WUF12: Egypt's SGP initiative highlighted as global model for sustainable urbanization

CAIRO - 6 November 2024: The third day of the World Urban Forum (WUF12) kicked off Wednesday in Cairo, where participants join in intensive dialogues and diverse discussions aiming to empower new systems of balanced and sustainable cities. 

 

On Wednesday, a high-level session was held highlighting Egypt’s National Initiative for Smart Green Projects (Egypt SGP).

 

The discussion considered Egypt's SGP initiative as a leading model for localizing climate action and promoting sustainable urban development through local solutions and innovations.

 

 

 

The session was moderated by Ambassador Hisham Badr, the National Coordinator of the initiative, and attended by Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation; Michal Mlynár, Deputy Executive Director of UN-Habitat; Elena Panova, UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt; and Alessandro Fracassetti, UNDP Resident Representative in Egypt.

 

Speakers at the session emphasized the need to scale up successful projects like the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects to achieve a broader global impact.

 

For her part, Minister Mashat emphasized the significance of multi-sector collaboration to ensure that sustainable solutions are scalable and aligned with global climate goals.

 

Mr. Mlynár commended Egypt SGP as reflecting Egypt’s commitment to localizing climate action and promoting sustainable urban development, noting that the initiative provides local solutions “and we need local solutions.” 

 

Ms. Panova congratulated the Government of Egypt for the Egypt SGP, adding that highlighting the initiative at WUF means it can be a model for other countries. She also noted that the UN wide-ranging support to the initiative throughout its three phases.

 

Addressing attending representatives of the winning projects in the initiative, Panova said, “your commitment, your expertise, and your vision shows us how much knowledge, innovation, and passion exists here in Egypt that can be tapped to help address the challenges of climate change.”

 

For his part, Alessandro Fracassetti, UNDP Resident Representative in Egypt, underscored the broader importance of SGP Egypt, stating, "By partnering with SGP Egypt, we are not only driving local climate action but also setting a model for the rest of the world."

 

“By highlighting the achievements of SGP Egypt’s winners, we aim to inspire other countries and regions to adopt a similar model—one that empowers local communities, fosters innovation, and ensures broad participation in the global effort to combat climate change,” said Amb. Hisham Badr, National Coordinator of SGP Egypt.

 

The 12th edition of the World Urban Forum (WUF12), co-hosted by UN-Habitat and the Government of Egypt in Cairo, is focusing on transformative solutions for sustainable urban development. This year’s forum is especially significant as it returns to Africa, with Cairo, a city grappling with both rapid urbanization and climate challenges, providing the backdrop.

 

A key feature of the forum is Egypt’s National Initiative for Smart Green Projects (Egypt's SGP), which incorporates green solutions such as sustainable urban design, low-carbon transportation, and energy-efficient buildings into urban planning.

 

The SGP initiative also prioritizes empowering women and youth, acknowledging their vital role in advancing climate action.

 

SGP Egypt is showcased as a global model for climate action, illustrating the effectiveness of local partnerships in addressing urban sustainability issues. The initiative has already supported innovative projects across all 27 of Egypt’s governorates, tackling challenges such as renewable energy, waste management, and low-carbon transportation. These solutions, while tailored to local contexts, are scalable and can serve as inspiration for cities worldwide.

 

The initiative’s success in engaging youth is particularly noteworthy, with many youth-led projects focusing on climate solutions and it offers a global model for addressing climate change through collaborative, local, and innovative solutions.

Under the theme “It all starts at home: Local actions for sustainable cities and communities,” WUF12 centres on localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by emphasizing the importance of community-led solutions to address global challenges such as affordable housing, climate adaptation, essential public services, and the impacts of rising living costs.