Sisi: Egypt joins Global Methane Pledge, will enhance efforts to reduce methane emissions

CAIRO – 18 June 2022: Egypt has joined the Global Methane Pledge initiative through which it will seek to boost its efforts regarding reducing methane emissions from the petroleum and natural gas sectors, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has said.

Sisi made the remarks via video conference on Friday in the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate Change summit held under the auspices of US President Joe Biden.

President Sisi participated in the forum as the host and president of the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh city this November.

The US established the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate Change in 2009 to support issues of climate change and mobilize the necessary international momentum.

Launched last year at COP26, the Global Methane Pledge is led by the US and European Union with the aim of catalyzing action to reduce methane emissions. Countries participating in the pledge commit to cooperate on reducing methane emissions by at least 30 percent below 2020 levels by 2030.

During his speech, Sisi announced that Egypt will work on reducing methane emissions based on the expertise and funding provided by the initiative and in cooperation with international partners in this regard.

The president stressed the commitment of Egypt, as president of COP27, to support and enhance efforts to face climate change, adapt to its negative effects and build on the international momentum.

“Egypt is fully aware of the magnitude of the responsibility entrusted to it as the president of the conference. It is also aware that people from different corners of the world are looking forward to tangible results that contribute to creating real change on the ground that will move us from the phase of negotiating texts and declaring pledges to actual implementation on the ground at all levels to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement, with the prime goal of 1.5 degree Celsius,” the president added.

In this regard, Sisi affirmed Egypt’s commitment to continue its utmost efforts to urge all parties to raise climate action ambitions by updating their nationally determined contributions for the implementation of the Paris Agreement as well as supporting and strengthening their long-term plans and strategies to reduce emissions and address the negative impacts of climate change.

“Egypt also works in partnership with everyone to support and strengthen existing initiatives to confront climate change, follow- up on the implementation of their outcomes, and launch new ambitious initiatives to complement and support the government climate action,” Sisi stated.

The president also announced an Egyptian-US partnership under which a number of events will be organized on climate change adaptation in the African continent throughout this year.

“This will lead to the launch of a new initiative that has an effective and tangible impact to support adaptation efforts in Africa during the Sharm El-Sheikh summit,” the president added.