Egypt’s Minister of Environment, Dr. Yasmine Fouad, welcomed Ambassador Angelina Eichhorst, Head of the European Union Delegation to Egypt, and her accompanying delegation to discuss enhancing bilateral cooperation between Egypt and the EU in advancing the green transition. The meeting brought together Ambassador Raouf Saad, Advisor to the Minister for Multilateral Agreements, Mr. Tamer Abu Gharara, Advisor to the Minister for International Cooperation, Dr. Hazem El-Tannan, Director of the National Solid Waste Management Program, Ms. Heba Hassanin, Director of the Central Department of International Cooperation, and Mr. Ahmed Abdel Rahim, Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A Historic Partnership with the European Union
Minister Fouad praised the longstanding and historic collaboration between Egypt and the European Union in the environmental sector. The EU has played a pivotal role in building national capacities in Egypt to better understand environmental management practices and implement environmental laws. It has also been a key partner in supporting Egypt’s efforts to protect its natural reserves and develop strategic frameworks, including the establishment of Ras Mohamed as Egypt’s first protected area. The EU’s contributions to biodiversity and the management of protected areas have been particularly noteworthy, especially when few countries gave significant attention to biodiversity issues.
Green Transition Collaboration
Dr. Fouad emphasized that the strategic partnership between Egypt and the EU in the field of green transition is central to their collaborative efforts. This partnership has been underway for several years and spans vital areas, including industrial emissions reduction. Through the Pollution Control Project, the EU has supported Egyptian industries in aligning with environmental laws and taking further steps towards environmental compliance with minimal budgets. A key component of this collaboration is the Green Industry (GSI) Project, which will be launched soon. This initiative has already yielded inspiring success stories, including empowering factories to expand and achieve environmental compliance, which has enabled them to export a significant portion of their products abroad.
Circular Economy and Waste Management
The Minister also highlighted the fruitful cooperation under the National Solid Waste Management Program, developed in partnership with Germany. This collaboration resulted in Egypt’s first waste management law, introduced in 2020, which is based on a circular economy philosophy. The law is being implemented progressively, creating a supportive environment for private sector engagement in waste recycling. Notably, cement factories have entered the waste-to-energy sector by producing alternative fuels from waste.
Building on the Green Transition Agenda
Dr. Fouad stressed that Egypt is committed to advancing an equitable green transition, a goal firmly supported by the political leadership which has placed environmental sustainability at the core of national development strategies. This is reflected in the creation of a comprehensive enabling environment that engages all stakeholders, including the private sector, youth, and women, as part of Egypt’s National Green Transition Strategy. This strategy has already led to the formulation of a range of supportive policies over recent years, with a focus on integrating various sectors for greater synergy.
Furthermore, Dr. Fouad noted that Egypt has been proactive in addressing environmental challenges on a global scale. During its hosting of the 2018 Conference of the Parties (COP14) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Egypt led the development of the global biodiversity framework over three years. The country also launched an initiative under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to synergize the three Rio Conventions (climate change, desertification, and biodiversity), which has now become a priority for the global community. This initiative aims to restore ecosystems and protect the planet, and the country further emphasized the linkage between climate change and biodiversity during COP27, which resulted in the creation of the Loss and Damage Fund.
Regional Leadership and Blue Economy
The Minister reiterated that Egypt’s commitment to a just transition stems from its role as a regional and Arab leader in unifying efforts towards sustainable development. She highlighted Egypt’s leadership in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Protection Agreement (PERSGA), where she played a pivotal role in restructuring the institutional framework for a blue economy and identifying innovative ideas to attract private sector investments in protecting natural resources. The Minister also emphasized the importance of collaboration with the EU, based on Egypt’s regional role, to demonstrate the credibility of multilateral approaches in environmental governance.
Plastic Pollution and Circular Economy
Dr. Fouad also underscored Egypt’s commitment to enhancing the position of developing countries at the upcoming International Negotiations Committee (INC5) on plastic pollution. Egypt has already taken steps to address plastic pollution, including consultations with various stakeholders to raise awareness of the issue and develop appropriate alternatives. The country has introduced regulations governing single-use plastic bags and adopted an extended producer responsibility system, marking significant strides toward the green transition, despite ongoing economic and societal challenges.
EU’s Commitment to Green Transition Cooperation
On her part, Ambassador Eichhorst expressed the EU’s strong interest in furthering collaboration with Egypt in the green transition, an area of strategic priority for the EU. She noted that Egypt has already taken significant steps towards green industrial transformation and emphasized the importance of developing indicators for an equitable green transition. This will send a strong message to the world about the credibility of multilateral systems, especially as Egypt and the EU work together in areas such as industrial emissions compliance, waste management, and the blue economy.
Opportunities for Future Collaboration
The meeting also covered potential future areas of collaboration, particularly in the field of adaptation to climate change, which directly impacts food security and the daily lives of citizens. Dr. Fouad proposed that the EU contribute to the establishment of the Nature Fund, an initiative being developed by the Ministry to encourage private sector investments in eco-tourism and nature conservation. The Nature Fund is set to support sustainable tourism and environmental preservation, especially as Egypt works to finalize its National Adaptation Plan and interactive mapping of sectors such as agriculture and water. The aim is to translate the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) into investment opportunities, similar to the success achieved in the renewable energy sector.
