Cairo, 23 September - The International Organization for Migration’s second regional event on “Enhancing Regular Pathways for Accelerating Climate Action in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)” concluded today in Cairo. The event served as one of IOM’s key lead-up events to COP30 in the region.
The two-day event convened over 60 participants, including representatives from MENA governments, the UN system, civil society, academia and the private sector.
The event marked a significant step forward in regional efforts to address the growing intersection of climate change and human mobility and position regular migration as an effective adaptation strategy. With the MENA region facing increasingly severe climate-related risks such as land degradation, water scarcity and rising sea levels, safe, orderly and regular migration pathways are emerging as critical tools for climate adaptation and resilience.
Participants explored how global frameworks such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can be leveraged to strengthen migration governance and climate action. Emphasis was placed on improving data systems to support evidence-based policymaking and inform the design of regular migration pathways across the spectrum of migration, encompassing return and reintegration and linking to green and just transitions.
The event also reaffirmed the importance of regional cooperation and private sector engagement to meet labour market needs in green sectors. Participants examined how to ensure equitable access to decent work and social protection for migrants, particularly in the context of shifting towards low-carbon economies.
The event also featured an interactive design thinking session, enabling stakeholders to co-create practical solutions for expanding regular migration pathways in response to climate challenges. Moreover, youth representatives from the region shared their perspectives and recommendations, underscoring the importance of inclusive approaches.
Three consolidated background papers were developed to capture the insights from each panel session. A short outcome document will be shared with participating governments to inform their contributions to the upcoming International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) 2026 and COP30 of the UNFCCC.
In his opening remarks to participants, IOM’s Regional Director Othman Belbeisi noted that the event “demonstrated the power of regular migration pathways to accelerate climate action. By investing in skills, data, and inclusive governance, MENA countries can turn mobility into a driver of resilience and sustainable development.”
The event was held under the auspices of the Government of Egypt and with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, under the framework of IOM’s Climate Change and Migration Data Programme.
For more information, please contact:
In Cairo: jlowry@iom.int