The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the European Union (EU), the African Climate Foundation, the embassies of Denmark and Switzerland in Cairo, and the Climate Emergency Collaboration Group met for the 2nd board meeting of the $6.2m project to support Egypt’s presidency of the 27th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27).
The hybrid board meeting was hosted at the UNDP premises, in the presence of Ambassador Mohamed Nasr, Director of the Department of Climate, Environment and Sustainable Development, Mr. Alessandro Fracassetti, UNDP Resident Representative in Egypt, Ambassador Christian Berger, Head of the European Union Delegation to Egypt, Counsellor Heidi Beshir, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Mshai Mkoji, COP27 Project Manager, African Climate Foundation, Ms. Sara Gottfredsen, Charge d’Affaires Embassy of Denmark to Egypt, and Ms. Michal Harari, Deputy Head of Office for International Cooperation, Embassy of Switzerland in Egypt.
The board highlighted in their remarks the project’s support to Egypt’s COP27 presidency and its work towards implementing the Paris Agreement through initiatives in several priority areas, including renewable energy, climate change adaptation and climate security. Through the joint project, some of these initiatives were on breakthrough topics such as Climate Response for Sustaining Peace (CRSP).
The project reinforced the delivery of tangible results in the host city. It has been demonstrated in the greening Sharm El Sheikh initiative by banning single-use plastic, installing solar PV in hotels with an approximate total capacity of 3 MW, the convention center with a capacity of 1 MW, and the car-shed in the airport with a total capacity of 280 MW.
The project has also contributed to the renovation of Nabq and Ras Mohammed, taking them to a new level of sustainable eco-tourism.
With the joint project’s support, the COP27 presidency convened multiple needed meetings pre-COP, at COP and post-COP including the African negotiators meetings and the recent transitional meeting to operationalize the loss and damage fund.
Ambassador Christian Berger, the Head of European Union Delegation to Egypt, said that: “Despite the current economic challenges the world is facing, the European Union continues to aspire for worldwide progress and climate action is definitely a field where the EU would like to see significant advancement. Today’s meeting aims to support the Presidency of COP27 to implement what was agreed and make sure it will be taken on board in COP28. The external dimension of the EU’s Green Deal aims to inspire EU partners to adapt to the new paradigm and to accelerate a clean energy transition that brings a just and sustainable recovery to our Neighbourhood and beyond.”
At the board meeting, UNDP’s Resident Representative in Egypt, Alessandro Fracassetti, said: “UNDP has worked on convening partners to support the presidency team in achieving positive and tangible results. Through the joint project, we have provided policy and capacity-building support and assisted technically and logistically at this critical juncture in our collective efforts against climate change. Thanks to our partners for their generous contributions.”
Charge d’Affaires of Denmark to Egypt, Sara Gottfredsen, said, “We are very glad to see through the results of this important joint project supporting the path of the Egyptian Government COP presidency not only working to accelerating global climate action and green transition but furthering sustainable and inclusive climate response in the region and beyond.”
Ms. Michal Harari, Deputy Head of Office for International Cooperation, Embassy of Switzerland in Egypt, stated that: “Switzerland is pleased to be part of this project, which has effectively contributed to the successful organization of COP27, working together with likeminded partners and the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Switzerland remains committed to supporting Egypt in its journey towards green growth.”
From the Climate Emergency Collaboration Group, a sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Dina Zayed said: “We are committed to continuing our support to any initiatives that shepherd and champion the operationalization of the Loss & Damage Fund. The COP27 Presidency has a tremendous role to play in helping convening the Transitional Committee to ensure the fund is designed equitably and with the highest level of impact. We are pleased to support these endeavors.”
The project will continue to support the COP27 Presidency Team until the COP presidency is handed over at COP28 in the United Arab Emirates next November.
