How Egypt prepares to host COP 27

CAIRO – 25 August 2022: The Egyptian authorities are working around the clock to host, on behalf of the African continent, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 2022 (COP 27) in Sharm El-Sheikh on November 6-18, 2022.

This year's international gathering aims to establish legally binding commitments for developed countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Egypt focuses on urgent and priority issues in the African continent, in particular, and in developing countries in general, such as adaptation and climate finance.

“Egypt looks forward to building on the outputs of Glasgow to set a global goal for adaptation according to the 'from Glasgow - Sharm El Sheikh' work program, especially after the completion of the Paris Rulebook,” said the Ministry of Environment in a statement.

Unofficial themes at the COP 27

Although Egypt is only hosting the UN activities of the COP 27, the country put forward an agenda for unofficial themes to be tackled at the conference over 10 days.

The themes are as follows:

1-    Adaptation and Agriculture:

On that day, issues related to adaptation, such as agriculture, nutrition, livelihoods and protection in coastal areas, loss and damage, disaster risk reduction, and solutions to agriculture and food systems that are vulnerable to droughts and floods, will be discussed.

2-    Green Funding

The Finance Day will address aspects of finance ecosystem, such as innovative and blended financing, financial instruments, instruments and policies that have the potential to enhance access and scale up finance, besides the Debt-for-environment swaps

3-    Energy

A day was assigned to address all aspects of energy and climate change, including renewable energy and energy conversion, green hydrogen, and smart grids.

4-     Biodiversity:

Discussions will be held about nature and ecosystem-based solutions, where the impacts of climate change on biodiversity and ways to mobilize global action to halt biodiversity loss and limit the effects of climate change and pollution will be tackled. Discussions will also focus on the impacts of climate change on oceans, endangered species and coral reefs, the sustainability of protected areas, and the impacts of plastic waste on ecosystems and aquatic species.

5-    Science:

The Science Day will include panel discussions to engage with the scientific community and academia and bring their views into the dialogue.

6-    Solution:

The Solution Day will bring together representatives of governments, companies and innovators to share their experiences and ideas with the aim of spreading awareness of the best practices and possibly building alliances and collaboration in the future. The day of solution will also bring together established companies and entrepreneurs.

7-    Reduction of greenhouse gases:

This day will provide an opportunity to discuss approaches and policies that aim to reduce the greenhouse gases and to showcase technologies that encourage and facilitate the much-needed transformation towards a low-carbon economy.

8-    Water:

The Water Day will include various topics such as water scarcity and drought, cross-border cooperation and improving early warning systems.

9-    Women’s role:

Penal sessions will be held on the role of women in dealing with the challenges of climate change.

10- Youth’s role:

This day aims to engage youth in issues of highest priority with high-level champions of climate action to present their success stories and efforts in combating climate change.

Green Zone

The Egyptian government has allocated a zone in the Peace Park in Sharm El-Sheikh for the private sector and civil society. It aims to give the state, the private sector, youth, women and civil society an opportunity to showcase their success stories regarding climate change.

Side events will be held at the Green Zone with the participation of ministers, CEOs and high-level personalities from banks and private sector companies. It will also be a space for exhibitions, a theater, meeting rooms, a space for the Bedouin community, restaurants and cafeterias.

The government has launched a link for exhibitors, stakeholders and speakers to register for attending the activities of the Green Zone.

"Over three days, Egyptian civil society organizations will have a pavilion at the blue zone, which comes under the administration of the United Nations, to show their experience," said the minister of environment during the launch of the national campaign to raise awareness of climate change impacts under the slogan “Back to nature” on August 16, 2022.

The minister further noted that the USAID and the Ministry of Environment are working on a simulation model of COP 27 at the Cairo University.

Green city

The concerned ministries focused on transforming Sharm El-Sheikh into a green city through adopting a series of measures. The city is now relying on eco-friendly electrical and natural gas-powered means, according to the Ministry of Environment’s report.

The number of hotels that have been awarded the Green Star is more than 120 out of about 160 hotels, while 60 diving centers have been awarded the green mark. Additionally, a solar cell plant with a capacity of 5 megawatts is being established on the rooftops of Sharm El-Sheikh Airport buildings.

Also, an integrated management of the waste system (collection, separation and recycling) is being established.

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To organize hosting the conference, a higher coordination committee, chaired by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, was formed to host the upcoming COP27 climate conference. The committee includes Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, who was chosen to be the COP 27 President- designate; Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad who was selected to be the Ministerial Envoy for the conference, and from other ministries (the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the Ministry of Electricity and New and Renewable Energy, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Ministry of Health and Population, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the National Security Sector, the Ministry of Transport, The Ministry of Social Solidarity); and other concerned authorities.

A total of 35 eco-friendly projects are ongoing in Sharm El-Sheikh in cooperation with all the concerned bodies of the state, the minister said last week.