Tunis, Sept. 4 (TAP) - The first edition of the Mediterranean Decarbonisation Forum "DecarboMed" will be held in Tunis on September 24 and 25 under the theme "Towards a carbon-neutral Mediterranean".

"With 35 countries represented and more than 2,000 participants expected, this forum aims to showcase the main initiatives and cutting-edge strategies in the field of decarbonisation and related technologies, as well as the mechanisms and solutions available to reduce carbon emissions.

It also aims to forge partnerships with other companies and structures in other Mediterranean countries," Fethi Hanchi, CEO of the National Energy Management Agency (ANME), said at a press conference on Wednesday.

More than 100 speakers, including experts, practitioners, researchers and decision-makers, as well as representatives of international and regional organisations, will share their experiences and expertise during the forum, presenting perspectives and innovations in decarbonisation policies, approaches and technologies.

The Forum agenda also includes panel discussions and workshops on carbon mitigation activities and technologies, national and global policies in this area, and the regulatory frameworks developed by some countries.

National decarbonisation strategies, renewable energy, green hydrogen and circular economy programmes and their financing will also be presented.

The Forum will be accompanied by an exhibition of key public and private sector actors involved in the environmental transition, as well as representatives of civil society and international organisations.

The DecarboMed Forum will also mark the launch of the 1st Platform, which will help companies to learn about the experiences of other companies in the renewable energy and circular economy sectors and to assess the carbon footprint of their activities.

This platform will provide an opportunity to exchange ideas with experts in order to find solutions that can reduce the carbon footprint of companies' production processes.

Speaking at the event, Hichem Elloumi, Vice-President of the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA), stressed the importance of this forum for the private sector, which is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Tunisia will have to reduce its carbon footprint by 45% by 2030, 50% of which will come from the private sector, he recalled.

"The private sector must be encouraged to invest in the renewable energy sector, as 75% of greenhouse gas emissions come from energy," he added.

Tunisian exporters in the industrial sector are also called upon to comply with the new laws required by the European Union, Tunisia's main partner, if they want to be competitive and attractive, Elloumi said, referring to the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

The CBAM is the EU's tool to put a fair price on the carbon emitted during the production of carbon-intensive goods entering the EU, and to encourage cleaner industrial production in non-EU countries.

For her part, Céline Moyroud, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Tunisia, said that this forum fits into UNDP's partnership with Tunisia, in particular with ANME, to ensure the success of energy transition and energy efficiency initiatives.

UNDP is helping ANME to develop the platform that will allow Tunisian companies to calculate their carbon footprint, she added, noting that this initiative is "the first step towards decarbonising industry".

Organised by ANME and UTICA in partnership with the European Union, UNDP and GIZ, this forum will provide a platform to promote regional and international dialogue on the opportunities and challenges of the industrial, logistical and technological decarbonisation value chain.