UN Hails Egypt's National Climate Dialogue as Model for Inclusive Action

Ahmed Emam
The United Nations has commended Egypt for launching a nationwide climate dialogue, describing the initiative as a progressive and inclusive step that strengthens the country's role in global climate leadership.
The National Social Dialogue on Climate Change was unveiled by the Ministry of Environment during a high-level event marking World Environment Day.
In her address at the launch, UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt, Elena Panova, praised the initiative as a bold move that places the voices of citizens at the center of climate policy.
'This is a clear signal that those affected by climate change must be central to shaping the solutions,' Panova said, echoing a message from UN Secretary-General António Guterres: 'We are not only in danger — we are also the danger. But we are also the solution.'
Panova highlighted Egypt's growing commitment to sustainable development, citing milestones such as the National Climate Change Strategy 2050, its Vision 2030 roadmap, and its successful hosting of the COP27 climate summit in Sharm El-Sheikh. She described these efforts as evidence of a country that is not only responding to the climate crisis, but doing so with clarity of vision and determination.
She also congratulated Egypt's Environment Minister, Dr. Yasmine Fouad, on her recent appointment as Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification — a role Panova said reflects Egypt's increasing influence in international environmental governance. She credited Fouad's leadership for embedding climate priorities into the heart of Egypt's development agenda, particularly through her chairing of the national Climate Change Committee under the Prime Minister's office.
Panova noted that the new dialogue initiative will engage local communities across Egypt, ensuring that climate strategies reflect the concerns and needs of those most directly impacted. She emphasized the UN's full support, adding that the process is already benefiting from a wide-ranging collaboration involving multiple UN agencies and Egyptian stakeholders.
One of the dialogue's guiding tools will be the Climate Change Perception Survey, conducted under the leadership of researcher Dr. Magued Osman. The survey captured public attitudes toward climate issues and will help shape the discussions taking place across 18 governorates.
Panova emphasized that real solutions will emerge from the people themselves, not from distant policymakers. 'Policies written in air-conditioned offices cannot solve a crisis that unfolds under the blazing sun,' she said. 'The answers lie with those living the reality of climate change.'
She concluded by reaffirming the United Nations' partnership with Egypt, stressing that the UN stands not as a leader or instructor, but as a supporter and amplifier of national efforts. 'This dialogue builds on the legacy of Sharm El-Sheikh,' Panova said. 'It reminds us that climate justice begins by listening — and that's the path to a more resilient and sustainable future.'
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