CAIRO, April 24 (MENA) - Minister of Environment Yasmin Fouad met Thursday with Nepal's Ambassador to Egypt Sushil Kumar Lamsal to discuss potential areas of cooperation in environmental and climate-related issues between the two countries.

The discussion covered both bilateral and multilateral collaboration, with a focus on addressing global environmental challenges through shared efforts, with Fouad emphasizing the importance of joint efforts in tackling global challenges, noting that collaboration between countries, both bilaterally and multilaterally, is essential for meaningful progress.

She highlighted Egypt’s commitment to the green transition, particularly the country's ambitious goals for renewable energy. Egypt aims to achieve 42% of its energy mix from renewable sources by 2030, which she described as an ambitious target for a developing nation. As part of this, Egypt has also set a voluntary target to ensure that 100% of national projects are green by 2030, she said. This initiative is seen as a significant step in advancing green transformation, she added, noting that Egypt is striving to become a regional hub for green hydrogen, signaling its strong commitment to a sustainable energy future.

The minister also addressed the issue of climate financing, noting that the limited financial resources available for climate action pose a significant challenge. To overcome this, she emphasized the importance of creating innovative financing mechanisms to support green projects. This includes preparing national banks to finance green projects, particularly in key sectors like water and agriculture, which are vital for both Egypt and Nepal. These sectors are of particular importance in countries like Egypt and Nepal, where climate adaptation is essential for the survival and prosperity of their populations, she emphasized.

The minister highlighted Egypt’s ongoing work with banks to support biodiversity projects and encourage private sector involvement in protecting natural resources, such as coral reefs in the Red Sea. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to promote eco-tourism, an area in which Egypt is expanding, she said. She also pointed to a seven-year initiative that aims to implement a comprehensive waste management system in Egypt, which includes enhancing investment opportunities and involving the private sector.

Fouad also highlighted Egypt’s leadership in shifting the conversation on climate change, with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi playing a key role in placing sustainability and the environment at the heart of Egypt's development agenda. Egypt is increasingly linking economic development to environmental sustainability, showcasing how investment in green initiatives can contribute to long-term economic growth, she said.

On the topic of international collaboration, the minister spotlighted Egypt’s role as a member of the Kimong Fund for Biodiversity, funded by China. Egypt has committed to supporting Nepal’s project, which is part of the first batch of projects funded by the fund, according to her. She emphasized the need for countries facing similar environmental challenges to collaborate, particularly in biodiversity conservation and sustainable tourism. Egypt is currently expanding its eco-tourism sector and working with the private sector to implement related projects, she said, pointing out Egypt’s involvement in ensuring the sustainability of local communities within nature reserves, and helping preserve their cultural heritage while providing sustainable employment opportunities.

Ambassador Lamsal praised the strong, longstanding relations between Egypt and Nepal, noting that the two countries share mutual interests in tackling climate change.

Both nations are facing significant climate impacts despite having low contributions to global greenhouse gas emissions, the ambassador said, expressing Nepal’s interest in collaborating with Egypt on green transformation initiatives, particularly in renewable energy technologies, as the majority of Nepal's electricity comes from renewable sources. He also highlighted Nepal’s interest in climate-smart agricultural practices, aligning with Egypt’s environmental goals.

Ambassador Lamsal pointed out that the alignment of interests between Egypt and Nepal opens up significant opportunities for collaboration on green transformation. He emphasized Nepal's eagerness to deepen cooperation with Egypt on climate change, following the outcomes of a recent dialogue between Nepal’s prime minister and President Sisi. As part of this collaboration, he invited Minister Fouad to participate in Nepal’s “Everest Dialogue,” a climate-focused platform that will take place this year. This platform will focus on the future of humanity, and the ambassador expressed hope that Egypt, as a leader in climate action in Africa, will contribute by its scientific expertise and experience to the dialogue. Additionally, he invited Egypt to support Nepal's side event at the upcoming climate conference, recognizing Egypt’s leadership in global climate discussions, as demonstrated during its hosting of COP27. (MENA)

S A S/R E E