The partnership comes as a contribution to building trust and creating favourable conditions to address the global phenomena, the Egyptian president said while addressing the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate Change Summit.

The summit was held virtually under the auspices of US President Joe Biden, and included the participation of a number of heads of state and government as well as the UN secretary-general.

The Egyptian-US partnership targets launching a new effective initiative to support climate adaptation efforts in Africa during the upcoming UN Conference of Parties on Climate Change (COP27) that will be held in Sharm El-Sheikh this November, he added.

Egypt has vowed to speak for African interests in combatting climate change at COP27.

El-Sisi also announced via the event that Egypt has joined the Global Methane Pledge Initiative to enhance its efforts in reducing methane emissions from the petroleum and natural gas sector in cooperation with international partners in the sector.

Established by the US in 2009, the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate Change Summit aims to support issues on combatting climate change and rally the necessary international momentum.

The international community’s ability to move forward towards implementing commitments and pledges in alignment with the Paris Agreement depends on the level of trust among all countries and on the conditions that stimulate and support more constructive action to face climate change, El-Sisi explained. 

He also urged that the priorities of developing countries, especially in Africa, be addressed and taken into consideration, stressing thatt these countries should feel that they bear their responsibilities to the best of their abilities and to the extent of appropriate support and funding available to them.

The success of the COP27 in producing desired outcomes and the success of the international multilateral system to face climate change are closely related to the level of satisfaction and contentment that developing countries and African countries feel about their position in this global effort.

It is also related to the steps taken by developed countries to fulfil their pledges with regard to climate finance, supporting adaptation efforts, and addressing the issue of losses and damages caused by climate change in developing and least developed countries, he stressed.

Furthermore, El-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to support and strengthen efforts to confront climate change, adapt to its negative effects, and build on the international momentum and the present political will from all parties for this purpose.

“Egypt is fully aware of the magnitude of the responsibility entrusted to it as the president of the COP27,” he added.

Cairo is also aware that all sides are looking forward to “tangible results that contribute to creating real change on the ground that will move the world from the phase of negotiations and pledges to actual implementation on the ground to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement — the most important of which is reducing the rate of warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The challenge posed by the phenomenon surpasses the ability of governments to act individually, El-Sisi reiterated, noting that Egypt  will ensure during its presidency of the COP27 that all voices are heard, and all visions and orientations included.

Moreover, Egypt will seek to establish real partnerships between governments and other non-governmental actors such as financing institutions, international organisations, and civil society. 

Egypt, El-Sisi added, urges all parties to raise the ambition of their climate action by updating their nationally determined contributions in implementation of the Paris Agreement, as well as supporting and strengthening their long-term plans and strategies to reduce emissions and address the negative impacts of climate change.

In May, the Egyptian government launched the country’s 2050 National Strategy for Climate Change.

The president said the country is currently finalising its updated national contributions, which he said will include “specific and ambitious quantitative goals” in a number of key sectors to achieve “a fair” transition to a green economy and renewable energy in a way that allows Egypt to be a regional energy hub.

These contributions will demonstrate the responsibilities that Egypt undertakes to spare its people the negative impact of climate change as well as build their capacity to withstand and adapt to it, especially in light of the successive global crises and the ensuing repercussions on energy and food prices.