Egypt’s Ministers of Environment, Aviation Discuss Climate Change, Ecotourism Promotion

CAIRO – 2 January 2025: Egyptian Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad met with Minister of Civil Aviation Sameh El-Hefny on Thursday to discuss their collaborative efforts to address the impacts of climate change, the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and the promotion of ecotourism.

During the meeting, Fouad emphasized the importance of further cooperation between the two ministries to support environmental initiatives, particularly in promoting tourism in Egypt, with a focus on ecotourism and nature reserves, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Environment.

Fouad showcased several films produced by the ministry to promote ecotourism, including those that come as part of the "Stories from its People" campaign, which highlights efforts to preserve the marine environment. This is in addition to a promotional video for the Red Sea Reserve Islands. 

These films are intended to be displayed at airports as part of a broader strategy to boost ecotourism in Egypt.

The minister also highlighted initiatives to encourage the use of eco-friendly products within the Ministry of Civil Aviation, such as replacing plastic cups with paper and plastic cutlery with wooden alternatives, in collaboration with the private hotel sector.

Further, Fouad discussed the establishment of a climate change unit within the Ministry of Civil Aviation in light of the implementation of the Climate Financial Systems Transformation Project (TFSC), the statement added.

The meeting also addressed providing institutional support to climate change units in various ministries and facilitating the collection of audit data through the MRV (Measurement, Reporting, and Verification) system that aids in the preparation of required reports. 

Moreover, the ministers discussed cooperation on the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), in line with the guidelines of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Attendees at the meeting included Head of the Environmental Affairs Agency Ali Abu Senna; Head of the Waste Management Regulatory Agency Yasser Abdullah; Assistant Minister of Environment for Government Coordination Yasmine Salem; and other officials from both ministries.