EARLY preparations for convening the world summit conference on global climate change (COP27) in Egypt later this year have already been launched, signally Egypt’s determination to turn the event into a milestone in international action to counter the risks of climate change. Putting the issue forward for debate and consideration and the World Youth Forum which concluded its work in Sharm el-Sheikh last Friday and President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s participation in the panel discussion devoted to global climate change pointed to Egypt’s profound orientation to utilise all potentials for the success of COP27, given that the young people of the world today will be the very generation that will benefit from the cumulative effects of present efforts to bring climate change consequences to acceptable limits. And it was in reflection of this attitude that WYF 4 recommendations as announced by President Sisi at the closing ceremony last Thursday contained a call for engaging youth in the consideration of global climate change issues and urged forum organisers to form, through coordination with all departments concerned, groups of youth from Egypt and other countries of the world to start participation in measures and preparations for COP27.
WYF4’s recommendation to this effect comes in harmony with the Glasgow Climate Pact, COP26’s concluding instrument, which recognised in its preamble as well as in its operative paras the important role of youth in addressing and responding to climate change while highlighting the urgent need for multilevel and co-operative action. The role of today’s young people in contributing to the success of international action on climate change through understanding and supporting adaptation programmes would be one segment of a preparatory meeting Egypt is planning to convene for consultations shortly before COP27 summit, according to recent televised remarks by Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad. To engage youth, eight months ahead of the convening of COP27, in dialogue on their role in dealing with the phenomenon of global change helps widen the base of international awareness of the imperative of supportive action to seek the fructification of ongoing efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Together with highlighting the aspired role of young people in carrying out climate action at all national, regional and international levels, Minister Fouad indicated that adaptation policies and anti-climate change programme funding would appear in the foremost of the preparatory meeting’s consultations. Both issues received special emphasis during the Glasgow summit’s two-week-long intensive deliberations as well as in the conference’s conclusions, reflecting common attitude to pursue the adaptation work programme and to continue increasing support to developing countries in general and to countries on the frontline of climate change in particular.
Also as part of Egypt’s early preparations for COP27 and to ensure the continuity of political and diplomatic efforts came the meeting that Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri and Environment Minister Fouad held the other day with COP26 President Alok Sharma. Foremost among the conclusions of that meeting was the agreement reached to work together to deliver on the outcomes of the Glasgow Pact and to maintain support for developing countries in the implementation of adaptation programmes. As such, the meeting constituted a significant step to build on the results of previous international action, the latest stage of which was the Glasgow summit, in developing the broadest possible accord of views on the road to COP27.
