CAIRO – Egypt aspires through the implementation of projects related to the National Strategy for Climate Change 2050 to present a success story in the upcoming UN climate conference, COP27, said Environment Minister Yasmin Fouad.
The strategy composes of three groups of projects, with 26 ones in the priority sectors until 2030, added the minister.
The first group focuses on integration between renewable energy, food and water projects while the second one focuses on the transport sector and the third one on the petroleum and gas sector, she further said.
The minister made the remarks on Thursday during her participation in the proceedings of the joint coordination and co-operation platform of the development partners group, which was held in co-operation between the International Co-operation Ministry and the UN Egypt office.
The meeting was held under the theme of “Strengthening Partnerships and Strategic Dialogue on Equitable and Sustainable Climate Finance..Nexus of Water, Food and Energy (NWFE PROGRAM)”
Egypt’s UN Resident Coordinator Elena Panova, Secretary General of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Heike Harmgart, and head of Cairo office of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Alfredo Abad attended the proceedings along with a host of representatives of UN programs in Egypt.
Speaking during the event, the environment minister pointed out to the crucial role played by the citizen in confronting the knock-on effects of the climate change.
This has encouraged the government to launch the first national dialogue for climate last April in order to spread awareness among the various segments of the society about the climate change issue, she added.
The second edition of the dialogue will be launched in August, said the minister.
For her part, International Co-operation Minister Rania el-Mashat said that the launch of the “NWFE programme” came in line with an integrated approach between the sectors of water, food and energy.
The programme also aims to promote for the first list of the projects in such sectors, as part of the National Strategy for Climate Change 2050, added the minister.
Delivering a speech during the proceedings of launching the joint coordination and cooperation platform of the development partners group, Mashat said that the “NWFE” program is considered a mechanism through which the International Co-operation Ministry will work to promote for the green development projects in the spheres of water, food and energy.
Mashat, meanwhile, said that her ministry was keen to hold a co-operation platform for the development partners group, which is spearheaded by the UN and the German Embassy this year.
The move came to post all the partners on all the projects in a bid to provide the development financing needed and probe ways for introducing innovative mechanisms and moving from pledges to actual implementation on the ground, added the minister.
The ministry’s current portfolio includes projects worth more than dlrs 11 billion in the field of adaptation to climate change and cushioning its fallout, said Mashat, pointing out to Egypt’s pioneering experiences in implementing climate change-related projects.
Egypt’s UN Resident Coordinator Elena Panova, for her part, said that the National Strategy for Climate Change 2050 represents a great example of attaining sustainable development and promoting climate action in light of the close link between development and climate.
No corner of the globe is immune from the devastating consequences of climate change, she said, underlining the need of taking the necessary action to confront the repercussions of climate change.
Head of the German Development Cooperation in Egypt and First Counselor at the German Embassy in Cairo Uwe Gehlen, on his part, hailed the efforts exerted by the International Cooperation Ministry and the launch of the “NWFE program” through the merge between the joint cooperation platform and the meeting of the development partners group with the aim of implementing the climate pledges.
Secretary General of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Heike Harmgart, meanwhile, affirmed that EBRD stands fully ready to support the “NWFE” program as well as efforts to attain green transition in terms of energy, food and water projects.
The bank is also keen on promoting cooperation with the Egyptian government and the private sector in the green hydrogen sphere, she said, pointing out to Egypt’s great potentials and opportunities in this sphere.
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