Civil society has role in shaping climate action

The Egyptian Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine el-Qabbag took part on Tuesday in Civil Society Day on the sidelines of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27).

The minister addressed a plenary session themed ‘Civil Society and Shaping the Global Climate Agenda: Legacy and Prospects’ to highlight the role of civil society in shaping the global climate agenda and implementing pledges.

The time has come to take concrete, effective and responsible measures to mitigate the negative impacts of the climate change on human life, the minister said.

She noted the close relationship between environmental justice and social justice, adding that developing countries and vulnerable groups usually pay the price of global warming in the developed world.

Climate change represents the greatest threat to the most vulnerable groups, el-Qabbag said, calling on international development partners to attach more attention to women, small-scale farmers, fishermen, children, the elderly and people with disabilities to withstand these challenges.

Developed countries must fulfill their obligations to protect all those in the face of the challenges of climate change, and must act collectively and immediately, el-Qabbag said.

Governments, civil societies, green and peace movements and volunteers want social justice and decent, healthy and safe life for all vulnerable groups across the African continent, el-Qabbag added.

Egypt supports the rights of the African continent to climate mitigation efforts and mechanisms, she said, urging African civil society to form alliances and networks in Africa and around the world to vigorously defend the rights of poor peoples to a safe and healthy life.

Egypt will be affected by climate change with the expected increase in heatwaves, dust winds and storms along the Mediterranean coast, as the average annual temperature rises by 0.53 Celsius, and sea levels will rise 30 centimetres by 2050, she said.

Therefore, it is necessary to raise societal awareness on climate change issues at local and global levels, she added.

Egypt has also pledged to integrate climate change into national development policies, the minister said.