Egypt’s Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad has highlighted the country’s efforts in climate adaptation, during her participation at the Climate Adaptation Summit on Tuesday.
Fouad also said that the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has ensured that taking measures to adapt to the impacts of climate change are a priority for all countries. It also showed the urgent need to integrate these measures into all development plans.
The summit, held online from 25-26 January, was hosted by the Netherlands and convened global leaders and local stakeholders.
Speaking at the summit, Fouad pointed to the importance of dialogue in raising ambition, mobilising funding sources, and building partnerships in the field of adaptation.
The minister reviewed Egypt’s efforts during its co-presidency with the UK in the Alliance for Adaptation and Resilience to the Effects of Climate Change, as part of the Climate Summit held by the United Nations in September 2019.
Egypt played an important role in coordinating the negotiating position, and placing issues of adaptation and financing among the priorities of global efforts to combat climate change. Those efforts contributed to the launch of the Political Declaration on Adaptation and Resilience, which was joined by 121 countries and 86 international organisations.
Fouad welcomed the increasing momentum gained by the issue of adaptation to the effects of climate change. It represents a major priority for Egypt, African countries, and all developing countries since the Egyptian-British joint effort, which paved the way for holding the Adaptation Summit.
The summit is the first global summit dedicated to adaptation, and has featured the broad participation of world leaders and relevant ministers.
Fouad called on countries to double their measures to adapt to the effects of climate change, and to strengthen cooperation at the international level in this regard. ‘
She said that developing countries need $140bn-$300bn by 2030 to take the necessary measures to adapt to climate change, while the actual availability is $1.25bn.
