Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has warned of threats of climate change to human life, pressing for action to face its negative effects.
The industrial development pattern, prevailing since the industrial revolution, needs to be changed to avoid serious consequences, the Egyptian top diplomat said in a speech after his country took over presidency of the international climate summit, COP27, from the UK earlier Sunday.
Addressing the gathering in the Egyptian Red Sea resort city of Sharm el Sheikh, Shoukry voiced gratitude for the confidence the group has in Egypt’s ability to host such an important event.
He also thanked the UK, the president of the COP26, for its efforts to support global climate action.
Egypt, Shoukry added, intends to follow the same course so that Sharm el Sheikh would become a significant stop on the long road of collective and multilateral action toward countering the greatest human challenge.
Egypt will spare no effort to render the COP27 successful, its foreign minister assured, noting that all government and non-government parties will be given the chance to contribute to such an important event to guarantee that the most aspired results are attained.
This is the 37th conference in 30 years of non-stop action that has helped boost awareness of the threat of climate change and its hazardous consequences, the Egyptian foreign minister said.
“We are more convinced of what measures we should take to stave off and overcome [climate change] today rather than tomorrow,” Shoukry told the conference.
It is sure a long way that entails big effort and action till the final destination is reached, he acknowledged.
Shoukry said that it is high time that parties seriously acted toward a radical change to counter this big challenge.
Science has categorically proved that the development pattern adopted since the industrial revolution cannot possibly be sustained, the top diplomat stated, warning that, without radical change, this could lead to serious consequences that the future generations would bear more than the current one.
He cited reports that underscore “alarmingly widening gaps”, whether in terms of maintaining the temperature target of the Paris Agreement, adapting to the negative impact of climate change or securing finances needed to empower developing countries in the face of that threat.
The Sharm el Sheikh conference is held at a time of political tensions, that have spilled over into all countries and affected energy and food supplies, Shoukry told the gathering, urging all participants to prove to the world that “we are well aware of the magnitude of this challenge and that we have the political will to counter all [other challenges].”
Shoukry also spoke of “an unprecedented boom” at the renewable energy sector that helped reduce energy prices greatly.
Adaptation technologies have also developed tangibly, particularly where managing water resources and the agricultural sector are concerned.
The Sharm el Sheikh conference is set to start tomorrow with the aim to implement pledges of action to counter climate change, the Egyptian foreign minister said.
This is not an act of negotiations that is detached from reality, Shoukry told the gathering, stressing that “we will all lose if we think that one party can make gains at the expense of the other.”
“Our mission is nobler than that,” he said, adding that it affects the life and interests of millions of people around the globe who suffer from a reality that is further aggravating by the day.
Shoukry said he is confident that all parties are aware of the magnitude of this challenge and all have the intention to efficiently act to counter it.
