Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry — who is also President-Designate of the upcoming UN Conference of Parties on Climate Change (COP27) — participated on Monday in a preparatory meeting for the conference hosted by the DRC in partnership with Egypt.
According to a statement by the ministry, Shoukry delivered a speech during the opening session in which he welcomed the joint hosting of the meeting between Egypt and the DRC and reiterated the urgent challenge posed by climate change, which imposes the need to work at all levels to reduce emissions, adapt to the effects of climate change, deal with its losses and damages, and provide appropriate financing to meet the challenges of this phenomenon.
The FM also highlighted some of the current evidence of climate change in Africa and the challenge it poses to sustainable development on the continent, as well as evidence of climate change around the world, including the severe heat waves that hit Europe, the floods that hit Pakistan, and the storms that hit regions in the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and the US.
In a related context, Shoukry stressed the importance Egypt attaches to the transition to implementing pledges on the ground, highlighting what Egypt is doing in light of its presidency and hosting the conference to prepare a comprehensive agenda that includes many initiatives for climate action in all geographical regions around the world.
“During the COP27, Egypt will organise thematic days to address the topics of finance, science, youth and future generations, gender equality, water, civil society, energy, biodiversity, solutions, reducing carbon, and promoting climate action,” he said.
The FM was also keen to highlight President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s hosting of the leaders’ summit at the beginning of the Sharm El-Sheikh conference and the opportunity it represents to confirm the political will and commitments of the participating parties.
This is to show the importance of announcing commitments at the level of leaders to deal with the challenges posed by climate change.
Moreover, the summit will also include round tables addressing the topics of equitable transition to clean energy, the future of energy, innovative climate finance, food security, water security, and the effects of climate change on the most vulnerable communities.
Finally, Shoukry urged participants to show a spirit of collective responsibility, put aside narrow national interests, enhance cooperation, and focus on the need to come up with effective solutions that achieve the international collective interest to confront climate change.
