Finalizing a landmark global treaty to end plastic pollution, Egypt’s Minister of Environment, Dr. Yasmine Fouad, held virtual consultations this week with Norwegian Minister of Climate and Environment, Andreas Bjelland Eriksen, as part of an ongoing series of informal dialogues aimed at shaping consensus ahead of next month’s formal negotiations in Geneva.
The high-level discussion brought together senior Egyptian officials from both the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Tamer Mostafa, Director of the Department of Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development; Soha Taher, Head of the Central Department for International Cooperation; and Yousra Abdelaziz, Head of the Ministry’s Plastic Unit.
Minister Fouad emphasized the importance of informal channels in fostering mutual understanding and trust across national delegations, particularly within multilateral environmental frameworks. “As a developing nation, Egypt recognises the developmental challenges facing many countries,” she said, noting the country’s commitment to ensuring a just, inclusive transition through the treaty process.
Egypt, Fouad added, has adopted a whole-of-government approach, assembling a diverse negotiating delegation that includes representatives from the ministries of petroleum, industry, and foreign affairs, as well as private sector actors. This approach, she said, positions Egypt to advocate for treaty provisions that balance environmental goals with developmental needs.
The minister also outlined Egypt’s national efforts to combat plastic pollution, including the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) mechanisms and initiatives to curb the use of single-use plastic bags. She called for a treaty that accommodates national contexts by ensuring flexibility in implementation timelines and sufficient technical and financial support.
Minister Eriksen praised Egypt’s constructive engagement, stressing that such dialogues are “essential for clarifying national priorities and building convergence on treaty language.” He echoed calls for a flexible, inclusive treaty framework, emphasizing the need for capacity-building, innovative financing solutions, and private sector involvement.
“It’s not just about creating a financial mechanism – it’s about defining what we are funding,” Eriksen noted. “We must ensure that the treaty empowers real action, especially in countries where the capacity to respond to plastic pollution is still evolving.”
The next round of negotiations under the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) is set to take place in Geneva next month, where delegates will continue efforts to draft the world’s first legally binding global agreement to curb plastic waste.
