Egypt taking proactive steps to face climate change

Egypt has taken a number of measures to combat climate change over the past years, such as the issuance of green bonds that were tied to projects related to tackling climate change, whether in mitigation or adaptation.

The integration of the environmental dimension into all fields, the establishment of the Supreme Council for Climate Change, and the launch of the National Climate Change Strategy 2050 were also among measures taken by the state in this respect.

Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad said the National Climate Change Strategy 2050 includes five goals; namely, achieving sustainable economic growth, building resilience and ability to adapt to climate change risks, improving governance and management of work in the field of climate change, boosting the infrastructure for financing climate activities, promoting scientific research and technology transfer and managing knowledge and awareness.

This goes in tandem with applying the interactive map project with the aim of helping decision-makers to identify climate change potential risk areas and take the necessary measures in the various development sectors, as well as seize financing opportunities for adaptation from international bodies.

For his part, Dr Ayman Hamza, official spokesman for the Ministry of Electricity, said that the ministry has taken extensive steps in many spheres, such as the expansion in the use of new and renewable energy, and the increased reliance of green hydrogen and its derivatives.

Referring to plans to increasing electricity production from renewable energy to 42 per cent by 2032, Hamza noted there is a number of ongoing projects including one for the production of 28.000 megawatts of wind energy with major international companies with investments amounting to $34 billion.

He also pointed out that green hydrogen is one of the important trends that the world is keen to expand in its use, referring to Egypt’s proactive, positive and serious steps to develop a strategy for green hydrogen for the coming years.

He explained that there are 32 memorandums of understanding and 9 framework agreements with major companies for green hydrogen and its derivatives, with total investments amounting to $85 billion.