Yesterday, Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Egypt’s Minister of Environment, witnessed the signing ceremony of Dr. Ali Abu Sunna, CEO of the Environmental Affairs Agency, and Ms. Abeer Saad Al-Samoudi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Al-Wefaq Foundation for Environment and Integrated Development, a cooperation protocol within the framework of supporting the role of civil society in environmental work.
According to the ministry’s website, the new collab also serves as a starting point for the agency to preserve the environment and natural resources, make good use of them, without depleting them, and take into account the rights of future generations.
Commenting on the event, Dr. Yasmine explained that this cooperation comes through participation with all various agencies and institutions at the national level for the sake of rational and sustainable management, reducing pollution, and supporting the implementation of environmental policies to reduce all sources of pollutants that affect human health, and then undertake to improve the living, health and environmental conditions of the citizen. Egyptian government in all Egyptian governorates, which is consistent with the Egyptian State’s Vision 2030.
The environment minister added that the signing of the protocol comes within the framework of cooperation with civil society initiatives in the environmental fields and supporting them to achieve sustainable development and provide a decent life for citizens.
Areas of cooperation include (sustainable development – integrating society into its sects, especially women in the field of environmental work – environmental awareness – climate change – Biological diversity – afforestation campaigns – campaigns to clean the Nile River and beaches from single-use plastic waste – solid waste system), provided that this is done through cooperation between the two parties in implementing a number of activities, including awareness seminars, workshops, and awareness campaigns on environmental issues.
The Minister further stated that this cooperation aims to identify developments, solutions, alternatives, mechanisms for modifying behaviors and changing consumption patterns affecting natural resources, and initiatives and pilot projects that contribute to addressing environmental problems, raising the standard of living through implementing small projects, and also taking into account the environmental dimension in all work.
Charitable activities implemented by the Foundation, integrating society into its sects, especially women, in the field of environmental work, implementing field visits to environmental projects, in addition to working to promote eco-tourism and increasing green areas.
For his part, Abu Sunna explained that, in accordance with the protocol, the Environmental Affairs Agency provides technical support through experts in all environmental fields, in addition to logistical support, and cooperates in organizing training and rehabilitation courses for youth and volunteers for all segments of society interested in environmental issues. The organization is also committed to submitting an action plan according to a specific timetable.
