Ashraf AboArafe
21 January 2022, CAIRO – In his second visit to Egypt in less than four months, the UN High-Level Climate Action Champion for COP26, Mr Nigel Topping, has met key government officials, businesses, financial institutions, youth and civil society members to discuss how the UK as COP President can work with Egypt to prepare for COP27, which will be hosted by Egypt in November.
As part of his visit, Mr Topping met Minister of Environment Dr Yasmine Fouad, and Minister of International Cooperation, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat. He also met with Deputy Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Ahmed Kamaly, and Chairman of the Suez Canal Economic Zone, Engineer Yehia Zaki.
In his meetings, Mr Topping focussed on discussing Egypt’s plans and vision for COP27, and how to partner with Egypt on environmental cooperation more widely across mitigation, adaptation, finance and the possibility of zero-carbon shipping.
On adaptation, parties explored ways to deliver the Glasgow-Sharm el Sheikh Work Programme for the Global Goal on Adaptation, which aims at enhancing the adaptive capacity of countries, all within the context of limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees. They also discussed the growing role of the Adaptation Action Coalition, jointly led by the UK and Egypt ahead of COP27.
On finance, Topping highlighted the importance of green and private finance for COP27, where international investors involved in the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) – a coalition of existing and new net zero finance initiatives that includes over $90 trillion in assets – can play a huge role in Egypt.
Mr Topping said: “This is my second visit to Egypt, and I am very happy to be back to see how we can use 2022 to strengthen the green partnership between Egypt and the UK ahead of COP27, hosted in Sharm El Sheikh. One of the key elements of my meetings here, whether with government officials, or businesses and civil society, has been emphasising the role of green investment in mitigating the effects of climate change. A green revolution is possible, and can incentivise a more sustainable economy delivering clean growth and green jobs, but we need to work together now to make this happen, including the private sector alongside policymakers.”
Topping also met with school, university and youth representatives at the British Council in Cairo, discussing how we can ensure the voices of young people are heard and how they can help drive the climate agenda forward at COP27.
British Ambassador to Egypt, Gareth Bayley, said: “Nigel Topping’s visit is the second senior visit this month, following the visit of COP President Alok Sharma. The great importance we place on our bilateral climate cooperation with Egypt could not be clearer. As the host of COP27, Egypt will play a leading role this year in securing the international agreement needed on a host of key issues: climate financing, adaptation and mitigation targets, and the drive to achieve net zero emissions. A successful COP27 will deliver on the promise of COP26, keep 1.5 degrees within reach, and support the world as it strives to adapt. We are committed to working extremely closely with our Egyptian partners in support of this outcome.”
Before the end of his visit, Mr Topping also met with a number of business leaders, including members of the British-Egyptian Business Association, engaging in productive discussions about how businesses can increase their climate ambitions, set ambitious net zero targets, and adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change.
