Global partnership advances Western Cape climate resilience

How the MCAP is enabling the Western Cape to adapt farming practices, manage disasters, and strengthen climate resilience. By Ilyaas Rhoda.

The Mediterranean Climate Action Partnership (MCAP) is a global alliance of 16 regions across five continents that share a Mediterranean climate and face common challenges, including extreme heat, drought, and wildfires.

“While informal collaborations had taken place in the past, there was no formal platform to consolidate expertise and lessons learnt across borders,” says Dr Ilse Trautmann, Deputy Director-General for Agricultural Research and Regulatory Services at the Western Cape Department of Agriculture.

“This changed with the official launch of MCAP at COP28 Dubai in 2023, driven by recognition that climate-smart strategies require global cooperation.”

Collaborative solutions for shared climate risks

Dr Ivan Meyer, Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, initiated the partnership after visiting California and seeing the potential of linking regions with similar climates.

MCAP was established to build resilience through collaboration, uniting governments, researchers, and industry stakeholders to develop solutions to shared climate risks. By exchanging knowledge and best practices, regions can learn from one another, accelerate adaptation, and present a unified voice in global climate discussions.

“Members benefit from both the successes and setbacks of others, adopting strategies that are locally relevant while drawing on the strength of a global network,” explains Trautmann. “While agriculture remains a central focus, the partnership also prioritises water management, disaster awareness, and community resolve to ensure sustainable responses.”

For the Western Cape, the partnership aligns with the Smart-Agri Plan, launched in 2016 to enhance climate resilience in the agricultural sector. MCAP complements these efforts by providing access to global networks and resources that contribute to local planning and development.

“Through shared research and experiences of farming regions with similar Mediterranean climates, South African fruit growers gain access to valuable knowledge to improve productivity and protect crops in unpredictable weather,” says Dr Stephanie Midgley, Specialist Scientist: Climate Change at the Western Cape Department of Agriculture.

“In some regions, fruit orchards are linked to mountainous areas and water-storage systems, making them highly vulnerable to drought affecting crop yields. Localised threats such as wildfires endanger orchards, farmers and surrounding communities, while extreme heat affects workers and crops.”

These hazards pose significant challenges to the fruit industry. “Local partners such as Hortgro and CapeNature support MCAP because it helps the region identify shared risks and learn from counterparts in countries with established fruit industries,” says Trautmann. “Many of these regions grow similar perennial crops, making knowledge exchange especially valuable for resilience.”

Western Cape involvement in cross-regional projects

The 2025 MCAP Annual Convening, hosted by the Western Cape Government, showcased the province as a global leader in climate action and innovation. The event brought together 11 of the 16 founding Mediterranean regions to accelerate coordinated responses to shared climate risks.

It also advanced MCAP’s three-year action agenda, focusing on elevating Mediterranean regions globally, positioning MCAP as a model for scalable climate solutions, strengthening leadership, mobilising resources, and using crises as catalysts for policy change.

Delegates engaged in knowledge sharing, strategic planning, and governance discussions, with Premier Alan Winde highlighting the critical role of subnational governments in driving innovation and building resilience. Convening highlights included the approval of three cross-regional projects featuring the Western Cape as a partner:

1. Designing a Wildfire Risk Information Service and Spatial Planning for Wildfire Prevention and Biodiversity Conservation, with Catalonia, California, and New South Wales.
2. Developing a Regional Heat Island Monitoring and Prediction Tool, with Santiago and California.
3. Building Coastal Wetlands Resilience: Protecting Biodiversity and Sustainable Water Management, with Catalonia and Central Greece.

“The Convening accentuated the importance of international collaboration, allowing delegates to interact with local communities, conservation agencies, and farmers to see real-world climate adaptation measures,” says Trautmann.

“The event concluded with a shared commitment to continued cooperation, emphasising that global-local partnerships are essential for building resilient Mediterranean communities.”

Practical solutions through innovation and communication

A core strength of MCAP is structured knowledge exchange and active collaboration. “The partnership is coordinated by a dedicated secretariat managed by Resilient Cities Catalyst, an NGO specialising in climate change and community development,” says Trautmann.

“This team ensures continuous communication, drives collaboration across the 16 regions, and moves initiatives from discussion to action.”

Annual convenings enable regions to share experiences, foster trust, and initiate collaborative projects. Webinars, joint workshops, and mini-sprint projects allow regions to collaborate on specific issues. The partnership encourages regional governments, the private sector, tertiary institutions, industry organisations, and researchers to propose innovative projects.

The Western Cape Government supports these initiatives, helping participants connect with international partners. While MCAP may not directly fund all projects, its structure provides credibility and visibility, making it easier to attract philanthropic or bilateral funding.

“The Western Cape Government is learning from international partners to strengthen community resilience against climate extremes,” says Trautmann. Other MCAP regions, such as Santiago, are also leading initiatives focused on community well-being during extreme heat.

“Effective community engagement must go beyond awareness, delivering tangible benefits through well-planned sustainable projects,” says Midgley. “Collaboration with municipalities, NGOs, and local stakeholders is essential to ensure programmes are structured and impactful.”

Lessons learnt and future directions

Participation in MCAP has revealed valuable lessons and key challenges. “Coordinating activities across multiple time zones can be difficult, and consistent representation from partner regions is essential for sustained engagement,” says Trautmann.

“The Western Cape has found that strong networks linking government departments, academic institutions, commodity organisations, and the private sector are crucial for implementing and sharing climate-smart solutions.”

Funding and sustainability remain critical priorities. Philanthropic organisations provide most of the financial support, while proposed membership fees would help maintain the secretariat and encourage long-term commitment.

“This structure ensures the partnership remains active and capable of delivering results,” says Trautmann. “Looking ahead, the 16 founding regions aim to consolidate their efforts before expanding, by maintaining a focused and engaged network.”