The EDGE, which stands for Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies, is a certification system that aims to encourage shifting away from traditional methods for constructing buildings by applying more sustainable measures.

The system – developed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) – is one of several global approaches that aims to decrease the negative environmental impact of buildings, especially by reducing carbon emissions.

The centre, which is still under construction to serve as a unit for family medicine, is the first medical facility in Egypt to receive such an accreditation, said Abdel-Ghaffar, who received the certificate during a ceremony on Monday in Cairo.

According to the EDGE’s website, the certification assesses a project’s sustainable use of embodied energy – the total sum of energy used to produce a material or product, including mining, manufacture and transport – water consumption and direct energy consumption.

Compared to conventional buildings, the centre is expected to save 47 percent in direct energy consumption, 25 percent in water consumption and 44 percent in embodied energy from materials once complete, Abdel-Ghaffar said.

Overall, he estimated that the centre will have reduced its carbon footprint by 23,404 tons annually.

Egypt is adopting a strategy to build climate-friendly buildings and seeks to honour the commitments of the 27th UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) that took place in Sharm El-Sheikh in November, Abdel-Ghaffar asserted.

Head of Healthcare and Nursing Sector at the health ministry Wael Abdel-Razek revealed that up to 1,500 health care units will be built in accordance with green standards in the coming five years.

This will contribute to reducing water and electricity consumption and to ensuring the safe disposal of hazardous waste, Abdel-Razek added.

Egypt has been stepping up its transition to clean energy as part of the battle to control climate change.

Amongst its notable efforts are the plans to make Sharm El-Sheikh International Hospital the first green medical facility in the African continent.

It is also the first Egyptian hospital to join the Global Green and Healthy Hospitals (GGHH) network as well as the first in the country to implement a green transition in the health sector.

Egypt recently hosted the 27th UN Climate Change Conference in Sharm El-Sheikh  in November and has managed to secure funds for its future projects that will aid the country’s process towards a green economy.

*Correction: The piece was updated to correct that the international accreditation certificate EDGE was granted for the designs of the medical centre.