Egypt’s Minister of Environment, Dr. Yasmin Fouad, participated in launching the second phase of the Arab Network for Environment and Development “Ra’ed” and the “Tirameed” campaign, aimed at promoting a fair and sustainable energy transition across the Mediterranean region. The event was held at the Cairo Environmental Cultural and Educational Center (“Beit El Qahera”) in Fustat, with high- level attendance including Dr. Emad Adly, Head of the Arab Office for Youth and Environment and Coordinator of “Ra’ed,” alongside representatives from government, academia, civil society, youth, women leaders, and specialized environmental media.
Minister Fouad highlighted her long-standing dedication to environmental protection since 1998 and emphasized Egypt’s commitment to combating desertification, a priority she aims to advance further in her new regional roles. She underscored the vital role of civil society in complementing climate action, especially around renewable energy in the Mediterranean, which faces acute climate change impacts.
Fouad outlined Egypt’s ambitious national targets to reach 42% renewable energy in its energy mix by 2030, with over 7,000 MW of installed renewable capacity expected in 2024, driven by projects in wind and solar energy such as those in Gebel El-Zeit, Zaafarana, and Benban. She stressed the profitability of investments in renewables across the Mediterranean and Africa and called for strengthened private sector engagement through improved legislation, incentives, and infrastructure upgrades.
She also flagged challenges tied to debt burdens in developing economies, which complicate balancing climate commitments and sustainable development goals, and called for reforms in international finance systems to provide better support.
The campaign’s second phase focuses on embedding first-phase achievements into national energy policies and enhancing media and youth engagement to promote clean energy initiatives. Dr. Emad Adly emphasized the importance of scaling renewable energy in the Mediterranean, aiming for a regional target of 1 terawatt by 2030, with “Ra’ed” coordinating civil society efforts across Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco.
The event included discussions on accelerating renewable energy production, overcoming barriers, leveraging regional opportunities, and fostering partnerships among government, private sector, and civil society. The “Tirameed” campaign represents the first regional initiative to drive a just energy transition in the Mediterranean, advocating for ambitious clean energy targets to strengthen regional cooperation, security, and sustainable development.
The campaign will culminate in a unified civil society position to be presented at the COP30 UN Climate Conference in Brazil, representing Mediterranean voices in the global clean energy transition dialogue.
