Egypt President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman. Photo: Egyptian Presidency Spokesman
El-Sisi made his remarks as he co-chaired, with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, the second edition of the Middle East Green Initiative Summit 2022 held on the sidelines of the COP 27 conference on Monday.
The Middle East Green Initiative was launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last year as part of the efforts to reduce regional carbon emissions.
During this year's summit, Bin Salman announced that Saudi Arabia was committing $2.5 billion to the Middle East Green Initiative for the next ten years.
"The Middle East Green Initiative constitutes a perfect opportunity to cultivate closer cooperation among its member states. It aims to mobilise more investments and provide new mechanisms for innovative support of projects that address climate change in the Arab world," Sisi said.
“This initiative represents an appropriate framework to boost technical cooperation. It also represents an opportunity to connect research centers in member states in ways that integrate research and applied programs in climate change technology,” said El-Sisi.
Moreover, he stated that a large number of countries have joined this initiative since its launch. Such a large number, he added, reflects countries' seriousness about combating climate change.
Moreover, El-Sisi asserted that Egypt is taking steps toward transitioning to renewable energy, whether solar, wind or hydrogen energy. In addition, he stated that Egypt has recently launched ambitious projects in the area of clean transport.
Speaking of adaptation, Sisi stated that Egypt has succeeded tangibly in sustainable management of water resources.
He referred to Egypt's document on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which was updated in accordance with the Paris Agreement. The NDCs include a number of ambitious goals for adaptation in the sectors of agriculture, the protection of coastal areas and sustainable urban development.
COP27 a Golden opportunity
In the same speech, the president stated that COP27 "represents an opportunity for leaders of the world, economic sectors, major international financial institutions and other partners to stand together to achieve an indisputably common goal; namely to respond urgently, promptly and effectively to the challenge of climate change."
“Everybody acknowledges that time is not on our side. Failures in reducing emissions, in adapting measures, and in providing mechanisms and means for implementation, particularly in the area of climate funding, should be addressed through swift action and executive measures on the ground,” he said.
The president reminded all participants of the weight of the responsibility they shoulder.
El-Sisi asserted that Egypt is doing its best to help the various parties reach consensus on all contentious issues.
He also stressed that Egypt was making every effort to ensure that the conference produces effective and practical outcomes. Outcomes that will live up to the expectations of people around the world.
At the end of his speech, Sisi said he was confident the outcomes of this summit will reflect continued commitment to climate action. Such commitment, he said, will benefit coming generations in the Arab region and in the entire world.
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