Egypt launches Abdul Latif Jameel Clean Air and Water Labs

Ahram Online , Tuesday 26 Sep 2023

Egypt's Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala El-Said announced the launch of Abdul Latif Jameel's (J-PAL) Clean Air and Water Labs, focused on solving the most pressing air and water challenges in Africa and the Middle East.

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Egypt s Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala El-Said delivers the opening speech at the Partnership Development for Climate Adaptation in Arab States conference, held in Cairo on Tuesday. Photo courtesy of Planning and Economic Development Ministry

 

The Clean Air and Water Labs will foster deep collaboration between government stakeholders, J-PAL regional offices, and associated researchers, according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) that houses J-PAL.

El-Said's remarks came during her opening speech at the 'Partnership Development for Climate Adaptation in Arab States' conference, held in Cairo on Tuesday.

During her speech, the minister emphasized that adaptation to climate change is one of the crucial issues facing Arab countries and the developing world, hindering beneficial development efforts.

El-Said also highlighted Egypt's efforts to green its investment portfolio, increasing the proportion of green public investments from 40% this year to 50% of total public investments by 2025.

This, she said, will be achieved by allocating approximately EGP410 billion for mitigation and adaptation to the effects of climate change in the 2023/2024 investment plan.

The conference was attended by many ministers, heads of international institutions and regional and Arab organizations, such as Egypt's Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sewilam; Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Social Sector at the League of Arab States, Haifa Abu Ghazaleh; and UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP27 and UN Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Mahmoud Mohieldin.

On Friday, Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry urged the adoption of a broader climate agenda at the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference COP28 in the UAE.

Shoukry's remarks came during the ministerial meeting of the first Global Stocktake under the Paris Agreement, on the sidelines of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA78).

Alongside her Canadian counterpart Steven Guilbeault, Egypt's Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad will co-chair the climate finance and implementation mechanisms negotiations at Dubai's COP28 this November.

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