Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad said on Wednesday that the international climate summit, COP27, held in Sharm el Sheikh last year, had raised question marks about the file of waste and its direct relation with climate change.
Fouad said during a meeting with Ghada Waly, Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and her accompanying delegation to review the outcome of the COP27, that a global waste initiative, aka “50 by 2050”, was launched to ensure that at least half of all African waste is treated and recycled before 2050.
She indicated that over 100 countries, international institutions, NGOs, and the private sector have shown interest in joining the initiative.
The meeting also tackled cooperation to implement the initiatives launched at COP27 and outlined a roadmap for the upcoming international climate summit, COP28.
The two sides further discussed cooperation to reduce marine pollution and oil spill incidents and counter environmental crimes.
The environment minister said that biodiversity is yet another top-priority file of the COP27, pointing to the milestones taken in this regard, such as setting an international date to mark biological diversity.
Moreover, she recalled the launch of a nature-based solutions initiative during COP27. Fouad also talked about cooperation with the presidency of COP28 to activate the nature-based solutions initiative.
This initiative is not only meant to find solutions from nature to the effects of climate change but to also sustain the quality of life for local communities, such as fishermen, to help them adapt to the impact of climate change, the minister explained.
For her part, Waly said the UNODC is looking forward to working with the Egyptian Ministry of Environment to implement the nature-based solutions initiative. She handed Fouad the first copy of an Arab framework plan of action for the next five years.
