Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El Sisi travelled to the UK on Sunday to take part in the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change which brings together some 200 countries for a re-appraisal of international action to reduce global warming. The conference (COP26) formally opened in Glasgow on Sunday but convenes at the level of the Heads of State and Government on Monday.
The Egyptian leader’s participation in the work of the two-day summit comes in response to the invitation of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, whose country holds the current presidency of the summit, in light of the important role that Egypt plays at the regional and international levels within the framework of climate change negotiations, Presidency Spokesman Ambassador Bassam Radi said.
In the course of his participation in the work of the summit, President Sisi will focus on issues of concern to developing countries in general and African countries in particular, Spokesman Radi said.
President Sisi’s presentation of these issues would highlight the need for strengthening efforts to advance international climate action and the necessity of industrialised countries abiding by their commitments within the framework of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the spokesman said, adding that the president would also reiterate Egypt’s aspiration to host the summit’s next session, scheduled for 2022.
The programme of the president’s visit to the UK includes holding talks with British Prime Minister Johnson to discuss ways of boosting bilateral relations, which have witnessed a qualitative leap in recent years, in a way that realises the common interests of the two countries, as well as continuing consultations and mutual coordination on a number of regional and international files.
President Sisi is also due to hold a series of meetings during the summit with a number of heads of state and government, to discuss advancing bilateral co-operation frameworks, as well as consultation and exchange of views and visions on various regional and international issues, Spokesman Radi said.
Delegates from around 200 countries are in Glasgow to announce how they will cut emissions by 2030 and help the planet.
With the world warming because of fossil fuel emissions caused by humans, scientists warn that urgent action is needed to avoid a climate catastrophe.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the summit will be the “world’s moment of truth”.
The United Nations gathering is one of the biggest summits the UK has ever hosted, and was delayed for a year because of the pandemic. COP stands for “conference of the parties” and Glasgow’s is the 26th such conference.
World countries have earlier agreed to make changes to keep global warming “well below” 2C above pre-industrial levels but since then, as extreme weather events have intensified, climate scientists have urged nations to aim for 1.5C to limit the risk of environmental disaster.
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