training events were exclusively organised by MPA4Change partners in Portofino Marine Protected Area (IT), Brijuni National Park (HR) and Ustica Island (IT), and one in coordination with WWF in Tunisia.
- Drafted two policy briefs (one published, one pending) and represented the project at major international events, including the Ocean Decade Conference 2024 and the UNOC3 Conference 2025.
- Created a Roster of Experts to guide future implementation of climate adaptation plans in the Mediterranean Basin.
- Launched the 100MPA MedAlliance, a collaborative initiative that will carry the project’s legacy forward and help scale climate adaptation solutions across 100 Mediterranean MPAs by 2030.
