COP27 crowns President Sisi’s eight achievements in eight years

COP27 crowns President Sisi’s eight achievements in eight years

In light of the environmental sector in Egypt currently witnessing a radical shift in concepts and work strategy, which resulted from unprecedented interest and real awareness from the President of the Republic “Abdel Fattah El-Sisi” in the environment file, and placing it on the list of priorities of the Egyptian government headed by Dr. Mostafa Madbouly; To achieve sustainable development within the framework of “Egypt Vision 2030” to ensure a better future for future generations. The special file in this issue reviews the efforts made to improve the Egyptian environment and preserve natural resources for future generations over the past eight years under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

There is no doubt that this interest had the greatest impact on the growing role of Egypt in the environmental field on the regional and global scene. The Egyptian state adopted a new approach in dealing with environmental problems and issues that stems from the idea of transitioning to a green economy, which is a global trend that links the environment and the economy, and erases the old, entrenched thought that views the environment as an obstacle to investment. Thus, Moving towards providing added value to take into account environmental standards in development projects, and creating attractive models for investment in environmental projects, in addition to cooperation with all concerned parties and partners, based on the principle of partnership in social responsibility towards the environment.

In this file, we highlight with you eight axes that highlight the environmental achievements of President Sisi in eight years. These eight axes are divided into:

• The first axis:Integrating the environmental dimension into development sectors.
• The second axis:Supporting environmental policies and programmes.
• The third axis:Improving air quality.
• The fourth axis:Reducing industrial pollution.
• Fifth axis:Integrated waste management.
• Sixth axis:Development and management of natural reserves.
• The seventh axis:International cooperation and climate change.
• The eighth axis:The gradual transition to clean energy.

The first axis: Integrating the environmental dimension into development sectors

The first and most prominent steps taken to achieve a qualitative shift in dealing with environmental issues are study, research, and continuous coordination between all ministries. To reach the best ways to integrate the environmental dimension into the various development sectors, in order to achieve the preservation and sustainability of resources, the government took diligent steps to achieve this integration. The signs of its fruits became clear in the recent period through the circulation of more than one file concerned with the environment at the table of the ministers, regardless of their portfolios. Including:

• Approval of environmental sustainability standards:As the most important step in integrating the environmental dimension into the various sectors of the state through a governing and guaranteeing mechanism in cooperation with the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development.
• The National Council for Climate Change, headed by the Prime Minister:The Prime Minister’s decision was issued regarding the restructuring of the National Council for Climate Change; To be headed by His Excellency and membership of all relevant ministries, representatives of the private sector, civil society organizations and research centres.
• Integrating environmental concepts into education:Includes cooperation with the Curriculum Development Center of the Ministry of Education; To integrate basic environmental concepts and link them between science and studies curricula, and to coordinate with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research to prepare a professional master’s program in the field of environmental sustainability. To build cadres and experts in the environmental field, and link them to scientific, economic and social specializations, as well as preparing a “diverse program for environmental sciences” through the Air Pollution and Climate Change Management Project in cooperation with the World Bank at Cairo University.
• Integrating the environmental dimension into the transportation sector:In order to reduce vehicle emissions by launching sudden inspection campaigns on them, the direction was research, study and coordination to switch to using clean fuels that are more compatible with the environment, such as: switching to natural gas and electric transportation within the state’s plan towards a green economy.
• Compatibility of industry with the environment: Through the Ministry of Environment providing technical support to industrial facilities to inform them of their obligations; To comply with the Environmental Law and its executive regulations, and direct it towards submitting plans and programs for environmental sanitation and correcting the observed violations. The Ministry is also developing and updating the environmental impact assessment system; To ensure its effectiveness increases after completing the environmental impact assessment review procedures for projects.
• Integrating the environmental dimension into the international cooperation agenda:In coordination with the Ministry of International Cooperation in promoting Egyptian environmental policies; To attract international investments; To implement environmental projects in Egypt; With the aim of expanding green investment, and seeking to implement environmental programs with international bodies and organizations.
• Integrating the environmental dimension into financial policies and green budgeting:Financial institutions were encouraged to take action on climate change, as climate financing was generalized in the banking sector in Egypt, and the Ministry of Finance, in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, issued the first offering of green bonds for the year 2020, worth $723 million; To implement environmental projects in various fields.
• Ecotourism:Promoting the concept of ecotourism in Egypt, and raising environmental awareness among citizens of the importance of natural reserves and their wealth, in cooperation between the Ministries of Tourism, Antiquities, Information and Environment, and with the participation of the United Nations Development Program UNDP.
• Environmental concepts in the media: Under the directives of the President of the Republic, the Ministry of Environment cooperated with the Ministry of State for Information to launch the “Tanmia” initiative to adopt Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in light of “Egypt Vision 2030”, with the participation of the Ministries of Planning and Youth and Sports, which contributes to unleashing youth ideas for creativity and innovation in the field of the environment, in addition to The clear expansion of highlighting environmental issues in the media map.
• Integrating the environmental dimension into the petroleum sector:The Ministry of Environment cooperated with the Ministry of Petroleum to achieve environmental safety requirements and environmental compatibility for petroleum facilities with industrial drainage on the Gulf of Suez, in addition to taking serious steps to integrate biodiversity into the petroleum and mining sector, and to incorporate the preservation of natural resources and their proper use in the new draft law. For mineral wealth.
• Integrating the environment into the agricultural sector:The Ministry of Agriculture cooperated with the Ministry of the Environment in areas related to biodiversity and climate change and how to adapt to them, as well as combating desertification. For example: The first strategy for agricultural residues was prepared as an extension of the Ministry’s success in benefiting from agricultural waste, in addition to the continuous effort to increase areas Green.
• Environment, Electricity and Energy Sector:There is a tangible achievement in the transition to converting waste into a source of electrical energy through the integration of the efforts of the Ministries of Environment, Electricity, Military Production and Local Development, starting with issuing a tariff for converting waste into energy and selecting the companies implementing the first phase and continuing support for implementation to establishing the first conversion unit. Municipal and agricultural waste into energy in Fayoum.
• Environmental and Landscape Police:The Environmental and Landscape Police is one of the main pillars of law enforcement to reduce environmental violations. It inspects various facilities in search of potential sources of pollution. To determine the extent of its compliance with environmental requirements and take legal action against violations.
• The environment is on the agenda of our children abroad: Under presidential directives, the Ministries of Environment and Immigration organized trips for the children of the second and third generation of Egyptians residing abroad in natural reserves as part of government efforts to implement programs related to strengthening the bonds of connection between the children of Egyptian immigrants and their motherland, and to introduce them to what their country possesses. natural resources; Which contributes to promoting eco-tourism as they are Egypt’s best ambassadors abroad.
• Integration between health and environment:The period of the Corona pandemic witnessed the consolidation of cooperation and greater integration of the environmental dimension into the health system. Guidelines and requirements were issued for dealing with medical waste, safely disposing of it, following up on its implementation, and qualifying and building the capabilities of workers in health facilities. In the field of healthcare waste management, in addition to launching a website; To facilitate the process of monitoring the quantities of waste generated in each health facility and the timing of its transfer to treatment plants.
• Combining the environmental and social dimensions:The environmental and social dimensions are two sides of the triangle of sustainable development, and the Egyptian government seeks to link them by encouraging civil society to engage in environmental work and participate in community initiatives that aim to conserve resources and protect the environment directly and indirectly, in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Solidarity and the National Council for Women.
• The environmental dimension in sports:The Ministry of Environment cooperated with the Ministry of Youth and Sports to spread environmental concepts among young people, encourage them to care about the environment and protect it, and organize visits to natural reserves.
• The environmental dimension in local development:Master plans for the municipal waste management system for all governorates were prepared, as well as the preparation of an integrated system for municipal waste management at the republic level.
• Integrating the environment into investment:The waste-to-energy conversion program was launched with an expected investment volume of one billion pounds; To convert municipal waste, sewage sludge waste, and gas collected from old sanitary landfills into energy, 20 companies were selected from the companies applying for implementation, and an announcement was launched to invest in reserves for integrated environmental activities within the activities of the Eco Egypt campaign, and to start with the Fayoum reserves and the central reserves in Cairo.

The second axis: supportive environmental policies and programs

During that period, directives were given to integrate the environmental dimension into the work of the various ministries and sectors, in addition to the participation of the private sector in order to achieve the desired goals and achieve integration between all environmental, economic and social dimensions, as follows:

• Cooperation between the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, and the Ministry of Environment to issue the first offering of green bonds in 2020, worth $723 million, which are the first green sovereign bonds in the Middle East and North Africa region. To implement environmental projects in the fields of transportation, housing, renewable energy, the solid waste system, and adaptation to the effects of climate change at the national level.
• The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development and the Ministry of Environment cooperate to issue environmental/sustainability standards to be integrated into the government’s investment plan; With the aim of reaching 23% of green projects within three years.
• Issuing Law No. 202 of 2020 AD and its executive regulations regarding regulating waste management, after sharing it with all ministries and completing all the comments received by them.
• Issuance of Cabinet Resolution No. 41 of 2019 regarding determining the tariff value for electricity generated from waste.
• Signing a plastic recycling charter with major companies operating in Egypt on the basis of extended producer responsibility, and to support environmental work by safely disposing of plastic products.
• Opening of the first green transformation unit in Egyptian universities, at the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Environmental Research at Ain Shams University, as well as the “Jafour” project for waste recycling at the university.
• Launching a number of media campaigns to spread environmental awareness, namely:

- Media campaign“Get Green” Under the patronage of the President of the Republic, which aims to raise awareness among different segments of society about the importance of preserving the environment and natural resources, modifying citizens’ behavior towards various elements of the environment, and enhancing the citizen’s sense of ownership of natural capital assets and his responsibility towards preserving them and using them in a sustainable way for the benefit at all levels related to health and well-being. Human. - Launching the first promotional campaign to support eco-tourism and natural reservesEco Egypt within the Ministry of Environment’s strategy to develop reserves.

The campaign aims to maximize the sustainable use of natural reserves, raise awareness of their importance and the importance of participating in their protection, integrate the local community into this by training them and developing their methods for promoting their cultural products and handicrafts, and promoting investment opportunities in the reserves. The campaign to protect the marine environment was also launched within the framework of Egypt’s celebrations of World Environment Day for the year 2021 AD, in cooperation between the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, and the United Nations Development Programme, which aims to preserve the biological diversity of the Red Sea, which is the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa. - Launching the initiative and electronic application called«E-Tadweer» for the safe disposal of electronic waste.

The third axis: improving air quality

In light of the steps that Egypt is taking to accelerate the transition to a comprehensive, environmentally friendly and more sustainable development model, air quality has been improved over the past years through a set of plans and policies that aimed to improve air quality with guidance to all relevant ministries and authorities, as follows:

• Implementing pilot projects to spread the culture of sustainable transport in Egypt, through which the following was achieved:

- Establishing 7 modern bus lines, managed by the private sector, linking the cities of “Sheikh Zayed” and “October” and the metro station in Giza. - Establishing pedestrian and bicycle paths in the cities of Fayoum and Shebin El-Kom, in addition to installing variable message electronic signals (VMS) in the downtown area of ​​Cairo. To provide information about the availability of parking spaces in garages. - Completion of the replacement of a number of motorcycles as part of the pilot project to replace two-stroke motorcycles with new four-stroke ones in Fayoum Governorate. - Implementing the first phase of the “Shared Bicycles” project in Fayoum Governorate by establishing a bike-sharing station inside Fayoum University and the female student city in Fayoum Governorate.

• Planting thousands of trees and increasing green spaces in all governorates of the Republic; With the aim of increasing green spaces, reducing pollution, and combating the negative effects of climate change.
• Air quality monitoring programs; The number of stations of the National Air Quality Monitoring Network increased, and the number of entities linked to the industrial emissions monitoring network increased.
• Beginning the implementation of the “Project for Improving Air Quality and Combating Climate Change in Greater Cairo”; With the aim of modernizing the air quality monitoring system, in addition to supporting solid waste management in Greater Cairo, including establishing an integrated landfill for waste management, and closing and rehabilitating the “Abu Zaabal landfill,” in addition to contributing to reducing vehicle emissions by supporting the electric transportation experience in the public sector and its infrastructure.

Fourth axis: Reducing industrial pollution

The Egyptian government continues to provide financial and technical support to reduce pollution resulting from industrial facilities, starting with environmental impact assessment, ensuring compliance with environmental requirements for projects, and periodic inspection of facilities and environmental sanitation. A number of projects were implemented through the industrial pollution control program in its various stages, the most important of which were:

• Construction of a plant for treating and recycling industrial wastewater at the “Abu Qir Fertilizers” Company; Which enabled the company to reuse wastewater at a better rate.
• Allocating an industrial wastewater treatment plant at “Al-Maamoura Paper” Company; To reuse a greater proportion of treated water.
• Supporting an integrated system for using alternative fuels in the main production line of the “Arab Cement Company”.
• Implementation of the project to reuse municipal and agricultural waste at the “Intercement Amriya” company.
• Rehabilitation of the sulfuric acid unit and changing the fuel used to work with natural gas at the “Financial and Industrial” Company in Assiut Governorate.
• Financing the extraction unit at the “Amriya Petroleum Refining Company”; In order to use NMP solvent instead of phenol.
• Support from “Interciment Amriya” company; To reduce the total dust load suspended in the outside air, change the coolant filter.
• Installing continuous monitoring equipment, changing the filter at the “Suez Cement” Company, and replacing the battery recycling unit with the “Egyptian Plastic and Electricity Company,” in addition to two gas liquefaction units for two single fertilizer lines at the “Abu Zaabal Fertilizers and Chemicals Industry” Company.

Fifth axis: Integrated waste management

The waste file has witnessed remarkable development over the past eight years, especially with the issuance of the law regulating waste management and the establishment of its executive regulations, which is considered a milestone step towards the safe management of waste of all types: (hazardous, industrial, agricultural, municipal solid, demolition and construction), reducing its generation, and creating investment opportunities in it. The political leadership’s directives were to accelerate the implementation of the new waste management system and start in the most densely populated places. So that the citizen feels a tangible improvement as soon as possible. These measures began to provide a supportive climate for implementing an integrated waste management system through:

• Establishment of the Waste Regulation and Management Authority affiliated with the Ministry of Environment by decision of the Prime Minister.
• Issuance of Law 202 of 2020 AD and its executive regulations to regulate waste management.
• Preparing master plans for managing the municipal waste system for all governorates of the Republic.
• Preparing the financial system for integrated waste management.
• Urgent intervention to stop environmental deterioration in Alexandria in accordance with the decisions of the Council of Ministers in this regard, where more than one million tons of old accumulations generated daily from municipal waste in Alexandria Governorate were removed and transferred to the sanitary landfill in “Hammam City”, in addition to technical support for Alexandria Governorate. In preparing the draft contract between the company and Alexandria Governorate; To carry out the work of collecting and transporting municipal waste from residential and commercial areas, and industrial clusters to intermediate stations, cleaning streets, and managing and operating the sanitary landfill in “Hammam City.”
• Establishing a new model factory for waste recycling in “Al-Adwa” in Minya Governorate, raising the efficiency of 3 waste recycling factories in the governorates of (Kafr El-Sheikh, Gharbia, and Qena), and contributing to the establishment of a waste recycling factory in “Shebin El-Kom” in Menoufia.
• Completion of the establishment of fixed intermediate stations in the governorates of (Al-Sharqiya, Qalyubia, Giza, and Qena), in addition to mobile intermediate stations in the governorates of (Beni Suef, Qalyubia, Minya, and Damietta), and providing operating equipment for the intermediate station in “Kerdasa” in Giza Governorate.
• Implementation of the new municipal solid waste system, as follows:

- Preparing the system’s infrastructure. - Operating contracts. - Safe closure of random dumps (Loyalty and Hope dump, Peace dump, Abu Map dump).

• Integrating the informal sector into municipal waste management.
• Converting waste into energy:

- Medical waste. - Electronic and hazardous waste. - Agricultural waste. - Demolition and construction waste.

• Supporting the integrated waste management system with equipment.

With regard to reducing the use of plastic bags, many measures have been taken in this regard, including:

• Preparing the general framework for the national strategy to reduce the use of plastic; In implementation of the directives of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Republic, and in coordination with the Japanese Aid Agency (JICA), in cooperation with the Plastic Technology Center to search for technologies that help find alternative materials for plastic bags and ways to recycle and benefit from them.
• Including an article in the Waste Management Law related to managing the circulation of single-use plastic bags.
• Signing a plastic recycling charter with major companies operating in Egypt on the basis of extended producer responsibility, and to support environmental work by safely disposing of plastic products.
• Implementing campaigns to distribute multi-use bags and cloth bags, in addition to declaring areas that do not use single-use plastic bags, such as Hurghada, and campaigns in cooperation with youth initiatives and civil society, in addition to campaigns to collect plastic waste from the Nile, and a number of stores in “Zamalek” stopped using plastic.
• Encouraging the private sector to launch environmentally friendly initiatives, such as launching the Nestlé initiative; To recover and recycle plastic packaging materials.
• Launching a campaign to reduce the use of plastic bags, distributing environmentally friendly paper bags to stores and bazaars in the city of Dahab, and launching community initiatives with universities. To raise youth awareness, such as Ain Shams University and the Arab Academy for Science and Technology.
• PepsiCo Egypt launched a platform for collecting and managing waste under the title “One Turn at a Time,” sponsored by the Ministry of Environment and in cooperation with the “Our Turn Initiative.”

Sixth Axis: Development and Management of Natural Reserves

The reserve file received the support of the President of the Republic, so that natural reserves were developed through an ambitious plan to reach international standards in sustainable management of reserves, preserve their natural wealth and biodiversity, and maximize their benefit by developing the tributaries of ecotourism at the local and global levels, through several parallel and integrated axes that converge to achieve one goal:Preserving the rights of future generations to Egypt’s natural resources while benefiting from and developing them,It includes several main points:

 First: Improving infrastructure and visitor services:

Many projects were implemented to improve the infrastructure and services provided to visitors throughout the Arab Republic of Egypt, the most important of which are:

• Construction of the open museum and the closed museum of climate change and fossils in the “Wadi Al-Hitan” area in the “Wadi Al-Rayyan Reserve”.
• Implementing projects to raise the efficiency of infrastructure in the “South Sinai” reserves in cooperation with the National Service Agency.
• Developing and raising the efficiency of the administrative headquarters and museum in the “Ashtum Al-Jameel” Reserve.
• Construction of 5 administrative and residential buildings in “Wadi Al Rayyan Reserve” in cooperation with the National Service Agency.
• Developing infrastructure and visitor services in the Petrified Forest Reserve.
• Developing infrastructure and visitor services in “Wadi Degla Reserve”.
• Completion of the construction of 5 dams in the “Wadi Degla Reserve”; To confront the dangers of floods.
• Completion of the implementation of the mine clearance project and protection from the dangers of floods in the “Nabq Reserve”.
• Completion of the implementation of the first phase to raise the efficiency of the infrastructure in the “Abu Galum Reserve” and develop the diving site in the “Blue Hole”.
• Completion of the implementation of the first phase to raise the efficiency of the infrastructure in the “Saluja and Ghazal Reserve.”
• Completion of the construction of a fence around the “Al-Dababiya Reserve” and its final receipt.
• Raising the efficiency and development of the administrative headquarters of the Red Sea reserves in Hurghada.
• Establishing an administrative headquarters and rest rooms for workers in the “St. Catherine Reserve” through contracting with the Housing Directorate in South Sinai.
• Maintenance and upgrading the efficiency of “Ras Mohammed Reserve,” “Nabq Reserve,” and “Wadi El Rayan Reserve.”
• Rehabilitation of the “Jabal Musa” trail and the visitor center “Saint Catherine Reserve” as one of the management tools and visitor services.
• Establishing an administrative headquarters for “Siwa Natural Reserve”.

 Second: Protecting biodiversity and Egypt’s natural wealth:

• Raising the efficiency of the “Nature Conservation Training Center” in Sharm El Sheikh, which is the only center in Egypt specialized in specialized training operations in the field of natural resource protection and environmental protection.
• Implementing programs to preserve migratory soaring birds in the development sectors, especially the energy and tourism sectors, in continuous coordination with the New and Renewable Energy Authority and the Energy Efficiency Center in adhering to the on-demand shutdown mechanism in the wind energy stations in “Jebel El-Zeit” for the government sector; Which contributed to protecting soaring birds and reducing electricity loss.
• Developing the work system in marine reserves by supporting the reserves with a number of buoys (launches), and supplying launches that were built through a cooperation protocol with the “Suez Canal Authority.” To tighten monitoring and control of marine activities.
• Continuous updating of programs to combat illegal trade in wildlife, which includes inspection of markets and specialized stores, cooperation with civil society organizations and activists in the field of animal rights, in addition to activating the system of complaints and reports, and awareness-raising and communication activities.

 Third: Local Communities:

The state made many efforts; To preserve the cultural and environmental heritage of local communities, and develop their capabilities, which contributes to the development and rise of their economic and social levels and to the region as a whole by providing them with sustainable job opportunities.

Among the most important of these activities are:

• Completion of developing a pottery workshop for the local community in “Al-Nazla Village” in Wadi Al-Rayyan Reserve.
• Completion of upgrading the efficiency and final delivery of a large group of tourist boats in “Wadi Al Rayyan” Lake, as support from the state to the local population.
• Encouraging small and medium enterprises, women, youth, and the informal sector to invest in environmental projects, and integrating local communities into the management of natural reserves by providing them with the opportunity to implement their activities and heritage.
• Developing the Qalaan area and homes for local residents in the “Wadi El Gemal Reserve”.
• Preparing an integrated system to compensate fishermen during periods of cessation of fishing for two years, whereby the “Fund for the Sustainable Development of Fish Resources in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Suez and Aqaba” was established, and a cooperative fishing center is being established in the “City of Tur Sinai.”
• Implementing many training programs to develop the skills of local residents in heritage design in a way that suits the times, marketing, and protecting natural resources, while involving them in work and follow-up systems in natural reserves, organizing festivals, and involving them in promotional exhibitions.

 Fourth: Ecotourism:

• Equipping diving sites in Sharm El-Sheikh and Ras Mohammed; To connect tourist yachts equipped for diving and snorkelling trips as a first and urgent stage; To preserve coral reefs and organize marine tourism activities.
• Developing a bird watching center at the oxidation plants in Sharm El-Sheikh, and establishing the Environmental Excellence Center in “Gabal El-Zeit”, to train bird watchers at the national and regional levels on various monitoring programs at wind power plants.
• Implementing many initiatives and campaigns to support ecotourism at the local and global levels.
• Announcement for the first time about partnership contracts between the public and private sectors in the reserves of the central region (Wadi Degla, Petrified Forest, Wadi El Rayan, Qarun); To encourage the private sector to invest in natural reserves.

The seventh axis: international cooperation and climate change

In light of the political leadership’s interest in multiple environmental issues and placing them on the priorities of the national agenda, especially in the implementation of national projects, the past years have witnessed a noticeable increase in interest in environmental and sustainability issues, especially climate change, at the national and global levels. The Egyptian government has taken many measures in this regard, including:

• Restructuring the National Council for Climate Change, so that it is headed by the Prime Minister and includes membership of all relevant ministries, representatives of the private sector, civil society organizations, and research centers.
• Completion of the first phase of the interactive map project for the risks of climate change phenomena on the Arab Republic of Egypt.
• Egypt’s hosting of the second Ministerial Meeting for Environment and Climate Change of the Union for the Mediterranean, with the participation of ministers and representatives of 42 countries; With the aim of unifying efforts to confront the environmental challenges facing the Mediterranean region.
• Nomination of the Arab Republic of Egypt by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to chair the “Resilience and Adaptation Alliance” in partnership with the United Kingdom. The Alliance has succeeded in coming up with many initiatives and gathering momentum to focus on adaptation.
• Launching the Renewable Energy Initiative in Africa, and the Initiative to Mobilize International Support for Adaptation Activities.
• The Ministry of Finance, in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, issued the first offering of green bonds, as a new tool to raise funds for climate and environmental projects, and the first green sovereign bonds in the Middle East and North Africa region. To face challenges related to wastewater, transportation, and energy sectors at the national level, the role of the Ministry of Environment was to select projects eligible for tender in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance.
• Preparing a draft roadmap for biodiversity in negotiation with regional blocs.
• Meetings were held with the “African Negotiators Group” for climate change in Sharm El-Sheikh, as part of a series of meetings that will contribute to unifying the negotiating position of African countries.
• Egypt’s effective participation in the Glasgow Climate Conference “COP26”.

The eighth axis: The gradual transition to clean energy

The political leadership has not lost sight of the issue of clean energy, and the extent of the necessity of gradually shifting from reliance on traditional energy represented by the various forms of fossil fuels to new and renewable energy. To achieve many goals to serve the environment and energy sustainability, given the energy sector represents a major threat to the climate. As a result of the huge harmful emissions issued by this sector.

According to “Egypt Vision 2030”, it is planned to gradually increase reliance on renewable energy according to the strategy of the Ministry of Electricity and Energy that was issued in 2015 AD; To reach 22% in 2030 AD, and approximately 42% by 2035 AD, this percentage is divided between solar energy, wind energy, and hydroelectric energy.

During the eight years of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s leadership, Egypt witnessed many milestones in the field of clean energy generation, perhaps the most prominent of which are:

• Partnership with the World Bank to attract investments in the new and renewable energy sector amounting to $2 billion.
• Completion of the “Benban Solar Energy Complex” project in Aswan Governorate. The complex includes 32 solar energy stations with a capacity of 1,465 megawatts. The project won the World Bank award as the most distinguished project, as 32 different companies participated in building it.
• Last year also witnessed the entry into commercial production of a wind power station with a capacity of 250 megawatts in the Gulf of Suez region.
• The Egyptian Renewable Energy Authority signed a contract for a solar cell station last year; To produce electricity with a capacity of 50 megawatts in the Zaafarana area.
• A wind energy project in the “Gulf of Suez Complex” on the Red Sea coast, which is expected to be completed in early 2023, with a capacity of 250 megawatts, with total investments amounting to 4 billion pounds.
• The success of the Renewable Energy Authority in Egypt in selling 1.9 million carbon certificates during the past year.
• Hydroelectric station project in Assiut Barrage, with a capacity of 32 megawatts, at a cost of 1.7 billion pounds.
• Projects for generating electricity from wind energy were implemented in the “Jabal El-Zeit” region, with 4 stations with a capacity of 580 megawatts and a cost of 9.8 billion pounds.

In total, during these eight years, 17 projects were implemented to produce electricity from renewable energy at a total cost of 51.8 billion pounds, adding 5,303 megawatts of solar energy, wind energy, and hydroelectric energy, and a number of new projects in the field of renewable energy are currently being implemented at a cost of 92.3 billion pounds.

On the other hand, the political leadership’s vision of relying on clean energy also included other sectors such as: the transportation sector, through joint cooperation between the Ministry of Military Production and the Transportation Industry Company “MCV.” To manufacture the first Egyptian electric bus with a local manufacturing rate of up to 60% by Egyptian hands, in addition to the electric train project, and adopting a project to produce the first Egyptian electric car, and making it available to the local market.

COP27 Crowning the eight axes

As a result of these great efforts at the international and local levels, Egypt has the honor of hosting theClimate Summit “COP27” next November in Sharm El-Sheikh, under the directives ofPresident Abdel Fattah Al-SisiThe state is currently making great efforts; So that this summit will produce the best result that will benefit the entire world in a way that befits the land of Kenya and its status among the countries of the world.