Ministers of Irrigation, Environment, and Finance Discuss Enhancing Climate Change Mitigation Projects
Cairo - Ahmed Sabry, Naha Imam, and Hanaa El-Sayed
Dr. Hany Sweilam, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development and Environment, and Ahmed Kojok, Minister of Finance, discussed a number of issues related to enhancing projects addressing climate change and securing the necessary international funding to implement these projects. This comes within the framework of the Egyptian state’s efforts to strengthen climate action and support the implementation of adaptation projects to mitigate the impacts of climate change, as well as the role played by the Ministry of Local Development and Environment, in its capacity as the National Focal Point for the Green Climate Fund (GCF) in Egypt, in attracting international climate investments and financing.
The meeting reviewed the Egyptian state’s efforts aimed at facilitating access for national entities to the financing provided by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), particularly by supporting national entities wishing to apply for accreditation as Direct Access Entities. It also reviewed the Fund’s key financial policies, updated procedures under the Fund’s new accreditation framework, and the expedited accreditation pathway, alongside discussing the Fund’s latest recommendations related to accreditation mechanisms and direct access to climate finance.
The ministers emphasized the importance of enhancing coordination and integration among various ministries and relevant authorities, ensuring a unified vision and prioritizing projects in the field of climate change adaptation that align with the actual needs of citizens and areas most affected by the negative impacts of climate change.
The meeting addressed the status of several proposed projects in the fields of climate change adaptation, coastal protection against sea-level rise risks, protection of areas and facilities from flood risks, improvement of water resource management, as well as projects related to reducing climate risks to agricultural areas and local communities.
The discussion also covered ways to maximize the use of international climate finance mechanisms and coordinate with international financing institutions and development partners to provide grants, concessional loans, and necessary funding for priority projects. Emphasis was placed on preparing projects in a comprehensive manner that meets the technical and financial requirements of relevant entities, as well as enhancing the capacity of national institutions in planning, implementing, and managing adaptation and mitigation projects and programs.
The ministers stressed the importance of preparing a unified list of priority projects and identifying the financial needs for each project, thereby contributing to faster action by international funding agencies and strengthening the state’s ability to attract more investments and financing directed toward climate change adaptation projects.
