CAIRO – 13 November 2022: Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad said Sunday that the international climate summit, COP27, in Sharm el Sheikh has so far reflected a “different” image of Egypt and its ability to organize such big world events. The conference in the Egyptian Red Sea resort city has played a role in encouraging travel to Egypt, with thousands taking part in the big event, Fouad said in statements to MENA on the sidelines of the international climate summit. She talked about how Sharm el Sheikh turned into a green city with many projects to be implemented, thus securing future jobs for youth in the coming stage. Pavilions organized in the blue and green zones of the Sharm el Sheikh conference are double the number organized during previous gatherings since 2015, said a proud Fouad. Developing countries need between 140 and 300 billion dollars in climate finance until 2030, Fouad said, adding that double that sum – between 280 and 500 billion dollars, would be needed until 2050.

Khaled Al Huraimel, CEO of Beeah Group, revealed that the company is in the process of launching new projects in cooperation with the private real estate sector in Egypt. Al-Huraimel told Daily News Egypt that the company launched its operations in the New Administrative Capital and targets Sharm El-Sheikh, coinciding with COP27. He added that the company provides waste recycling services in Sharm El-Sheikh with a contract that extends for 10 years. Last September, Beeah – Green Planet alliance signed a contract with South Sinai governorate for waste management in Sharm El-Sheikh, the second contract for Beeah Group in Egypt. He said that the process of converting areas takes about 15 years, but the development of Sharm El-Sheikh was easy due to the available basics of technological infrastructure.

Sameh Shoukry, Minister of Foreign Affairs and President of the 27th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP27), participated on Saturday in the launch of the Climate Responses for Sustaining Peace initiative (CRSP). The initiative was launched under the Egyptian Presidency of COP27, with the support of the Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding (CCCPA), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the African Union (AU). Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said after the launch of the initiative from Sharm El-Sheikh that Shoukry highlighted during the event that the initiative is the first of its kind to deal with the relationship between climate change and peace, reflecting Egypt’s constructive efforts in the field of promoting multilateral action. He explained that the initiative will be implemented through a number of axes, represented in strengthening the relationship between climate change adaptation and peacebuilding, sustaining peace through climate-resilient food systems, pushing sustainable solutions to the problem of displacement due to climate change, as well as speeding up the mobilization of climate finance to sustain peace. The CCCPA, which serves as the secretariat for the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development, will formulate and follow up on this initiative, which will last for five years, by ensuring the participation, harmony and mutual support between the components of the initiative and the efforts to achieve the goals of the African Agenda for Sustainable Development 2063 and the African Action Plan and Strategy for Climate Change and Development 2022 – 2032, said the Foreign Ministry spokesperson.

Sharm El-Sheikh- The Congress of the United States a couple months ago passed legislation that was so historic in terms of its vision, and the pledges for climate change. The United States aims to reduce its carbon emissions by 50-52% by 2030, and to reach zero carbon emissions by 2050, according to Nancy Pelosi, the head of US congressional delegation to COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh. Pelosi mentioned that COP27 in Egypt has a special position as representative for African countries. “Whatever resources we have, they would be leveraged to a much greater amount so that we can help these countries,” Pelosi said. US representative Gregory Meeks remarked that climate crises affected all countries of the world, African countries in particular.

CAIRO - 12 November 2022: Egyptian Minister of Transport Engineer Kamel Al-Wazir said that the ministry has more than one axis in preparing for the COP27 Climate Summit, currently held in Sharm el-Sheikh. The first is through 260 electric buses distributed on the roads in Sharm El Sheikh to transport delegations, and they are run by an Egyptian national company “Acta” in collaboration between the two companies; Super Jet Egypt and Transport Egypt. There are about 150 environmentally friendly electric cars, where there is an “application” on the conference page, so that attendees can request a ride. According to the minister, transportation is the second reason for polluting the environment as a result of carbon emissions, as transportation is responsible for 23-25% of carbon emissions in the atmosphere. For example, we have 500 linear kilometers in Greater Cairo only, between metro and monorail, the electric train or the electric reciprocating bus, and the fast electric train network is 2,000 km.

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt : After a full week of speeches from world leaders, presentations by scientists and closed-door negotiations, the U.N. climate conference was poised for a weekend break. COP27 featured a light agenda for Saturday, and a full day of rest on Sunday before the focus shifts to discussions around a final document - meant to reflect what has been agreed and achieved at the summit this year. On Saturday, delegations will be invited to weigh in on what they want to include in a final deal - in the first of several open discussions to be held by the Egyptian COP27 presidency. Those talks are expected to intensify through next week until the conference concludes on Nov. 18, as delegates jockey for their priorities to be included in the closing declaration. Saturday could also see more announcements made on agriculture, land use and food security - coinciding with the conference theme for the day.

CAIRO - 12 November 2022: The social and economic development plan for the fiscal year 2022/2023 submitted by the Minister of Planning, Dr. Hala Al-Saeed, to Parliament reflects the extent of interest in environmental improvement initiatives, and that the support to sustainable green growth, with investments ranging between 35% and 40% of the total investment in the year of the plan. In this regard, the economic and social development plan refers to the inclusion of initiatives to stimulate green tourism within the framework of the environmental sustainability system by stimulating the establishment of hotels compatible with the environment (Ecolodge). There are successful experiences of incorporating environmental aspects in resorts like in Siwa Oasis and Marsa Alam in the Red Sea, and Dahab in the Gulf of Aqaba, where the commitment of companies and establishments to environmental controls are followed up, as a prerequisite for obtaining environmental validity certificates and for the continuation of work. The initiatives to convert vehicles licensed by tourists to work with environmentally-friendly energy, as well as obliging diving centers to obtain the green mark, and obligating all hotel and tourist establishments in the city of Sharm El Sheikh (as a first stage) indicating that they have obtained an accreditation certificate in accordance with the requirements of green and environmentally friendly practice.

US President Joe Biden visited Sharm el-Sheikh, on Friday, where Egypt is hosting the COP27 climate conference, and was received by the Egyptian Minister of Planning, Hala al-Saeed. Biden’s trip lasted for about three hours, and marked his first visit to Egypt since taking office in 2021. Biden’s visit to EgyptBiden’s visit comes to discuss some important regional and bilateral issues and participate in the 27th climate conference. Main points of Biden’s speech at the COP27 climate summit:-Pledging US$150 million in US commitments to African countries to adapt to climate change. -Enable the United States to make progress in investing and creating infrastructure for the transition to clean energy.

Alaa Abdel-Fattah’s family submitted an official request to the Egyptian Presidency to issue a presidential pardon for him. The request stated that Abdel-Fattah is the only son of his mother, Laila Soueif, and that he has a child who is 11 years old and has autism. A member of the Presidential Pardon Committee Tarek al-Awady, confirmed during a telephone interview with al-Nahar TV channel that the committee received the request just on the evening of Friday. Awady said that the family had never submitted a request to the pardon committee before, but Abdel-Fattah’s name was on the lists that the pardon committee is examining at the request of the civil movement. He assured that the pardon for Abdel-Fattah was being discussed, alongside Ziad al-Alimi and Ahmed Douma, noting that the terms of the presidential pardon apply to Abdel-Fattah in the case in which he is imprisoned.

Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhi on Thursday launched via video-conference (EL FIT) marathon in the Wadi Degla Protectorate, as part of the Olympic Fit competitions and in support of the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) in Sharm El Sheikh. The Olympic Fit competitions are held within the initiative of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi (Sports: A Way of Life) and organized by the Egyptian Street Workout and Calisthenics Federation (ESWCF) and the International Functional Fitness Federation (iF3). The sports minister added the Olympic Fit competitions come as part of his ministry’s plan for hosting global sporting events in Egypt, with a view to promoting sports tourism. On his part, ESWCF President Islam Kortam said the federation strives to encourage young people in Egypt to practice sports daily to build healthy bodies and have a healthier, happier and more productive life. The Olympic Fit competitions, which last for three months, comprise the republic championship for competitive fitness qualifying for the Worlds 2022 in Mexico, with the participation of 500 male and female athletes.

South Korea said Friday its position of not providing lethal weapons to Ukraine remains unchanged, despite ammunition trade talks taking place between the United States and South Korea. Negotiations are ongoing between the US and Korean companies to export ammunition, in order to make up for the shortage of 155mm ammunition inventories in the US. This is being done under the premise that the US is the end user,” the South Korean defense ministry said in a statement. “The government policy of not providing lethal weapons to Ukraine has not changed.”Some context: South Korea’s statement comes after The Wall Street Journal reported, citing US officials familiar with the deal, that Seoul had agreed to sell weapons to the US that would be destined for Ukraine.

CAIRO – 9 November 2022: Cooking recipes dating back to ancient Egypt were characterized by their simplicity, where not too many food ingredients or spices were used. Bread was the most important element of the daily meals of ancient Egyptians. The artifacts exhibited in the Egyptian Museum show the pottery food jars used by the ancient Egyptians, and the inscriptions on other artifacts portray how food was prepared. In addition to various vegetables and fruits, the ancient Egyptians knew honey, dates, raisins, grains, meat, birds and fish in their daily meals. The agricultural product was the main source of ancient Egyptian food.

CAIRO - 10 November 2022: UNICEF led a panel discussion Wednesday at COP27 entitled “Climate Education: Inspiring Children to Take Action in Egypt”. The discussion presented the joint efforts of UNICEF, Ministry of Education and Technical Education (MOETE) and the Ministry of Environment on climate education in Egypt. Panellists discussed the importance of efforts of upskilling the teaching workforce for inspiring children and young people to take climate action. They also discussed the potential of climate education to reinforce foundational skills, green skills and artistic expression. UNICEF advocates for climate education as part of quality holistic education for children and young people.”

Madbouli asserted the necessity of rallying efforts of the private sector to fund green projects, as well as renewable energy ventures, adding that the government presents luring facilitations for the private sector. The launching that came during the Finance Day session, discusses promoting further contribution on the part of the private sector in all projects related to COP27 climate change finance. All drives are part of the gathering action plan to put all climate pledges into effect.

Delivering a speech Wednesday, during the session of "Climate finance in a polycrisis era" at the proceedings of Finance Day, Madbouly welcomed participants of the conference, saying the event is an embodiment of Egypt's efforts toward transition to a green economy. The gathering of the ministers, heads of international institutions and leaders of the private sector institutions in the Finance Day is an evidence of great keenness from the part of all institutions on collaborating efforts, as well as harmonizing actions toward causes that affect the society, especially developing countries, according to Madbouli. The cooperation between the governments, the NGOs, the UN, and the international organizations are held with consistency, he said.