The Minister of Environment discusses with the European Union delegation ways of cooperation in developing policies that stimulate the green economy
Minister of the Environment, Dr. Yasmine Fouad, praised the strategic relations between Egypt and the European Union at various levels, especially in the field of environment and climate, noting that it had gone through an inspiring journey over the past years.
< p>This came during a meeting of the Minister of Environment on Tuesday with Sophie Vanhaeverbeke, Deputy Ambassador of the European Union to Egypt, Anne Schouw, Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation, and a number of representatives of European companies. To discuss ways of cooperation in developing policies that stimulate the green economy.
The Minister said that the strategic relations between Egypt and the European Union have gone through an inspiring journey over the past years, of cooperation, support and partnership in the most critical times. What the environment sector in Egypt went through, as the year 2015 is considered a cornerstone for the world regarding the climate file and sustainable development goals.
She added that this timing was a turning point in cooperation between Egypt and Egypt. The European Union is involved in a number of environmental files, including developing natural reserves, supporting capacity building of the Ministry of Environment team, as well as the file of industrial pollution control and how to comply with the standards and requirements of environmental law, achieving a balance between the requirements of development and the preservation of natural resources, in addition to the solid waste management file.
I explained that the European Union, especially the German side, is a partner in our journey to draw up a new waste management system and come up with the first law that regulates the work of waste management of all kinds, and provides the opportunity for partnership with the private sector.
She stressed Egypt’s keenness to take into account the economic and social dimensions in its path towards green transformation, so that it is a fair green transformation, reviewing the story of green transformation in Egypt in light of the economic challenges the country faces, The political leadership took a decision in 2018 to change the language of dialogue about the environment, and focused on searching for the best ways. To engage the private sector, create incentives and reduce emissions; To keep pace with the changing world view of environmental work, so that sustainable management of natural resources becomes at its heart.
She continued: Egypt’s hosting of the COP14 Biodiversity Conference is a turning point in Egypt’s shift towards linking the environment with the economic dimension, calculating the cost of environmental degradation, and enhancing the role of the private sector. In addition to giving citizens a real model of how to link the environment and the economy.
She pointed to some inspiring models that Egypt has created in linking the environment and the economy, including the success story in creating a model for integrated management in natural reserves, and involving the private sector in Providing services in reserves and ensuring the integration of local communities in providing these services and developing and managing reserves.
She pointed to a model linking the dimensions of pollution reduction and sustainable management of natural resources with the economic aspect through the experience of confronting the black cloud challenge; To benefit from rice straw instead of turning it into a pollutant by burning it, by recycling it and turning it into useful products and a source of income for the farmer, by highlighting its economic dimension and supporting farmers with the necessary equipment. The revenues from this would reach about one billion Egyptian pounds from simply collecting and recycling one type of agricultural waste instead of burning it.
The Minister of Environment spoke about Egypt’s journey in solid waste management, and the issuance of the first law to regulate waste management that focuses on the circular economy. And involving the private sector, so the government was keen to establish infrastructure that would help attract private sector investments.
She explained that the state has invested 8 billion pounds in developing infrastructure, in addition to providing facilities and incentives to the private sector to invest in the field of waste transfer. For energy, where 14 sites were identified and the first tariff for converting waste into energy was announced, this is one of the promising areas for private sector investment. Use or plastic packaging products, as the study was completed in cooperation with the European Union and the German Development Bank KFW, and it will be implemented through the private sector and its proceeds will be pumped into the integrated solid waste management system.
She added that the conditions of the working informal sector have been legalized. In the solid waste system through a large program that began 4 years ago in cooperation with the Ministries of Social Solidarity and Labor, where 4 job titles were identified, and the people of this sector were trained in the new titles to give them a certificate from the Ministry of Environment that they had passed the training…noting that work is currently being done to complete the program. To issue certificates for passing the first stage and issue cards with new job titles.
She pointed to building a model of nature-friendly private sector companies, starting with protected areas, especially with the declaration of 11 reserves as areas for eco-tourism, where we have worked during the past four years to create a product Ecotourism in natural reserves and raising the capabilities of the private sector working in the field of tourism with regard to preserving natural resources.
The Minister of Environment said: “We have achieved a success story by integrating local communities, as 9 tribes were integrated through the “Hiwar” initiative. “tribes” In the process of developing reserves, preserving their heritage and traditions, and providing job opportunities in the reserves, for example, 70% of the workforce working in Wadi El Gemal Reserve is from the local community.
She indicated the possibility of cooperation in coming up with a policy report on the involvement of the private sector in Protecting nature, as the private sector working in eco-tourism or nature faces a challenge with the banking sector.
She added: "We are currently designing a new program with"EBRD" The French Development Agency and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; To establish a nature fund in partnership with a national bank; To reduce the risks of private sector investments in nature-based solutions.
The Minister of Environment confirmed her aspiration to achieve the big dream of declaring the coral reef environment in the Red Sea a natural reserve, as recent studies indicated that the Red Sea reef environment is the last site The planet is facing the effects of climate change, and as Egypt was the President of the Conference on Biodiversity and Climate, it was the one that initiated the link between climate and biodiversity, as the approval of the Council of Ministers was taken to declare the Red Sea coast as a protected area to preserve natural resources for future generations, taking into account procedures that ensure the involvement of the sector. Private.
She pointed to the role of development partners in supporting Egypt’s move to expand renewable energy; To reduce global warming emissions and implement the national contributions plan, and shed light in terms of policies on mechanisms to enhance green hydrogen production, and provide incentives to involve the private sector.
For her part, the Deputy European Union Ambassador to Egypt, Sophie Vanhaverbeke, confirmed Interest in strengthening strategic relations with Egypt in the field of stimulating the green economy, as the Union will provide 7.4 billion euros to support the development of green economy policies and enhance the involvement of the private sector, in addition to its agreement with the vision of the Egyptian Minister of Environment on the necessity of taking into account the economic and social dimension in policy reform.
< p>Vanhaverbeke said that the first pillar of cooperation will be in developing policies that stimulate the green economy, which are economic stimulation tools by supporting banking sector policies, and the second pillar is the competitive environment for business, through climate investment, competitive ownership governance, and strengthening the private sector, and this part will be presented by the European Union at a conference. Investment next June, noting that Egypt has many inspiring stories on which it can be built.
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