Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry — the President-Designate of the next session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 27) — participated in a virtual high-level session on climate change held within the framework of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
The session was attended by British Minister Alok Sharma, the chairman of the COP 26; and Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, the Minister of Industry and Advanced Technologies and the UAE’s climate envoy.
Ahmed Hafez, the Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson, said that Shoukry confirmed that last year’s COP 26 in Glasgow marked an important step nearly two years after climate change negotiations were adjourned amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In the same context, Minister Shoukry stressed the special importance of the upcoming COP 27 — which will be hosted by Egypt in November 2022 — to guide global efforts in combating climate change during the next decade, which should see enhanced financing directed to developing countries to implement national commitments related to reducing emissions.
Shoukry also pointed out Egypt’s belief in the need to strengthen the role of women, youths, and civil society organisations in the field of climate change in a way that takes into account the voices of these groups, which are among the most affected by its consequences.
The minister indicated that the African and Mediterranean regions, to which Egypt belongs, are among the regions most affected by the consequences of the phenomenon.
He also said that the COP 27 will represent an important opportunity to highlight the implications of climate change on Africa and showcase the efforts of African countries in this regard.
Furthermore, Shoukry highlighted what President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi said during the recently concluded edition of the World Youth Forum, which is that the COP 27 should contribute to directing more environmentally friendly investments to developing countries to enhance their efforts in developing and implementing sustainable policies that ensure that future generations do not suffer the consequences of the climate change crisis.
