Shoukry, Kerry launch US-Egypt Climate Working Group

CAIRO – 21 February 2022: Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry Monday launched the US-Egypt Climate Working Group after their meeting at the Foreign Ministry premises in Cairo.

The Egyptian minister made the remarks at a press briefing held jointly with the US envoy at the end of their session of talks held earlier, Monday.

 

Shoukry said that an agreement was reached to form that group during the US-Egypt Strategic Dialogue held in November last year.

The top diplomat welcomed Kerry on his second visit to Cairo since he assumed his current post

Shoukry said that climate change is a common priority of both Cairo and Washington, noting that Egypt is preparing to host the UN Climate Change Conference, COP27, in 2022.

 

Egypt will lead international efforts to face climate change in the coming stage, the top diplomat said.

He added that his talks with Kerry focused on goals of the upcoming COP27, stressing that Egypt would continue to exert utmost effort at all levels with the aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support adaptation to the negative impact of climate change.

COP27 will also tackle finances needed to enanble developing countries to do their part of the Paris Agreement, Shoukry said.

 

Egypt is keen on empowering youth and the civil society, where climate change is concerned, he told Kerry.

Shoukry and Kerry agreed on next steps to continue joint coordination about top-priority issues on the agenda of COP27.

The Egyptian foreign minister hailed as "pivotal" the role played by Washington in terms of global climate action.

Indeed, the US is the world's top emitter of greenhouse gases, but it also leads efforts of developed countries to support climate action in developing nations, Shoukry acknowledged

Kerry, for his part, said the group is focused on the COP27 conference in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

He said the country has already begun its preparations for the meeting.

Kerry said other world tensions “will not change the reality of what is happening every day with respect to our climate," and called the issue an “international threat for all of us.”

He said that the US was also working with Egypt on its own transition to a clean energy future.

During his visit, Kerry is expected to speak at the American University in Cairo on the future of international climate action in the leadup to COP27.

He is also set to meet with government counterparts and business representatives to urge continued and increased climate ambition.

The US-Egypt Climate Working Group is a joint endeavor to advance bilateral and multilateral climate goals ahead of COP27