Environmentalists second Egypt’s strategy to combat climate change as COP26 kicks off

CAIRO – 1 November 2021: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi participates in the Glasgow Summit on confronting climate change in UK, where Egypt is implementing a national strategy to confront climate change, which we review in the following report.

As COP26 kicks off Monday, Egyptian environmentalists seconded Egypt’s efforts to adapt and mitigate the negative effects of climate change.

In May 2011, Egypt launched its National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate, but was not activated until a few months ago, when the national council for climate change was reshuffled and is now headed directly by the Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.

Magdy Allam, an expert in environmental issues, said that the climate summit, which will last for two weeks in Glasgow, Scotland, may have a role in confronting climate changes, and will be the most effective in confronting this issue, due to the severity of the negative effects on Europe and America.

Environmentalist Sawsan el-Awady said that the move to put the council under the direct supervision of the prime minister reflects the huge importance Egypt gives to the climate change issue, considering it a priority to all ministries.

According to Awady, the council will be tasked to draft a strategy to maintain sustainability, adaptability and mitigation.

She further cited the speech made President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi Monday at the Glasgow summit in Britain, where highlighted that Egypt’s strategy to deal with the climate change is based on two pillars.

The first pillar is mitigation, including initiatives that reduces that the negative impact of the climate change through forestation, solar plant projects, recycling, reducing carbon emissions.  

The second pillar is the adaptation with climate change, like the possible surge in temperature degrees and global warming, which requires studies to utilize and suggest projects needed based on the new environment.  

Awady further highlighted President Sisi’s word about the importance of financing climate change-related projects in Africa, the continent which only produces 3 percent of the total emissions worldwide.

Awady went on saying that as Egypt is looking forward to host COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, she hopes the south Sinai resort city to develop as a green, sustainable city, where it declares itself with zero carbon emissions, plastic recycling, electric cars and renewable energy.  

She also cited Giza strategy to adapt to climate change effects, which was set in 2019, could be a model for all other governorates taken into consideration changes in weather and nature of each city.