Sisi: Egypt committed to ambitious, balanced climate action agenda

CAIRO – 20 April 2023:  In its capacity as the current head of the 2022 UN climate change conference, COP27, Egypt is committed to an ambitious and balanced climate action agenda that takes into consideration the just and swift implementation of pledges, said President Abdel Fattah El Sisi.

Sisi made the remarks during his participation, via video-conference, in the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate Change summit under the auspices of US President Joseph Biden and with the participation of a number of heads of state and government as well as the UN secretary-general.

This is the second time that Sisi takes part in the summit as a key speaker.

Sisi underlined the importance of developed nations' fulfillment of their commitments to developing countries, stressing that the success of the international community in confronting climate change depends to a large extent on providing appropriate and sufficient funding to support the implementation of programs and projects for emissions reduction and adaptation, taking into account the repercussions of climate change as well as the international financial situation on developing countries.

He also underlined the importance of dealing seriously with the issue of loss and damage resulting from climate change, saying the Egyptian presidency of COP27 is proud to have taken a decision for the first time in this regard, in clear reference to the establishment of a fund on losses during COP27.

The president hoped that desired progress will be achieved by the next global climate change conference.

Sisi reviewed Egypt's climate change efforts at the national level, saying the government is about to finalize all required procedures and necessary funding to achieve its goal of reaching 42% of energy production based on renewable energy by 2020.

He also referred to Egypt's efforts to expedite the implementation of memorandums of understanding as regards green hydrogen production to become a hub for the production of clean energy, as well as to reduce the carbon footprint of the energy-intensive industry sector.

Egypt is also implementing several ambitious environment-friendly transport projects, he said, adding the country has completed the first phase of the light electric train, carried out projects for sustainable transport in major cities and expanded the network of electric car charging stations.

The president also referred to the Egyptian parliament's approval of Egypt's accession to the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol and gradual steps taken by the government to reduce hydrofluorocarbons in terms of production or consumption.

Sisi talked about the Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ministry's action plan to reduce methane emissions.

He reiterated Egypt's aspiration to join the Forest and Climate Initiative, which was launched on the sidelines of the COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh as well as to the carbon management challenge, which is scheduled to be launched in COP28.

Egypt also hopes to take part in developing the work of international financial institutions in a way that contributes to achieving the three goals stipulated in the Sharm El Sheikh Implementation Plan as regards increasing the volume of financing offered to developing countries, facilitating access to financing, and adopting soft financing tools that are compatible with the conditions of developing countries.

At the end, the President underlined the importance of accelerating the transition to carbon neutrality in a number of sectors, including the maritime transport sector, as well as the energy sector whether by expanding the use of renewable energy or zero-emission fuels such as hydrogen.