SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt – Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi asserted Monday that seeing many countries joining the “Middle East Green Initiative” ever since its launch last year, reflects how countries in the Arab region are very “serious” in exerting further efforts to face the climate change phenomenon.
More efforts are focused on reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions and achieving transition to renewable energy, in addition to taking all active measures toward promotion of mitigation and adaptation efforts to address the negative impacts of climate change, President Sisi added.
The president was addressing the 2022 “Middle East Green Initiative” Summit, held on the sidelines of the COP27 UN Climate Conference, currently in session in Sharm El Sheikh.
President Sisi said he hopes the UN climate gathering will come up with comprehensive and strong outcomes that are expected to mainly contribute to fostering and enhancing global climate action on all fronts.
The Initiative has set ambitious targets for a greener global future and is a first-of-its-kind regional platform to drive unified climate action.
Egypt took important steps toward transition to renewable energy including solar energy, wind power or hydrogen, President Sisi said, adding the country is now launching ambitious projects in clean transportation.
As far as adaptation efforts are concerned, President Sisi said Egypt made tangible successes in the sustainable management of water resources and the country’s updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) document calls for realizing several ambitious goals toward the promotion of adaptation efforts in the agriculture sector, the protection of coastal areas and sustainable urban development in accordance with the Paris Agreement.
Countries in the Arab region are exerting similar efforts in countering the bad impacts of climate change, President Sisi mentioned.
Egypt’s hosting of COP27 this year and the convocation of COP28 in the UAE next year are a testament to the crucial roles Arab countries are playing in promoting global climate action and their commitment to honoring all obligations and pledges, President Sisi went on to say.
He welcomed leaders and heads of state and government participating in the Summit in Sharm El Sheikh city, that seeks to address ways of implementing climate pledges.
The “City of Peace” is hosting COP27 conference for the coming two weeks.
