Egypt has formed a committee for organising COP26 that is presided over by the prime minister and includes all relevant ministries, Minister Fouad told a symposium on developing the environmental sector within the context of combating climate change, which was held by Al-Ahram Foundation on Wednesday.

Minister Fouad also spoke about the National Climate Change Strategy 2050 that Egypt launched during the COP26 conference in Glasgow, saying it demonstrates the country's vision on coping with climate issues.

The strategy aims to achieve economic growth while reducing carbon emissions, supporting adaptation and confrontation measures, supporting the governing framework for climate action, searching for the best financing patterns, and supporting scientific research and the transfer of technology, the minister said.

Fouad said that identifying the greenhouse gas producing sectors in Egypt would help determine the best means of cooperation with the private sector to deal with the problem, as has been the case with the country's waste recycling sector.

In recent years, Egypt has established plants to convert waste into organic fertiliser, with the participation of the private sector in the management divisions. The country also cooperates with non-state companies in waste collection and transportation.

The energy sector causes about 64 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in Egypt, the environment minister noted, adding that Egypt produces only 0.6 percent of global emissions.

The minister also reviewed the county's steps to provide more protection for coastal areas at risk due the impacts of climate change, in addition to its effort to rationalise water use in industry and agriculture.

The COP27 will be headed by Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Minister Fouad will serve as the conference's ministerial envoy and coordinator.

During his speech at the COP26, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi offered assurances that Egypt would seek during its presidency of the COP27 to enhance international climate action to achieve the goals of the Paris agreement.

He also affirmed the need to preserve the Paris Climate Accords to ensure the bolstering of efforts to reduce emissions and adapt to the negative implications of climate change.

In a pre-recorded speech at the World Leaders Summit on Climate Change on the sidelines of the 76th UN General Assembly in September, El-Sisi vowed that Egypt’s hosting of the conference would be a major turning point in the global fight against climate change.