Mahmoud Mohieldin…a green path and sustainable achievements

Mahmoud Mohieldin…a green journey and sustainable achievements

Embodying the spirit of the modern state, Egypt’s development march included all aspects of citizens’ lives, in a way that linked the present to the future. Therefore, climate change – with its regional and international repercussions – was the most prominent issue in “Egypt Vision 2030”. Hence, Egypt supported men capable of implementing its strategic vision regarding sustainable development and its goals, the environment and its resources. Among them was a figure who, with her international presence and pioneering achievements in the field of development and the environment, was able to reflect Egypt’s pioneering role in this field. He is Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, “the United Nations Special Envoy for Financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin has many achievements in Egypt and abroad, achievements that have pushed – and still are – the plans of the relevant institutions towards achieving development goals and implementing recommendations for preserving the environment. Therefore, through this article, Hamat Al-Earth magazine sheds light on some of his achievements and efforts that he made in the period between COP27 and COP28. Believing in its important role in achieving the aspirations of the political leadership for comprehensive and equitable development.

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  National Green Projects Initiative

In the beginning, combating climate change required increasing Egyptian awareness of the importance of preserving the environment. Therefore, Egypt launched the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects, and this is within the framework of Egypt’s presidency of COP27 in 2022, and in the context of improving the quality of life, in implementation of the National Climate Change Strategy 2050.

It is the initiative whose importance Mohieddin said: “The initiative aimed to raise awareness among Egyptian society about climate issues, which has already begun to be achieved. The initiative also targeted the localization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in all governorates – in cooperation with all local parties and international organizations – and drawing a map for investment in Egypt’s governorates, through projects that are environmentally friendly and make the most of the transition. Digital”.

• Decent Life Initiative for Africa

On Agriculture and Adaptation Day – within the days of the twenty-seventh climate conference in the city of Sharm El Sheikh – Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin participated in the launch of the “Decent Life for Africa Initiative capable of withstanding climate change,” and there he said: “The Sharm El Sheikh Summit is the summit of implementing pledges and partnerships, and launching the “Decent Life for Africa” initiative comes within the framework of localizing development work, away from centralization issues. And decentralization”.

• Bonn Conference

At the Bonn conference, discussions took place – in particular – about the role of non-governmental sectors in strengthening mechanisms for financing climate projects in developing countries. There, Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin said: “The flow of financing liquidity from local sources is of great importance, as well as reducing dependence on debt to finance climate action in developing countries, and international financial institutions and multilateral development banks must adopt more effective financing policies.” Facilitator”.

• African Carbon Markets

The “African Carbon Markets Initiative” was part of the efforts made by Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, and it is an initiative related to developing climate financing mechanisms and supporting green transformation projects in developing countries – specifically – in Africa. Mohieldin was one of the participants in launching it on the sidelines of the twenty-seventh Conference of the Parties (COP), where he said: “Carbon markets can provide about 30 million job opportunities by 2030.”

• Loss and Damage Fund

The Loss and Damage Fund is the fund whose establishment was a historic step at COP27, as the Egyptian presidency of the conference sought to establish it as an opportunity to redevelop climate financing mechanisms, implemented by international financial institutions and banks, concerned with providing financial support to developing African countries affected by climate change.

Regarding this fund, Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin said: “The Sharm El-Sheikh Climate Summit succeeded in achieving an unprecedented historical achievement in previous summits, which is the establishment of a fund for losses and damages, and this fund will be funded, and it will have a transitional committee with specific tasks.”

• Reimagining Conference: Towards Inclusive and Innovative Recycling Systems

During his participation in the Reimagining Conference, Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin gave a detailed talk about the outcomes of COP27, and the importance of sustainability for our world, which is facing unprecedented climate changes. Saying: “Sustainability and achieving development goals – including climate goals – require the availability of applicable scientific solutions and investment in knowledge and community awareness.” He also said: “Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires three basic things: scientific solutions, knowledge sharing, and skills development through investment in human capital. To benefit from the solutions science provides”.

• Africa Climate Summit

Between September 4 and 6, 2023, Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin participated in the “Africa Climate Summit”, which was held in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, and there he reported that: “Financing climate projects in Africa must take into account the debt crises that a number of countries are suffering from, and it must also take into account the priorities of climate action in Africa by focusing – more – on activities Adaptation”.

• COP28 In Dubai

The activation of the Loss and Damage Fund at the twenty-eighth Conference of the Parties (COP) in the Emirates was a continuation of the historic decision taken by the parties – with the efforts of the Egyptian presidency of COP27 in 2022 – to launch the fund. Specifically at this climate conference – COP28 – in a discussion session entitled: Stimulating financing for adaptation activities and bridging the political gap; Mohieldin praised the role of the UAE presidency of the conference in activating a special climate finance fund, saying: “Launching a $30 billion climate action fund will be an effective model for financing climate action in a fair and comprehensive manner.”

• Honorary Doctorate

Because of Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin’s great contributions to achieving sustainable development – especially economic development – Ain Shams University awarded him an honorary doctorate. There, after thanking the university, he said: “The world today is witnessing multiple crises as a result of major problems that cause economic and social changes within countries and between countries and each other. These problems are: population changes, climate change, unemployment problems, the spread of epidemics and diseases, confusion in major commodity markets, the Fourth Industrial Revolution and its effects, and the continuous change in the center of economic gravity towards the East.”.

In conclusion, we affirm that the above are just examples of many achievements from the long journey of the Egyptian climate pioneer, who was able to make development issues and the environmental file a tangible reality, not only at the level of national policies and strategies, but also – also – at the level of popular awareness, as Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin was – and still is – the author of effective efforts and steps on the ground locally, regionally and globally; For a green world and sustainable life.