BERLIN – Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi affirmed that the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), which is due to be held in Sharm el-Sheikh next November, aims to act as a turning point in fulfilling climate pledges and turning them into a tangible reality on the ground.
It is important to focus climate efforts on the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change, added President Sisi during the inauguration of the high-level session of the Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin.
Egypt will spare no effort to render the COP27 conference a success, affirmed President Sisi, noting that the Petersberg Climate Dialogue is considered a perfect opportunity for consultation on climate change-related issues.
Egypt has exerted tireless efforts to cope with the negative impacts of the climate change, he affirmed.
President Sisi, meanwhile, hailed the crucial role played by Germany to address climate change.
Climate change is having a growing impact on the African continent, hitting the most vulnerable, President Sisi said, underlining the importance of exerting efforts to enable the African countries to benefit from their wealth.
President Sisi went on to say that the climate change poses an existential threat.
He further stressed the need to reach clear visions to support the efforts of developing countries seeking to use clean energy.
Delivering a speech during the inauguration of the high-level session of the Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin, President Sisi expressed his sincere appreciation for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
He also commended Germany’s leading role in addressing climate change and dealing with its impact, saying that Germany’s efforts in this respect demonstrated its political commitment at the highest level to support international climate action.
President Sisi, meanwhile, said that Egypt is hosting the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in a world characterized by successive challenges, primarily the current global energy crisis and the food crisis from which many developing countries are suffering.
This is, in addition to the accumulation of debt, poor flow of funds, the negative impact of the Covid-19 and the complicated political scene, caused by the war in Ukraine, President Sisi went on to say.
“This places a big responsibility on our shoulders to ensure that these difficulties will not affect the implementation of our common vision to address climate change, which was reflected in the Paris Agreement, and confirmed last year in Glasgow,” President Sisi further said.
Sisi noted that his speech today focuses on a number of points that Egypt, in its capacity as head of the upcoming UN Climate Summit, viewed as important:
First, all scientific reports and estimates asserted that climate change has become a threat to existence for many countries and communities around the world, Sisi said, adding that it is not now possible to delay the implementation of any pledges and commitments relevant to climate.
All parties involved in the climate issue have agreed that priority in the coming phase is implementing Paris Agreement and turn the specific contributions to practical action within the framework of international principles governing climate topped by justice and joint responsibility, Sisi noted.
Therefore, a principal part of the Egyptian presidency efforts to convene the UN Climate conference focuses on making the international conference a turning point on the scope of international climate action with the aim of maintaining the international momentum and assert the commitment of governmental and non-governmental bodies to carrying out their pledges on the ground, Sisi noted.
Second, in order to achieve such a vision, Egypt seeks the backing of all parties and their contribution to create an atmosphere of confidence that could bring about tangible results for our peoples, Sisi added.
Sisi also praised the latest data released by the G7 summit 2022, held in Germany last month, and highlighted its positive political stances regarding the just transfer of energy to a number of developing countries.
Sisi asserted the need for expanding such support to include other developing countries which are exerting strenuous efforts in this regard, underlining the importance of participation of international foundations and banks to back such steps.
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