Egypt has called for collaboration among African countries in financing efforts to tackle the widespread environmental and economic consequences of climate change on the continent.
Egypt’s Transport Minister, Kamel al-Wazir made this known during the “Climate Change Mitigation” session held on the sidelines of the Islamic Development Bank’s annual meetings in Sharm El-Sheikh.
Wazir said that his ministry’s vision is not limited to transporting goods and passengers and that it aspires to participate actively in consolidating the concept of sustainable development to attain the required balance among social, economic and environmental requirements.
Read also: Ajayi appointed head of delegation to UN climate change conference
Wazir explained that in order to implement this vision, a comprehensive policy has been adopted and includes the expansion of transportation means to connect Egypt with regional and international countries while reducing carbon emissions.
In her reaction, Egypt’s Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Hala al-Saeed said that adapting to climate change has become Egypt’s top priority, adding that Cairo launched a structural reforms program, which includes policies aimed at supporting the transition to a green economy and maintaining the sustainable use of natural resources in 2021.
“The state is working hard to prepare and launch the national strategy for hydrogen, the national strategy for managing water resources, and the strategy for protecting beaches,” she said.
She further stated that her ministry was collaborating with the private sector, to adopt environmental sustainability standards, which aim for green projects to represent 30% of the state’s investment plan for the fiscal year 2021-22 and 50% of the fiscal year 2024-25.
Responding to Egypt’s hosting of the COP27 Climate Summit, Saeed said Cairo targets achieving tangible progress in priority areas, such as climate financing, adaptation, loss and damage.
She explained that these objectives aim at helping Cairo address the challenge of financing adaptation to climate change activities and ease the burden on the state’s general budget by reducing environmental pollution and mitigating its negative impacts.
Story was adapted from Asharq Al-Awsat.
