Sharm El Sheikh designated as Egypt's first green city by ICLEI
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
2 days ago
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt's Environment Minister calls for stronger action on desertification, climate resilience in Africa
Egypt's Minister of Environment, Yasmine Fouad, has warned that climate change and desertification pose critical threats to Africa's security and stability, urging coordinated regional action and increased investment in sustainable environmental and climate solutions. Speaking before the African Affairs Committee of Egypt's House of Representatives, Fouad outlined both national and continental efforts to address these mounting challenges. She also highlighted Egypt's leadership role following her appointment as Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). 'This position reflects the trust of Egypt's political leadership and continues our country's longstanding commitment to support Africa in confronting the accelerating threat of land degradation,' Fouad said, noting that nearly 45% of Africa's landmass is already affected by desertification. Fouad reviewed Egypt's key achievements under its 2050 National Climate Strategy, including emissions reductions between 2018 and 2022 in the power, oil, and transport sectors. She also pointed to major coastal adaptation projects, such as the construction of 80 kilometres of nature-based seawalls to protect cities in the Nile Delta from rising sea levels. She stressed that desertification has evolved into a political and socioeconomic issue, not merely an environmental one, and reiterated Egypt's call to integrate the three Rio Conventions—climate change, biodiversity, and desertification—through a presidential initiative promoting cross-cutting, nature-based solutions that protect both ecosystems and local livelihoods. Addressing the Loss and Damage Fund, launched during COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Fouad said Egypt is preparing national projects to access funding and has developed technical teams to assess climate-related damages and mobilise resources. She also announced the launch of an interactive climate risk map and a national contingency plan for extreme weather events. Fouad underscored Egypt's leadership in mobilising regional climate finance, particularly for food security initiatives in North and East Africa, and emphasised the importance of linking food, energy, and water security under a unified, climate-resilient development agenda. She also highlighted Egypt's recent legislative reforms, including green incentives for producers of plastic alternatives under the new investment law, and the enforcement of the Extended Producer Responsibility policy aimed at reducing single-use plastic waste. Fouad concluded by reaffirming Egypt's growing international and regional role, noting the country's preparations to host the upcoming Barcelona Convention meeting on the protection of the Mediterranean marine environment. She added that Egypt's domestic environmental efforts are increasingly viewed as a model for developing nations across the Global South.
Al-Ahram Weekly
25-06-2025
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt, UN launch refugee response plan; appealing for $339 mln in int'l support - Foreign Affairs
Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in partnership with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), launched the 2025 Egypt Refugee and Resilience Response Plan (ERRRP) on Tuesday. The plan seeks to mobilise US$339 million to address the urgent needs of 1.8 million refugees, asylum-seekers, and vulnerable host communities throughout the coming year. According to a joint statement, the ERRRP represents Egypt's first nationally owned and comprehensive refugee response framework, integrating humanitarian relief with long-term development goals. It brings together government institutions, UN agencies, civil society groups, refugee-led organizations, and development partners in a unified response to support access to critical services, such as education, healthcare, food security, protection, livelihoods, and cash assistance. 'The role of the international community is crucial—not only to prevent further displacement but also to scale up resources and support for refugees and host communities,' said Ambassador Wael Badawi, Deputy Assistant Foreign Minister for Migration, Refugee Affairs, and Combating Human Trafficking at the plan's launch in Cairo 'With over 1.5 million Sudanese currently in Egypt, we are the largest host country for Sudanese fleeing conflict, and as regional tensions rise and economic challenges persist, our resources and infrastructure are under immense strain,' he said in his speech. He noted that Egypt, together with the UN partners and donor countries, aims to overcome these challenges while preserving our inclusive policies. 'The ERRRP is a groundbreaking step forward, and it is Egypt's first nationally owned comprehensive refugee response plan reflecting the government's strong leadership and robust coordination among all relevant stakeholders,' said UNHCR Representative to Egypt and the League of Arab States, Hanan Hamdan. He explained that the ERRRP plan brings humanitarian assistance, resilience-building, and solutions planning into one coherent framework. It operationalizes the Global Compact on Refugees, through much-needed investments in education, health, livelihoods, food security and social, she added. Meanwhile, Alessandro Fracassetti, UNDP's Resident Representative in Egypt, echoed the call for long-term investment in such projects. 'While emergency relief remains vital, strengthening livelihoods and self-reliance is essential for long-term sustainability. The ERRRP is a strategic call to action. It requires strong partnerships and firm commitments to transform shared responsibility into sustained support,' Fracasetti said. As of June 2025, Egypt hosts more than one million registered refugees and asylum-seekers from over 60 nationalities. The conflict in Sudan has triggered a dramatic rise in refugee inflows—Sudanese nationals now comprise 73 percent of the refugee population, a twelvefold increase since April 2023. Syrians account for the second-largest group at 13.5 percent. This influx has placed unprecedented pressure on public services and infrastructure, particularly in the health, education, and housing sectors. Many newly arrived families have exhausted their savings, heightening the demand for assistance. The ERRRP is designed as a national coordination and resource mobilization mechanism led by the Egyptian government. It strengthens the ability of national institutions to provide protection and essential services, promotes peaceful coexistence, and builds resilience in both refugee and host communities. Officials and UN representatives stressed that enhanced international cooperation is vital to ensure the plan's success amid rising humanitarian needs and constrained global resources. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
See - Sada Elbalad
24-06-2025
- See - Sada Elbalad
Government of Egypt, UNHCR and UNDP Launch Egypt Refugee and Resilience Response Plan
Rana Atef The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Emigration, and Egyptian Expatriates (MFA), in collaboration with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched the 2025 Egypt Refugee and Resilience Response Plan (ERRRP) today to support refugees and host communities, appealing for US $339 million to address the growing needs of refugees and host communities. The appeal brings together the United Nations agencies, humanitarian and development partners, line ministries, government entities, civil society and Refugee-Led Organizations to support 1.8 million refugees, asylum-seekers, and affected host communities throughout 2025 with life-saving activities and critical services including education, health, protection, cash assistance, livelihoods, and food security. 'The international community's role is crucial in preventing further displacement, while also scaling up the response and resources for refugees and host communities, in an equitable and responsible manner. Egypt has continuously offered refuge to those fleeing conflict and persecution, adopting an out-of-camp policy and implementing inclusive policies. Furthermore, the Egypt 2030 Vision is guided by the 'leave no one behind' principle, ensuring that refugees and asylum-seekers are on equal footing with Egyptians' said Ambassador Dr. Wael Badawi, Deputy Assistant Foreign Minister for Migration and Refugee Affairs and Combating Human Trafficking. He further noted: 'With over 1.5 million Sudanese in Egypt, the country is currently the largest host of Sudanese fleeing the conflict. Amidst unprecedented regional escalation and economic hurdles, resources in Egypt are stretched thin and public infrastructure is under mounting pressure. Together, with our UN partners, and with the support of the donor community, we are looking to mitigate these challenges while sustaining our inclusive policies.' 'The ERRRP is a groundbreaking step forward. It is Egypt's first nationally owned comprehensive refugee response plan reflecting the government's strong leadership and robust coordination among all relevant stakeholders. It brings together humanitarian assistance, resilience-building, and solutions planning into one coherent framework. It operationalizes the Global Compact on Refugees, through much-needed investments in areas such as education, health, livelihoods, food security and social cohesion.' said Dr. Hanan Hamdan, UNHCR Representative to Egypt and the League of Arab States. 'While immediate humanitarian assistance remains essential, investing strategically in livelihoods and resilience is fundamental for long-term sustainability for forcibly displaced and host communities. The ERRRP is a clear call to action that promotes self-reliance for all and helps strengthen resilience against economic shocks to pave the way for durable solutions,' said Mr. Alessandro Fracassetti, Resident Representative of UNDP in Egypt. He further emphasized: 'This endeavor necessitates close partnership among the Government of Egypt, the UN system, and international partners, backed by firm commitments to transform shared responsibility into sustained support.' As of 24 June 2025, Egypt hosts over one million registered refugees and asylum-seekers from over 60 nationalities. The crisis in Sudan has led to a surge in the number of Sudanese refugees whose numbers increased by more than 12-fold since April 2023. Currently, Sudanese refugees comprise 73 percent of the refugee population, followed by Syrians at 13.5 percent. This recent surge in the refugee population has been accompanied by a marked increase in the demand for assistance, as numerous families have depleted their limited resources while seeking safety. Consequently, public services and infrastructure are experiencing considerable pressure, emphasizing the importance of providing targeted support to further enhance the Government's capacity to effectively respond. This situation underscores the critical need for enhanced international cooperation and assistance, particularly given the challenges appealing partners encounter in addressing escalating needs with constrained resources. The ERRRP operates under the leadership of the Government of Egypt as a coordination, implementation and resource mobilization mechanism that consolidates collective efforts to respond to humanitarian and development challenges. It supports national institutions to continue to offer protection to those in need, providing lifesaving assistance, strengthening national systems, and reinforcing peaceful co-existence of refugees and host communities. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean
