CAIRO, 28 January 2022: The US backs Egypt in organizing a successful United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP27) in November, said John Kerry, the US special presidential envoy for climate, during a phone call with Egypt’s Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad on Thursday.
They discussed bilateral relations and Egypt’s preparations to host the climate change conference in Sharm El-Sheikh resort city later this year, the environment ministry stated on Thursday, according to Ahram Online.
Fouad and Kerry agreed on kickstarting cooperation in this regard by forming a joint action group between the US and the Egyptian ministries of environment and foreign affairs.
They agreed on the importance of building on the outcomes of COP26, which was held in Glasgow in November 2021, the statement read.
The two officials also agreed on working on implementing climate mitigation and adaptation actions, stressing the need for developed countries to fulfil their pledges to provide the necessary funding.
In November 2021, Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi called on developed countries during a speech delivered to the Glasgow conference to fulfil their pledge to provide $100 billion annually to developing countries to address the repercussions of climate change and to allocate at least half of all public climate finance to adaptation measures.
Fouad and Kerry discussed the Egyptian-US cooperation programme within the framework of Egypt's National Climate Change Strategy 2050.
The strategy was launched in November on the sidelines of COP26 to achieve five objectives, including fostering climate change action governance, increasing sustainable economic growth, strengthening adaptation and resilience, and enhancing scientific research.
During the phone call, Kerry said the US is keen to cooperate with several countries, including Mexico, India, and South Africa, to support their efforts to counter the effects of climate change.
Fouad and Kerry also discussed the prospects of the private sector’s engagement in Egypt’s climate-related projects in the energy sector.
Earlier this week, Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said Cairo will focus on meeting the obligations of the Paris Agreement on climate change and explore how the private sector and NGOs can play a role in financing green investments during COP27.
Shoukry, the COP27 president-designate, made the remarks during a forum organised by the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt (AmCham) on Monday held under the title Building Momentum to the UN COP 27… Strengthening Public-Private Sector Collaboration on Climate Challenge.
During the event, which was held with the virtual participation of Kerry, Shoukry highlighted the role played by the private sector to combat the repercussions of climate change and boost investments in the renewable energy and green economy sectors.
Shoukry also affirmed Egypt’s aspiration to continue consultation with the US over this year, which marks the 100th anniversary of Egyptian-US diplomatic relations.
Last week, Rola Dashti, the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), expressed the commission’s keenness to coordinate with other UN bodies to present all the possible means of support to host COP27, including substantive and technical support.
Dashti made the remarks during a meeting with Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly in Cairo to discuss COP27 and several initiatives by the UN body on climate action.
Last week, Patricia Espinosa, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Executive Secretary, said in a meeting with Shoukry that she is looking forward to cooperate with Egypt to ensure the success of COP27 and achieve positive results internationally.
Fri, Jan. 28, 2022
