In a bid to further strengthen environmental cooperation between Egypt and Jordan, Dr. Yasmin Fouad, Egypt’s Minister of Environment, held a bilateral meeting with her Jordanian counterpart, Dr. Maawiya Khaled Al-Rudaida, during the 21st session of the Regional Council of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Environment (PERSGA) Ministerial Meeting in Aqaba, Jordan. The meeting focused on the latest updates regarding the agency’s action plan, under Egypt’s presidency, and explored ways to enhance regional and international efforts to protect marine ecosystems.
Dr. Fouad expressed her appreciation for the fruitful cooperation between Egypt and Jordan in various environmental fields, noting that this partnership reflects the deep and enduring ties between the two nations and their shared commitment to preserving natural resources and promoting sustainable development. She praised joint efforts in tackling environmental challenges, particularly in biodiversity conservation, eco-tourism, pollution control, and climate change adaptation. Emphasizing the importance of continued exchange of expertise, Dr. Fouad highlighted how these collaborations could further the region’s environmental goals.
During the meeting, Dr. Fouad outlined Egypt’s leadership role during its presidency of the 20th session of the PERSGA Ministerial Council. She discussed efforts to increase awareness of the critical connection between climate change and biodiversity conservation, the ongoing development of the agency’s action plan, and steps taken to enhance its internal structure. She also mentioned that the financial status of the agency had improved thanks to new funding from development partners for regional projects. Dr. Fouad emphasized that the agency’s development plan is focused on diversifying funding sources and strengthening partnerships that ensure the sustainability of the Red Sea and Mediterranean ecosystems.
Dr. Al-Rudaida, in turn, commended Dr. Fouad’s distinguished leadership during her tenure, noting her significant contributions to strengthening cooperation with international institutions, which have facilitated increased funding for impactful environmental projects in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden region. He reaffirmed Jordan’s commitment to supporting the agency and building upon the successes achieved under Egypt’s presidency, particularly in terms of continuing regional collaboration and securing the necessary financial resources for sustainable development goals in the region.
The meeting also addressed upcoming discussions at the 21st session of the Ministerial Council, including proposals to enhance the agency’s operations and resource mobilization to support its activities on pressing environmental issues affecting the region. The two ministers stressed the importance of reinforcing member states’ capabilities to ensure the effectiveness of joint environmental efforts, particularly in light of global challenges such as climate change and plastic pollution.
In addition to regional issues, the ministers also reviewed global environmental developments, including the newly established global climate finance target at COP29, and the outcomes of the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity, held in Colombia, which will continue later this month in Italy. They also discussed proposals for projects funded by the Kunming Biodiversity Fund, established by China’s Ministry of Environment and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which aims to accelerate the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in developing countries.
Dr. Fouad, who serves on the board of directors of the Kunming Fund, alongside countries like Cambodia and Colombia, noted that the fund had received an initial grant of 1.5 billion yuan (i.e. $220 million USD) from China to support developing nations in meeting biodiversity targets. The Kunming-Montreal framework is a crucial global effort to conserve biodiversity through government and community-driven approaches.
