Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin calls on the European Union to activate the COP27 recommendations

Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin calls on the European Union to implement the recommendations ofCOP27

Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, “the United Nations Special Envoy for Financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and climate pioneer for the Egyptian Presidency of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change COP27,” met with high-level European officials, where he discussed with them how to implement the recommendations of the Twenty-seventh Conference of the Parties (COP), which was held in Sharm El-Sheikh last year, and also discussed mechanisms for supporting initiatives that Launched during the conference.

These meetings came within an event organized by the Egyptian Embassy in the Belgian capital, Brussels, where it invited a number of European Union members and Belgian government officials interested in climate issues, with the participation of Egypt’s ambassador to Belgium - Dr. Badr Abdel Aty - who is accredited to the European Union, as well as the participation of members of the Egyptian Embassy.

There, Mohieldin began his meetings by talking to Ten van der Straeten, the Belgian Minister of Energy, about the actual measures to implement the recommendations of the Sharm El-Sheikh Conference, including the financing arrangements. Then the climate pioneer and the Belgian Minister of Energy discussed the list of bankable green energy projects - especially green hydrogen projects - and discussed the capabilities of the African continent in achieving a fair energy transition.

In this meeting, Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin stressed the inevitability of developed countries playing their financing roles and technological contributions. He also stressed the responsibility of these countries in strengthening the capabilities of the continent of Africa. In order to face the relevant challenges, especially the high cost of development projects, as well as the lack of concessional financing, and then the increase in demand rates.

The two sides discussed “COP27” initiatives, such as the “Global Renewable Hydrogen Forum Initiative”, which came with Egyptian-Belgian participation, as well as the “African Carbon Markets Initiative”, which is considered a worthwhile step in the field of regional cooperation, and an opportunity for cooperation with the European side in the areas of financing and technical support.

On the European side, Mohieldin met with Mr. Oliver Fraheli, the European Union Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement. In this meeting, Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin pointed out the importance of foreign investments in mobilizing the necessary funds. In order to achieve climate action goals in developing middle-income countries. After this, he stressed the need for all actors to cooperate - internationally - alongside institutions capable of financing. To strengthen the public and private sectors.

In this context, the Egyptian climate pioneer - Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin - stressed that private sector investments in this vital field are still limited; Therefore, he saw the importance of supporting investments in climate projects, while implementing the recommendations of the Sharm El-Sheikh Conference, especially those recommendations related to the field of adaptation to environmental changes.

Mohieldin also touched on the issue of debt swaps for developing countries, and the need to find an effective solution to the problem of climate project financing relying on debt. Drawing attention to the fact that the solution to this problem exists in replacing debts with green investments and development projects.

Among the meetings on the first day of Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin’s visit to the city of Brussels was the bilateral dialogue between him and Belén Carbonell, Director of the Multilateral International Affairs Department in the European Union’s Foreign Service, as well as the meeting that brought him together with Tibor Stelpaski, Advisor to the Foreign Service in the European Commission for Energy, and then Gerasimus Thomas, Director General of the General Administration of Taxes and Customs Union in the Commission. European".

These meetings revolved around the achievements of the Egyptian presidency of the Climate Change Conference, and the subsequent implementation of the outcomes of “COP27”, where Mohieldin briefed European officials on the ongoing coordination steps between Egypt and the UAE presidency of the twenty-eighth Conference of the Parties (COP); As a coordination that continues to implement what the Egyptian presidency of the conference achieved in its twenty-seventh session.

For all of this, Dr.Mahmoud Mohieldin did not forget to emphasize the importance of finding innovative solutions and promising opportunities. In order to provide - as well as mobilize - financing, technology and technical support to developing African countries; So that these countries can confront future climate changes and work to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) throughout the entire continent of Africa.