Egypt participates in launching ‘Platform 2020 Redesign’ for green recovery

CAIRO – 5 September 2020:  Egypt has participated in a teleconference organized by Japan to launch a digital platform on sustainable and resilient recovery from COVID-19, on September 3, 2020.

In her speech at the conference, Egyptian Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad highlighted the necessity of green investments needed for environment protection, according to a statement from the Ministry on Saturday. Fouad talked bout the importance of fulfilling the promises of the developed countries towards the developing countries to reach “adequate efficiency, capacity and flexibility Green recovery.”

“Shifting towards a circular economy, decarbonization and decentralization are the three main factors to face the coronavirus. To promote these transformations, it is necessary to enhance climate, financial and environmental protection policies,” Fouad said, adding “The Coronavirus has shown an urgent need to ensure a coherent approach to addressing climate change, protecting biodiversity, and combating land degradation.”

At the ministerial forum, Platform 2020 Redesign, was launched by Japan's Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi. The forum was attended by UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa, besides Environment Ministers of 45 countries.

The website is an online platform for sustainable and resilient recovery from COVID-19. “This platform aims to help the countries redesign their economics and social systems during the time of dual crisis: the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change,” said Minister Shinjiro Koizumi.

In a question on what should the government do to prevent a rebound of the CO2 emissions after the COVID-19, Nicolas Tremblay, the Regional Environment and Climate Specialist at the International Fund for Agricultural Development IFAD, told Egypt Today during that a session titled “Business, or Usual or Green Recovery” that it is necessary to direct finances to the economic sectors that have the lowest impact on the environment.

“The crisis which has been slowing down of the emissions is a stepping stone to policies. The way to do this system is making sure that we target the funds […] to address the pandemic and to address restarting of the economy to those sectors of the economy that have the lowest impact.”

The online session was organized by the Thomson Reuters Foundation (TRF) in cooperation with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and attended by Egypt Today in June 2020.