Latest news with #Sherbiny
Egypt Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
PM inspects station for seawater desalination in New Alamein
Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly asserted that the Egyptian government gives a top priority to the field of seawater desalination, which is one of the most important pillars for sustainable development. Madbouly highlighted the state's efforts to expand desalination infrastructure using the latest advanced technologies, to maximize the efficiency and production capacity of desalination plants across the country. Madbouly's remarks came during his inspection visit to the experimental research station for seawater desalination in New Alamein City. This visit was part of a broader tour of Egypt's Northwestern Coast to monitor the implementation of several vital service and development projects. Madbouly stressed the importance of the ongoing research experiments concerning using desalinated seawater in agriculture. These trials involve cultivating various types of vegetables and fruits and reflect the state's efforts to expand agricultural potential in newly developed coastal areas. 'The broader aim is to enhance food security and meet sustainable development goals by increasing Egypt's cultivable land area,' he said. During the visit, Madbouly received a detailed briefing from Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities Sherif al-Sherbiny who outlined the station's capabilities and the joint efforts being carried out with the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation. These efforts focus on leveraging the desalinated water in various agricultural research and experimental initiatives. Sherbiny elaborated on the coordinated cooperation between the ministries of housing and agriculture, which aims to establish a range of experimental crop trials in New Alamein. He explained that research centers, including the agricultural research center and the desert research center, are currently conducting soil and water studies, along with identifying appropriate crop compositions suited to the area's conditions. 'The selected crops are primarily low-water-demand, short-cycle vegetables and fruits, chosen for their resilience to the region's climate, along with some strategic field crops,' he added. Sherbiny emphasized that the success of these experimental projects could unlock new horizons for agricultural investment in the promising Northern Coast, particularly in New Alamein. This would support the transformation of parts of the region into modern agricultural production hubs, relying on seawater desalination and cutting-edge irrigation and cultivation technologies that conserve water.
Watani
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Watani
UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development:'No time for political luxury!'
The 2025 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), organised by the United Nations in New York, carried strong messages on the urgent need to accelerate the practical implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially amid mounting global challenges. Quoting the Forum's central message, Ambassador Dr Mostafa El-Sherbiny, international expert in climate and sustainability, said at the opening session: 'The world can no longer afford excuses. We are halfway through to 2030. Now is the time to take concrete actions that make a real impact on people's lives and save the planet,' Dr Sherbiny participated with four official initiatives that have been listed on the UN website in partnership with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). He described this recognition as historic, the first time the UN publishes four initiatives led by an Egyptian, Arab, and international expert. These initiatives have shaped sustainable development efforts in the first half of the 2030 Agenda timeline: • Climate Ambassadors Initiative: A youth and women-driven movement for climate awareness. • Carbon Neutrality Pioneers Initiative: Introducing carbon footprint culture across Egypt and the Arab world. • Sustainability and Carbon Auditors Initiative: The first to establish the profession of carbon footprint auditing in Egypt and the region. • Water Ambassadors Initiative: Launched with the UN during the 2023 Water Conference. Dr Sherbiny noted that the opening day of HLPF 2025 was packed with global concerns over declining progress in SDGs, especially in health, gender equality, economic growth, marine life, and global partnerships. 'The forum's opening was not just ceremonial, it was a humanitarian call to action. The world needs science-based decisions and resources directed to those furthest behind, not more political speeches,' he stressed. The launch of the 2025 SDG Progress Report revealed a wide gap between commitments and outcomes, he said, pointing to regressions caused by overlapping crises: from climate change and political conflict to the pandemic and debt turmoil. The presence and contribution of civil society organisations was evident from day one, with powerful interventions such as the Women's Group statement: 'Rather than accelerating progress, we are witnessing alarming setbacks.' Dr Sherbiny stressed the importance of civil pressure to push governments toward equitable, just policies. 'Unless plans translate into real financing, built on accurate data, and provide genuine roles for civil society, we are merely reproducing the same old promises, while losing direction in the second half of the 2030 journey,' Dr Sherbiny warned. He highlighted a key session by the World Health Organisation, addressing SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), especially amid rising health threats in fragile regions. He called for integrating mental health into all national strategies due to its profound impact on productivity and social well-being. The High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) is the UN's central platform to review global SDG progress under the umbrella of ECOSOC. Held annually at the UN Headquarters in New York, it gathers heads of State, ministers, development experts, civil society, and the private sector in a global dialogue to evaluate where the world stands on these goals, and where it is heading. The HLPF is the key venue to assess progress on all 17 SDGs and identify challenges and achievements. It is an international accountability mechanism, with countries submitting Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) to transparently share performance. It also encourages collaboration among governments, UN agencies, donors, and civil society; and is an equity tracker that monitors disparities and reinforces the 2030 Agenda's core principle of 'Leave No One Behind.' HLPF 2025: A Critical Moment on the Road to 2030, held from 14 July 14 to 23 July 2025, comes at the defining midpoint of the half way to 2030. Yet many goals—notably on climate, health, and gender equality—are lagging. This amid complex global crises of war, inflation, debt, and climate change that threaten development gains; also a trillion-dollar development financing gap that calls for innovative and fair funding mechanisms. HLPF 2025 Focus Areas include in-depth reviews of: o SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being o SDG 5: Gender Equality o SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth o SDG 14: Life Below Water o SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals It also features 37 Voluntary National Reviews and side events from WHO, UNDP, UNEP addressing mental health, climate finance, tech innovation, and women's empowerment. Watani International 21 July 2025 Comments comments
Watani
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Watani
Mostafa Sherbiny: What to Expect from 2025 Bonn Climate Change Conference
The 2025 Bonn Climate Change Conference (SB62) is not merely a technical checkpoint, but a critical juncture in the global climate governance process. Taking place in Bonn, Germany, from 16 to 26 June 2025, this session convenes global negotiators to resolve outstanding issues from COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, which took place in November 2024, and lay the groundwork—both technical and political—for COP30 to be held in November this year in Belém, Brazil. This year's Bonn Conference comes at a moment of increasing global uncertainty—amid intensifying geopolitical tensions, retreating climate finance commitments, and rising populist rhetoric—making it a litmus test for the international climate regime. Ambassador Mostafa Sherbiny, head of the Climate Ambassadors Delegation, confirmed his official participation in SB62. Mr Sherbiny is an international expert in sustainability and climate, and heads the Scientific Chair for Carbon Footprint and Sustainability at ALECSO – League of Arab States UNFCCC He announced that he and his delegation will hold an official press conference on Monday 16 June at 3:30pm in Room 4, as listed in the official UNFCCC conference agenda. In a statement to the Middle East News Agency, Mr Sherbiny emphasised the significance of this year's Bonn session: 'We arrive in Bonn amid alarming indicators of accelerating climate change. Meanwhile, some major economies are backsliding on their climate commitments, and the gap between scientific necessity and political delivery is growing wider. This increases the urgency for stronger involvement from non-State actors and civil society—especially climate ambassadors—who can help drive ambition from the ground up.' Critical Issues on the table at Bonn: 1. Adaptation… Moving from ambiguity to accountability The Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) remains one of the Paris Agreement's most underdeveloped components. Though enshrined in 2015, the goal of 'enhancing adaptive capacity, resilience, and reducing vulnerability' is still evolving into measurable action. At COP28 in Dubai, parties adopted a GGA framework with targets across water, health, agriculture, biodiversity, infrastructure, and cultural heritage. Negotiators in Bonn are now working to refine a shortlist of 490 indicators (down from an initial 9,000) to track progress—evaluating their feasibility, contextual relevance, and alignment with social equity. 2. Mitigation… Momentum in decline: Despite the existence of a Mitigation Work Programme (MWP), global ambition remains underwhelming. Sectoral dialogues have failed to spark meaningful commitments or implementation. The first Global Stocktake (GST1) called for a transition away from fossil fuels, but many nations are resisting converting this political will into enforceable actions. 3. NDC3: A race against the clock By February 2025, all countries were expected to submit their third round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC3). As of today, only 22 countries have done so, putting pressure on others ahead of a second deadline in September 2025. These submissions will form the basis of a synthesis report by the Paris Agreement Secretariat—crucial for tracking progress toward the 1.5°C goal. 4. Transparency… The Paris Agreement's first stress test: For the first time, countries are reporting under the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF). Over 110 nations have submitted Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) covering their NDCs, support received or provided, and capacity-building needs. In Bonn, these reports will be reviewed and discussed to identify strengths, weaknesses, and data gaps. 5. Climate finance: Crisis of trust persists. At COP29, parties agreed to a new New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) of $300 billion per year. Yet many developing countries see this figure as insufficient and lacking a credible delivery roadmap. While finance is not expected to dominate the Bonn agenda, side discussions may emerge around Brazil's 'Baku–Belém roadmap,' which seeks to increase the finance ceiling to $1.3 trillion annually by 2030. 6. Gender and human rights: Negotiating under pressure A new Gender Action Plan is due following its extension at COP29 in Baku. However, political resistance from certain countries—particularly those opposing terms such as 'gender' or 'intersectional discrimination'—poses a challenge. If negotiators fail to reach inclusive language, the substance of the action plan could be weakened, undermining participation of women and marginalised groups. 7. Logistics for COP30 in Belém Belém, located in the heart of the Amazon, presents unique logistical challenges. In Bonn, discussions will centre around infrastructure readiness, expected delegate numbers, and possible access limitations. Brazil is preparing for a potentially record-breaking turnout exceeding 80,000 participants. 8. Brazil's Role… A return to climate leadership: Brazil's COP30 presidency signals a renewed commitment to climate leadership, as the country integrates its finance and agriculture ministries into the negotiation process. Brazil is prioritising protection of the Amazon, Indigenous rights, and delivering tangible outcomes—not just rhetoric. This assertive leadership style is already shaping the tone of negotiations in Bonn. Message from Climate Ambassadors Delegation Ambassador Sherbiny stressed the delegation's key priorities: 'We are here to reinforce the outcomes of COP28, push for implementation over promises, and help rebuild trust between the Global North and South. Our focus includes innovative climate finance tools, community-based adaptation, and youth and women's empowerment.' He further urged donor nations and international financial institutions to redirect climate finance toward real, scalable projects that strengthen the resilience of vulnerable countries—particularly in Africa and small island developing States (SIDS). Looking Ahead to COP30 in Brazil, Mr Sherbiny concluded: 'Bonn must be more than a procedural checkpoint—it must become a consensus-building platform that sets a clear and ambitious direction for COP30. We need real action beyond declarations. The ball is now in the court of governments, institutions, and multilateral finance systems.' Watani International 13 June 2025 Comments comments Tags: 2025 Bonn Climate Change ConferenceMariam AdlyMostafa Sherbiny
