Egypt has designated 27 January as National Environment Day following a recent approval by Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli. Marking the day is meant to increase people’s awareness about the environment and natural resources and promote sustainable use policies.

In its first celebration of the occasion, the Ministry of Environment raised the motto “Egypt on the Path to Green”. The day aligns with the 25th anniversary of the ministry’s Industrial Pollution Control Programme.

Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad said designating a national day is not meant to celebrate government achievements but rather to highlight the importance of partnership with private and public sectors and NGOs.

Fouad praised Madbouli’s role in supporting a waste management system and increasing natural protectorate fees, leading to a 1,600 per cent increase in protectorate revenues within four years.

Collaboration between ministries has been instrumental in advancing the environmental agenda to achieve sustainable development goals, she added.

The Ministry of Planning has been a key player, particularly in establishing standards for environmental sustainability, Fouad said. It has also played a crucial role in supporting green transformation, securing funds, preparing for COP27, and launching the NWFE programme. NWFE is Egypt’s Platform for the Nexus of Water, Food and Energy. It aims to mobilise climate finance and private investments from multiple international financing institutions to accelerate the national climate agenda and support the country’s green transition. The programme is the first in a list of eco-friendly projects within the National Climate Change Strategy 2050 and Egypt’s Vision 2030.

The industrial sector garnered investments of 550 million euros, she noted. Last year, investments reached 130 million euros and were meant to support the industry to achieve environmental compatibility. The industrial sector also received 96 million euros to promote the efficient use of resources.

Fouad said Minister of Local Development Hisham Amna collaborated in the two significant issues of municipal solid waste and plastic. Amna collaborated with Hala Al-Said, the minister of planning, to implement infrastructure projects worth LE7 billion, including intermediate stations, sanitary landfills, and factories to launch a comprehensive waste management system.

According to Fouad, the environmental agenda boasts collaborative efforts. Egypt now has 24 sanitary landfills and contracts have been signed with the private sector in Cairo, Ismailia, Port Said, and Alexandria for the transportation, collection, and safe burial of waste.

At the event marking National Environment Day, Al-Said spoke about projects implemented between various ministries to support environmental protection, such as the Air Pollution and Climate Change Management Project in Greater Cairo, to reduce emissions in vital sectors, aligning with Egypt’s Vision 2030 and the government’s “Egypt Rises” programme.

Another project is the purification and upgrade of Kitchener sewage landfill, the largest in Egypt, serving over 11 million people in 182 villages. Collaboration extended to implementing the presidential initiative 100 Million Trees, launched in 2022 and extends to 2029.

Al-Said added that joint efforts are directed towards developing an integrated system for solid waste management in governorates, where the ministries of planning and local development are cooperating with the Ministry of Environment by providing financial support for infrastructure projects nationwide.

Ali Abu Senna, head of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, said funding for the industrial pollution control project was initially focused on the public sector but that at present 90 per cent of the support is directed to the private sector. The model ensures that the private sector bears the responsibility of the loan instead of the state, he added.

The project finances LE200 million to small and medium-sized enterprises, with 271 million euros to be allocated for industry development to enhance export competitiveness.

Donor bodies will provide 95 million euros to finance the third phase of the project, Abu Senna said, adding that 10 projects have been approved for funding.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 1 February, 2024 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly