Dr. Yasmin Fouad, Egypt’s Minister of Environment, met with an advisory team from the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport to discuss advancing the environmental agenda under Egypt’s 2024-2027 government program. The meeting focused on addressing local and global environmental challenges, leveraging scientific expertise to foster sustainable solutions, and ensuring Egypt’s readiness to host the upcoming session of the Barcelona Convention on marine and coastal protection.
Minister Fouad emphasized the importance of integrating diverse scientific and technical expertise to address the environmental complexities Egypt faces, particularly in marine conservation. She acknowledged the academy’s ongoing collaboration with the Ministry, particularly in marine protection, as stipulated by Law No. 4 of 1994, which tasks the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency with safeguarding marine environments in line with Egypt’s international commitments and national activities.
The Minister highlighted the need for proactive environmental strategies, considering the distinct challenges of the Mediterranean and Red Seas, and expanding tourism activities along Egypt’s coasts. She emphasized that balancing development with natural resource conservation is crucial for sustainable growth. As part of this initiative, the Ministry has completed Strategic Environmental Impact Assessments (SEIA) for Egypt’s North West Coast and South Red Sea regions, paving the way for further discussions and collaboration on resource management and preservation.
Dr. Fouad also discussed how the Ministry has been transforming environmental challenges into economic opportunities. For example, Egypt has successfully increased revenue from its protected areas, with earnings from eco-tourism rising from EGP 20 million in 2018 to EGP 780 million in 2024. These efforts have been supported by initiatives like the “Stories from Their People” campaign, highlighting local community involvement in promoting natural reserves.
The advisory team provided valuable insights on tackling environmental disasters, including oil spills, and stressed the importance of robust data to manage the impacts of climate change. Additionally, the team emphasized the importance of smart port solutions, sustainable fishing practices, and linking environmental conservation to economic development. They also discussed strategies for improving the livelihood of fishermen, who contribute significantly to Egypt’s agricultural sector.
Dr. El-Senousy Mohamed El-Senousy, Head of the Advisory Team, reinforced the academy’s commitment to supporting Egypt’s environmental goals, underscoring the economic benefits of integrating environmental management into development strategies. He stressed that achieving the environmental objectives within Egypt’s new government program would foster investment and enhance national economic growth, particularly in marine protection.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to define key areas of cooperation, including scientific solutions for marine protection in tourism projects, and utilizing the Ministry’s interactive climate change map for future planning. The map, developed in collaboration with the Military Survey Authority, offers a predictive model for the impacts of climate change in Egypt up to 2100, aiding in informed decision-making and risk reduction for investments.
