Young climate advocates are tying local actions to cross-border cooperation by linking regional grassroots clean-up activities to diplomatic efforts. They've harnessed their passion to establish climate-focused partnerships to protect the Mediterranean, one of the most plastics-polluted seas in the world, as they rally to drive various initiatives. Commentary by our 2026 Young Climate Leader Salma Abbass.
Our futures are connected
When I stand on the coast of Egypt, I can see that what happens to our environment affects everyone. The water that touches Egypt also touches countries like Tunisia, Italy, Greece and Spain, and climate change, pollution and losing both animals and plants are problems that do not stop at borders. For people who care about the climate in the Mediterranean area, this is a big challenge but also a chance to take action. We need to work across continents, borders and different environments to protect our coastal areas.
In Egypt and the rest of North Africa, the most visible environmental threat to our ecosystems and communities is plastic pollution. The Mediterranean is home to an endless supply of single-use plastics that endanger marine life, and that obstruct and divert healthy water flow. Addressing this issue screams for action and conscious awareness, which is why the Clean Shores campaign, a youth initiative that aims to reduce the use of single-use plastics, is mobilising communities to actively engage with clear and healthy shore initiatives.
The Clean Shores project brings people together, creates awareness and works with governments. In Egypt volunteers have cleaned up trash and found alternatives to single-use plastics. But this project is not about Egypt; it also involves other countries in North Africa, where they work together to collect and clean up trash, as well as promoting the flow of water to all countries that border the Mediterranean.
The Mediterranean climate and environmental challenges can only be addressed through regional cooperation, as what flows into a river in one country can be washed up on the shores of another. This is where partnerships with international organisations help amplify the impact of youth-led projects and ensure that local experiences inform larger environmental strategies.
Cross-border collaboration with the EU
It is very important for us to work with European countries. The Mediterranean area has always connected Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, and as climate change gets worse, we need to advance environmental protection more than ever. Young people who are leading climate projects in our region can learn a lot from other countries’ experiences with climate diplomacy, environmental policies and regional cooperation.
The Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution, which unites Mediterranean nations to coordinate environmental protection policies and initiatives, is a crucial platform that links these efforts.
Youth voices have been heard at this significant forum thanks to the YLE Foundation’s involvement. For the fifth time in a row, YLE has taken part in the 24th Barcelona Convention for Mediterranean Countries, making sure that young climate leaders’ perspectives are included in regional discussions about safeguarding our shared sea.
This kind of involvement is crucial for climate activists in Egypt and North Africa, where discussions about climate change in meetings often seem far away from the problems that local communities face. By bringing in the experiences and knowledge of affected people, we can close this gap.
At the same time, Mediterranean countries working together with the European Union can make climate action stronger on both sides of the sea. Regional cooperation is essential for achieving these goals, and environmental protection in the Mediterranean depends on the combined efforts of all its countries.
Connecting youth-led initiatives to policy-making
The Clean Shores project is a good example of how young people’s initiatives can inform policy-making. Leaders in cities like Brussels and Barcelona have the same environmental goals as local volunteers who collect plastic waste on Egyptian shores. Furthermore, campaigns that educate communities about reducing single-use plastics contribute to international efforts to promote sustainable consumption and circular economies.
However, we need to go beyond just talking about working. Young climate leaders in the Mediterranean are asking for funding for sustainable innovation and environmental education, as well as more support for grassroots projects and the inclusion of young people’s voices in policy-making. The EU and its Mediterranean partners can build a more resilient and sustainable future for our shared region by strengthening regional cooperation frameworks and empowering local actors.
For me, being a climate leader from Egypt means I understand that what we do locally is part of a bigger story. Every time we clean up a shoreline, every awareness campaign and every conversation about sustainability contributes to an effort to protect the Mediterranean.
The views and opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect those of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union | Global Dialogue.
