In a step towards sustainable development, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) received its first official carbon footprint report from its opening ceremony, marking the museum’s transition towards carbon neutrality and reinforcing the country’s commitment to climate action, reports Nevine El-Aref.
At the headquarters of the GEM, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy and Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of Environment Manal Awad received the verified carbon footprint report of the museum’s official inauguration ceremony.
The move comes in implementation of presidential directives to integrate environmental sustainability into national projects and reflects Egypt’s broader shift towards a green economy in line with Egypt Vision 2030.
The event, attended by senior officials including Essam Al-Naggar, chairman of the General Organisation for Export and Import Control, and Ahmed Ghoneim, CEO of the GEM Authority, represents a practical model of inter-ministerial cooperation and institutional partnership.
Fathy described the occasion as “a successful model of close cooperation and teamwork,” emphasising the growing importance of environmental responsibility in the tourism and antiquities sectors.
He noted that more than 50 per cent of hotel and tourist establishments, along with diving centres, in Egypt already apply environmental standards in their operations, including the use of clean energy and plastic reduction measures, with plans underway to expand these practices across other tourism activity hubs.
Fathy also pointed out that several other museums and archaeological sites, including the Giza Pyramids and the Sharm El-Sheikh Museum, have begun implementing sustainability measures, confirming that Egypt’s heritage preservation efforts now go hand in hand with environmental protection.
Awad stressed that the GEM report represents Egypt’s first nationally documented and legally certified carbon footprint assessment for a major project. She described the initiative as a milestone in Egypt’s climate journey, highlighting its registration with the United Nations and its alignment with the country’s National Climate Strategy 2050.
She noted that the GEM is the first entity to have its environmental commitment legally documented and certified according to international standards through a report issued by an accredited national entity.
These certificates are the result of continuous efforts within the Ministry and complement previous work on carbon neutrality during the GEM’s pilot operation phase in 2023 and 2024 under a protocol signed between the Ministry of Environment and the GEM Authority.
Awad confirmed the continuation of cooperation in the next phase, with the Ministry of Environment fully prepared to provide technical and institutional support.
“This experience confirms that climate action has become an integral part of national decision-making,” Awad said, adding that the Ministry of Environment plans to replicate the model across other national projects in the near future.
Ghoneim emphasised that the report is not a symbolic gesture, but rather proof of a scientifically measured and verified approach to sustainability. He reaffirmed the GEM’s commitment to environmentally responsible operations and its role as a platform for public awareness on climate issues.
The GEM has also secured official accreditation for its greenhouse-gas emissions report last September. The accreditation was granted by the General Organisation for Export and Import Control (GOEIC) in cooperation with the Egyptian Accreditation Council (EGAC).
“This report covers all aspects of the GEM’s environmental footprint and meets the highest international standards,” Ghoneim said. He added that “it proves that the GEM is not just a cultural and historical institution, but also a global leader in environmental responsibility.”
The GEM is the first museum in Africa and the Middle East to receive the “EDGE Advance” green building certification, a recognition that positions it at the forefront of eco-friendly cultural institutions worldwide.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 15 January, 2026 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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