Egypt’s FM, UNEP Executive Director discuss int’l climate action

CAIRO – 11 September 2022: Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry, the president-designate of the 27th session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 27), met on Sunday with Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Inger Andersen, to discuss various topics related to international climate action.

Minister Shoukry congratuled Andersen on the 50th anniversary of the founding of the UNEP, praising the work of the program and its efforts in the fields of environment and climate change, including its recent issuance of two reports on adaptation to Climate Change and Reducing Emissions, said Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid.

Shoukry also reviewed the Egyptian presidency’s vision for the COP 27 conference on priority issues in international climate action, and expressed his appreciation of the existing cooperation between the two sides to prepare for the conference and the initiatives that will be announced during it.

The UNEP executive director praised the leading role played by Egypt on the African and Arab arenas when it comes to clean energy uses and combating climate change, stressing the readiness of the United Nations Environment Program to support Egypt to ensure the success of the upcoming climate summit.

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.

Additional reporting by Samar Samir