Egypt launches the first country climate report in the Middle East

Egypt launches the first country climate report in the Middle East

“The green transition and climate action are not new concepts to the world, but rather they have become firmly established in the goals, strategies and visions of different countries, as well as in the goals of institutions of the governmental and private sectors.” This is what Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation, said, as she explained the importance of Egypt’s hosting of the COP27 climate conference in strengthening these two concepts within the Egyptian view of climate challenges. This coincided with the launch of the National Climate Change Strategy 2050, a strategy that seeks to support efforts to develop Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the green transition.

These statements came during the event organized by the World Bank – last Monday – to launch the firstCountry Climate and Development Report in Egypt and the region, where a number of officials participated, including: Dr. Stephane Cuperle, Director of Strategy and Operations in the Office of the World Bank Vice President for Middle East Affairs. and North Africa”, Meskerem Berhane, “the new Regional Director for Sustainable Development at the World Bank Group”, Marina Weiss, “Regional Director for Egypt, Yemen and Djibouti at the World Bank”, and Gareth Bailey, “British Ambassador in Cairo”.

Dr. Rania Al-Mashat has stressed the importance of theCountry Report on Climate and Development, as Egypt is the first country – in the Middle East and North Africa region – to launch such a country report, through its cooperation with the “World Bank Group in the Middle East and North Africa region”; This is to review the challenges – as well as the opportunities available – to achieve a balance between development goals, climate action and the green transition.

The Climate and Development Report included a number of recommendations, which are:

• Attention to cost-effective adaptation methods, in order to reduce the negative effects resulting from climate change.
• Imposing political measures that seek to improve the use of natural resources and provide financial support; To finance projects that protect people and the economy from the risks of climate disasters.
• Implement actions that are likely to help avoid carbon-emitting activities, while taking into account the reduction of related costs.

During the event, the Minister of International Cooperation thanked the technical teams working in the Ministry of International Cooperation, as well as the relevant national authorities and the World Bank. Due to the efforts made to produce the climate and development report in a final form that suits the country’s vision towards green transformation. She also drew attention to the fact that the Ministry takes into account the green transformation component in all country strategies.

Al-Mashat indicated that the fileClimate Action had witnessed a remarkable development during the climate conference, something that pushes the efforts of the country and the whole world towards green transformation, as the concepts of climate adaptation – as well as the concepts of mitigating losses, and other concepts – have become common among countries and global institutions, and among individuals as well. In the same context, she noted that the Ministry of International Cooperation had worked to promote fair climate financing at the climate conference, through the “Sharm El-Sheikh Guide to Fair Finance,” as well as through the National Platform for Green Projects – the “Novi” program. This is to stimulate the transition from mere climate pledges to realistic implementation, in addition to creating meaningful partnerships that encourage blended finance.

On the importance of the “Novi” program, the Minister stressed the work to provide a national platform that stimulates fair climate financing in Egypt, which is an important platform on the continent of Africa. The countries of the African continent can repeat the experience in light of development processes and exchange of experiences, so that they can enhance their capabilities to provide the necessary climate financing.

Hence, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat touched on the launch of the “Sharm El-Sheikh Guide to Fair Finance,” which advances recommendations and principles to stimulate blended finance, enhance joint work between relevant parties, in order to implement development projects, and disseminate information about successful models, such as the “Benban Solar Power Plant” model, and other pioneering projects.

The role of the Egypt Climate and Development Report is to identify policy measures and investment opportunities that can be implemented within five years. In order to help increase the efficiency of use and allocation of natural resources, and reduce the repercussions of the climate change crisisthat affect people and business institutions, and then enhance the Egyptian ability to compete in world markets.