Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam inaugurated a workshop showcasing the outcomes of the “Enhancing Climate Change Adaptation on Egypt’s North Coast and Nile Delta” project and the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Plan, developed by the ministry in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The event was attended by Chitose Noguchi, UNDP Resident Representative in Egypt, Assistant Resident Representative and Climate Change Programme Manager at the UNDP, Mohamed Bassiouni, Chairman of the Shore Protection Authority, Mohamed Ghattas, Director of the “Enhancing Climate Change Adaptation on Egypt’s North Coast and Nile Delta” project, Mohamed Ahmed, and representatives of the Cabinet, various ministries and coastal governorates.
In an opening remarks, Sewilam commended the UNDP, national partners and technical teams from the Egyptian Shore Protection Authority and the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation for producing valuable scientific and technical outputs.
The minister described the project’s achievements as a milestone in Egypt’s efforts to strengthen climate resilience along its Mediterranean coastline and establish a more integrated approach to coastal planning and development.
“The project provides a robust scientific foundation for enhancing the resilience of Egypt’s coasts to climate change while safeguarding the country’s natural resources and economic assets for future generations,” Sewilam said.
He noted that Egypt now has an unprecedented opportunity to guide coastal development using scientific evidence, comprehensive data and climate risk assessments.
For the first time, the country has developed climate risk maps covering its entire Mediterranean coastline, providing a scientific basis for planning future development and infrastructure projects.
The Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan serves as a national framework for co-ordinating coastal development across government, rather than a strategy limited to the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, Sewilam said.
Successful implementation depends on close co-operation among ministries responsible for investment, housing, transport, tourism, environment, agriculture, industry and local development, as well as Egypt’s coastal governorates, the minister noted.
Effective coastal management begins with sound urban planning, strategic site selection, early warning systems and rapid response mechanisms before extending to shoreline protection, Sewilam said.
Egypt is working to institutionalise this integrated approach while expanding co-operation and exchanging expertise with countries that have advanced experience in building climate-resilient coastlines, he noted.
