Egypt’s Minister of EnvironmentDr. Yasmine Fouad, , chaired a meeting of the Executive Office of the National Climate Change Council. The meeting focused on the outcomes of Egypt’s first Transparency Report (1BTR). This report, created by the Ministry of Environment with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded by the Global Environment Facility, is a key step in Egypt’s climate action and transparency efforts.
Key Participants and Discussion Points
The meeting saw the participation of Dr. Ali Abou Sanna, Executive Director of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, and Ms. Soha Taha, Head of the Climate Change Central Administration. Representatives from various ministries also attended, including Foreign Affairs, Water Resources, Finance, Agriculture, International Cooperation, Electricity, Petroleum, Transport, National Security, and Environmental Police.
Minister Fouad stressed that the report reflects Egypt’s international commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). She explained that transparency reports like this one are crucial for tracking emissions, assessing Egypt’s capacity for climate adaptation, and evaluating national climate progress. These reports enable the country to make data-driven decisions and develop effective strategies to tackle climate challenges. Additionally, they show Egypt’s commitment to its climate obligations, enhancing its credibility on the global stage and opening opportunities for new climate finance.
Report Highlights
The Minister highlighted the importance of the Transparency Report (1BTR) as part of Egypt’s national efforts. She noted that the preparation of this report followed the Council’s decision in October to complete the necessary data for Egypt’s national contributions, which are set to be submitted in February. The meeting discussed integrating data from relevant ministries and addressing feedback from all stakeholders. A capacity-building workshop was held to improve how reports are prepared and implemented across national agencies.
Report Structure and Challenges
The Transparency Report includes four key sections. The first section updates emissions inventories from relevant sectors. The second evaluates Egypt’s progress in implementing its 2030 national contributions plan. The third focuses on climate adaptation measures, particularly for developing countries. Egypt, being highly vulnerable to climate change, emphasizes this chapter for international audiences. Finally, the fourth section assesses financial, technological, and capacity-building support, including Egypt’s needs to implement its climate plans.
During the meeting, attendees discussed the challenges faced in preparing the report. They also reviewed the methodology used to meet the UNFCCC submission deadlines.
Recommendations and Next Steps
The committee recommended submitting a preliminary version of Egypt’s Transparency Report (1BTR) to the UNFCCC before the end of December. Once all feedback is incorporated, the final report will be resubmitted to the UNFCCC Secretariat by March 2024.
This proactive approach to climate transparency enhances Egypt’s position in global climate discussions. It also sets the stage for future international collaborations and potential climate finance opportunities.
