As Egypt prepares to participate in the upcoming COP30 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Brazil, Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of Environment, is leading a series of high-level coordination meetings to strengthen the country’s climate readiness. These efforts come as part of Egypt’s national strategy to fulfill its climate commitments and enhance inter-ministerial cooperation on environmental policy.
In her latest meeting with leaders and staff of the Central Department for Climate Change at the Ministry of Environment, Dr. Awad reviewed the department’s ongoing efforts to combat climate change and monitor Egypt’s progress on international environmental obligations. The department plays a central role in coordinating Egypt’s national climate policies and is a key driver in implementing the country’s National Climate Change Strategy 2050.
Dr. Awad emphasized the urgent need for specialized training programs across all climate change units within government ministries. These trainings aim to build institutional capacity and accelerate measurable action on the ground. She also highlighted the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration to ensure the successful execution of Egypt’s sectoral climate action plans, which were mandated by a Cabinet resolution requiring all ministries to align with the national strategy.
A core component of Egypt’s climate governance framework is the digital transformation of the Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) system for greenhouse gas emissions. Dr. Ali Abou Senna, CEO of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, noted that this system is being developed to track data from key sectors — energy, industry, agriculture, and waste — and to monitor mitigation and adaptation activities across the country. The system also captures real-time climate impacts such as unseasonal rainfall and extreme heat or cold, particularly affecting agriculture.
Engineer Sherif Abdel Rahim, the Minister’s Climate Policy Advisor, underscored the role of Egypt’s interactive climate risk map in identifying vulnerable regions. This tool helps integrate climate risk into national development planning, ensuring that adaptation efforts are directed where they are most needed. He also pointed to the importance of global climate finance mechanisms in supporting adaptation and mitigation efforts in developing countries, reaffirming Egypt’s commitment to its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.
Soha Taher, Head of the Central Department for Climate Change, presented an overview of Egypt’s active climate projects funded by international partners, including the EU Green initiative, the TFSC program (financed by the French Development Agency), and several UNDP-led efforts such as the preparation of Egypt’s First Biennial Transparency Report (1BTR) and the Second Biennial Update Report (2BUR+5NC), funded by the Global Environment Facility. Additional projects include the development of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Egypt’s phased elimination of ozone-depleting substances under the Montreal Protocol, supported by multilateral funds and international agencies.
Egypt’s commitment to transparency in climate action was also underscored by its track record in reporting: three national communications (in 1999, 2010, and 2016), the 2019 BUR, and a regular biannual transparency report. In June 2023, Egypt released its updated NDC, aiming for 42% renewable energy in its energy mix by 2030. The plan includes adaptation goals in water resources, coastal management, agriculture, urban development, and tourism, alongside early warning systems and resilience-building in vulnerable regions.
These efforts collectively represent Egypt’s proactive stance on climate leadership in the Global South, with Dr. Manal Awad at the helm ensuring that Egypt enters COP30 with a clear strategy, strengthened institutions, and a credible climate action roadmap.
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As Egypt prepares for COP30 in Brazil, Minister Manal Awad leads high-level coordination to boost national climate resilience, enhance data systems, and accelerate adaptation planning under Egypt’s 2050 strategy.
