Egypt celebrated a major milestone this week in one of its longest-running international environmental partnerships: the 100th edition of the Cairo Climate Talks (CCT), a flagship dialogue series co-hosted by the Egyptian Ministry of Environment and the German Embassy in Cairo. The initiative, which began in 2011 and has now spanned over 14 years, has grown into one of the most consistent platforms for climate diplomacy, awareness, and stakeholder engagement in the Middle East and Africa.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Environment Dr. Yasmine Fouad described the talks as a “model of successful international cooperation” in addressing climate change. “From Alexandria’s fishermen to Upper Egypt’s farmers, we’ve built a grassroots climate conversation that integrates justice, governance, and the critical water-energy-food nexus,” she said.
From Small Dialogue to National Platform
Launched as a modest bilateral initiative between the German Embassy and the Ministry of Environment in 2011, the Cairo Climate Talks have evolved into a wide-reaching forum that has brought together thousands of participants from across Egypt and Germany—including academics, policymakers, private sector leaders, youth, and NGOs.
German Ambassador Jürgen Schulz praised the evolution of the platform, highlighting it as a model for “long-term, high-impact cooperation.” “This is not just a dialogue series—it’s a living example of how climate partnerships should be done. We’ve gone from workshops to wide-scale influence on policy and awareness,” he noted.
Key contributors to the celebration included Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Dr. Hani Sewilam, CEO of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency Dr. Ali Abu Sena, and representatives from over a dozen ministries, civil society groups, and international organizations.
A Platform Rooted in Action
Dr. Fouad emphasized the CCT’s role in bringing neglected yet vital issues into the public and policy spotlight. Since the Paris Agreement and the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, the talks have focused on emerging areas such as climate justice, climate governance, and interlinkages between food, water, and energy systems.
“Climate change is no longer an elite conversation about carbon credits. It’s a real, lived experience for coastal communities, farmers, and young women. The Cairo Climate Talks have helped translate global issues into local realities,” she said.
Among its most tangible impacts:
- Engaging coastal communities like Alexandria, Port Said, and Damietta to discuss sea-level rise and its direct effects on livelihoods.
- Collaborating with farmers in the Delta and Upper Egypt on climate-resilient agricultural practices.
- Supporting women-led initiatives in climate education and sustainable natural resource management.
Strategic Partnership on Climate Action
Dr. Ali Abu Sena, Egypt’s top environmental executive, participated in a panel titled “Expanding Impact Through Dialogue,” where he detailed the outcomes of the Egyptian-German partnership. He described Germany as one of Egypt’s top climate and development partners, pointing to joint projects such as:
- The Benban Solar Park in Aswan, one of the world’s largest with a capacity of 1.8 GW.
- Wind farms in the Gulf of Suez, with hundreds of megawatts in clean energy capacity.
- Support for Egypt’s NWFE (Nexus of Water, Food, and Energy) platform, which was launched at COP27 and has mobilized over $4 billion in international funding so far.
“These are not abstract partnerships,” Abu Sena said. “They deliver measurable megawatts of clean energy, and they reduce real emissions on the ground.”
He further noted that Germany’s cooperation has been instrumental in implementing Egypt’s National Climate Strategy 2050, particularly in areas of climate finance, technology transfer, and green infrastructure.
Raising Awareness and Building Capacity
Over the past decade, Cairo Climate Talks have hosted over 100 major events, dozens of workshops, and hundreds of bilateral meetings. Through these engagements, it has trained hundreds of youth leaders, supported climate journalism, and helped establish new academic and NGO partnerships across Egypt.
Dr. Fouad highlighted how the CCT model helped Egypt amplify climate messaging ahead of hosting COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, and how such platforms are vital in the lead-up to COP30 and beyond.
“Environmental diplomacy starts with informed citizens,” she said. “And these talks have helped turn awareness into action, from the cabinet table to community councils.”
“Our dialogue is only just beginning,” Ambassador Schulz concluded. “The next 100 events must be even bolder, more inclusive, and more urgent.”
Both German and Egyptian officials confirmed that the initiative will continue, with plans to expand into new provinces and thematic areas, including circular economy, urban resilience, and climate-smart technology.
