Sharm El Sheikh designated as Egypt's first green city by ICLEI
Sharm El Sheikh has officially become Egypt's first city to be recognized as a 'Green City' by the global Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) network.
This significant achievement was announced by Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad, alongside South Sinai Governor Khaled Fouda and UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Gimar Deeb.
The designation marks the culmination of Sharm El Sheikh's extensive journey towards environmental sustainability, which gained momentum after Egypt hosted the UN Biodiversity Conference in 2018 and was solidified by the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in 2022.
Guided by presidential directives, approximately 39 projects transformed the city into a comprehensive green model.
Key initiatives contributing to this status include substantial investments (LE800 million) in renewable energy (51 megawatts, solar installations across hotels and remote areas), the establishment of 145 km of cycling paths and sustainable transport, and robust solid waste management systems that engage the local community, including converting used cooking oil into biodiesel.
The city also focuses on water desalination in Nabq Protectorate and biodiversity preservation, including coral reef monitoring.
Though Sharm El Sheikh is the inaugural Egyptian city to join the ICLEI, El-Kharga City's prior designation as a green city by the Arab League highlights Egypt's expansive dedication to sustainable development.
Governor Fouda emphasized that COP27 was a critical turning point, solidifying Sharm El Sheikh's identity as a green tourism destination.
The 'Green Sharm' project specifically targets energy, waste, transport, water, and biodiversity, including a ban on single-use plastics in 50 hotels by 2025/2026.
This comprehensive strategy, supported by over $19.7 million in funding, aims to make Sharm El Sheikh a global model for sustainable tourism, promoting a healthy environment, a promising economy, and a responsible community.
The Green Sharm Project Manager and the UNDP representative both lauded Sharm El Sheikh's inclusion, emphasizing it as a clear demonstration of Egypt's dedication to green transformation and its positive impact on the city's tourism appeal in addition to its role as a global symbol post-COP27.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily News Egypt
4 days ago
- Daily News Egypt
Waste management reform expands with private sector involvement: Environment Minister
Egypt's Minister of Environment, Yasmine Fouad, announced on Wednesday that the country's solid waste management system has witnessed significant progress in recent years, driven by close coordination between the government, parliament, and private sector. She revealed that Egypt's recycling rate has risen from 10% in 2018 to 37% in 2024, with plans to reach 60% by 2027. Speaking during a session of the Local Administration Committee in Parliament—chaired by MP Ahmed El-Sigini and attended by key ministers and officials—Fouad credited the Waste Management Law (Law 202/2020) as a cornerstone for introducing circular economy practices and expanding private sector involvement. 'When we began, there were only two private contracts in the recycling sector. Today, we have 36 contracts across the value chain—from collection and transportation to processing and recycling,' Fouad noted. She highlighted the growing role of the private sector in waste-to-energy projects, including landfill gas recovery and sludge-to-power generation. A government-approved feed-in tariff, coordinated with the ministries of electricity, housing, and local development, is expected to further incentivize investment in this area. Among the key projects mentioned were the landfill gas recovery initiative at the Salam landfill site and the sludge-to-energy conversion project at the Abu Rawash wastewater treatment plant. Addressing funding challenges, Fouad called for the full activation of financing mechanisms embedded in the law, including allocations from property taxes, surpluses from the Local Development Fund, and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes. She pointed to the launch of Egypt's first EPR initiative in February, initially targeting single-use plastic bags and eventually expanding to packaging materials and metal products. These measures, she said, are expected to provide a consistent revenue stream for the waste management system. Fouad also highlighted the financial turnaround of the Waste Management Regulatory Agency, which has become an economic authority and recorded a surplus of EGP 45m. The minister reviewed progress in the signing and execution of waste collection and recycling service contracts across Egypt and addressed critical infrastructure needs in Giza and Qalyubeya governorates. Committee Chair El-Sigini congratulated Fouad on her recent appointment to a prominent international environmental post and praised her leadership in tackling Egypt's longstanding waste challenges. 'Parliament has been a committed partner in this journey since 2015,' he said, underscoring the importance of consolidating and expanding the gains achieved to ensure long-term sustainability.
Egypt Today
7 days ago
- Egypt Today
Egypt Secures Spot in $1B Climate Investment Program: PlanningMin
Cairo – June 15, 2025: Egypt has been selected as one of only seven countries worldwide to benefit from the Climate Investment Funds' (CIF) $1 billion Industrial Decarbonization Program, aimed at reducing emissions in developing nations' industrial sectors. The announcement was made by Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, who emphasized that the selection from a competitive pool of 26 applicant countries underscores international confidence in Egypt's climate policies and green transformation agenda. The initiative, launched under the CIF's Clean Technology Fund (CTF), is the first of its kind to focus exclusively on industrial decarbonization in emerging markets. Egypt joins Brazil, Mexico, Namibia, South Africa, Turkey, and Uzbekistan as the first recipients of support from the program. According to Al-Mashat, Egypt's proposal was submitted in partnership with key international financial institutions, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the African Development Bank (AfDB). The submission highlighted Egypt's strategic shift toward a green economy, institutional readiness, and the engagement of private sector actors in climate financing. 'This achievement affirms global trust in Egypt's vision and efforts to align national development strategies with climate goals,' Al-Mashat stated. 'We are committed to strengthening our institutional capacity and promoting investment policies that foster environmental sustainability and economic competitiveness.' The CIF noted that the seven selected countries were chosen based on an independent evaluation. The program aims to accelerate the transition to low-emission industrial systems, spur green job creation, and position participating countries to capitalize on a growing global market for environmentally sustainable goods—projected to reach $2 trillion by 2030. Al-Mashat also pointed to Egypt's heightened climate action momentum since hosting the COP27 summit in Sharm El Sheikh in 2022. During the summit, Egypt launched the 'NWFE' (Nexus of Water, Food, and Energy) country platform, an internationally recognized model that seeks to drive climate investment through partnerships involving the government, development agencies, and the private sector. In addition to the decarbonization initiative, Egypt was previously recognized by the CIF during COP27 as the top-ranked country in the North Africa and Europe region under the 'Nature, People, and Climate Investment' program—a separate $500 million initiative supporting projects in climate-smart agriculture, coastal restoration, and inclusive green development. Ongoing technical discussions are being held to leverage that funding within the NWFE framework. Tariye Gbadegesin, CEO of CIF, underscored the urgency of industrial decarbonization, particularly in emerging economies. 'The global race to decarbonize the industrial sector has begun, and emerging markets are leading the way,' she said. 'This is not just about emissions; it's about ensuring long-term prosperity, generating jobs, and producing the low-carbon materials essential to scaling renewable energy and powering the global economy.' Under the program, the selected countries will develop detailed investment plans in collaboration with multilateral development banks and private sector partners. Once approved by the CIF board, these plans will unlock access to highly concessional financing to scale up technologies like green hydrogen and low-carbon industrial processes. The CIF's Clean Technology Fund, valued at $9 billion, employs a groundbreaking private capital mobilization mechanism—one that reportedly generates $12 in additional investment for every $1 of CTF funding—making it a key tool for driving large-scale sustainable development.
Daily News Egypt
14-06-2025
- Daily News Egypt
Environment Minister chairs closing session on Mediterranean Sea protection at UN Ocean Conference
Egypt's Minister of Environment, Yasmine Fouad, chaired the closing session marking the 50th anniversary of the Mediterranean Action Plan and the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Convention. The high-level event was held on the sidelines of the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), co-hosted by France and Costa Rica in the city of Nice. The session convened 11 environment ministers and 3 deputy ministers from across the Mediterranean region, alongside Tatjana Hema, Coordinator of the UN Environment Programme's Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP). The event featured two thematic sessions. The first showcased member state success stories in areas such as marine protected areas, pollution prevention, regional cooperation, monitoring and evaluation, and integrated coastal zone management. The second addressed strategies to combat single-use plastics, promote sustainable financing, and enhance synergies for plastic pollution control. Minister Fouad described the event as a timely opportunity to reflect on five decades of shared environmental action. 'This gathering embodies the spirit of Mediterranean solidarity and ambition. It is not just about preserving the environment, but safeguarding our culture, identity, and shared humanity,' she remarked. She commended the French Minister of Environment for an 'inspiring address' highlighting 15 years of fruitful partnership, expressing hope that this cooperation would continue to the 60th anniversary milestone. Fouad also stressed the urgency of intensifying efforts to achieve a pollution-free Mediterranean, particularly amid rising plastic pollution threats. With the next session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC 5.2) on a global plastics treaty set for August, the Minister underscored the importance of concluding a legally binding agreement that could 'mark the beginning of the end for plastic pollution.' In her remarks, Fouad highlighted the importance of sustainable financing and international collaboration. 'The Mediterranean region offers a valuable model of governance, with 22 countries working together on issues ranging from pandemic response to biodiversity and sea level rise,' she noted. She also praised the successful case studies shared during the session, applauding initiatives focused on biodiversity-climate linkages, coastal zone management, and community engagement in marine protection. 'These were not just presentations—they were passionate, hopeful stories that energised everyone in the room,' she added. On the sidelines of the conference, Minister Fouad held a bilateral meeting with Jessica Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience, and Competitive Circular Economy. Discussions focused on ongoing negotiations for a global plastics treaty and aligning positions ahead of the INC 5.2 meeting. Fouad reaffirmed Egypt's support for establishing an independent financial mechanism to fund the treaty's objectives, thereby reducing pressure on the Global Environment Facility (GEF). She also referred to existing cooperation between Egypt and the EU on biodiversity finance within the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. 'A new plastics treaty requires ambitious targets and a dedicated funding stream—both public and private,' she stated. 'We must ensure financial responsibilities are shared fairly and do not disproportionately burden developing countries or shift the cost unfairly onto the private sector.' The Minister further underscored the importance of technology transfer, especially for phasing out single-use plastics. 'Reducing plastic bag use hinges on access to viable alternatives—and that depends on technology. Funding must also support access to innovation,' she stressed. In closing, Fouad affirmed that financing, technology transfer, equitable access, and shared responsibility between developed and developing countries are all essential pillars for achieving a robust and effective global treaty to end plastic pollution. The post Environment Minister chairs closing session on Mediterranean Sea protection at UN Ocean Conference appeared first on Dailynewsegypt.
