Ashraf AboArafe
As part of the activities of the 12th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12), held in Cairo, a high-level session highlighted the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects in Egypt, as a model for localizing climate action and promoting sustainable urban development through solutions from the heart of the Egyptian environment.
Ambassador Hesham Badr, National Coordinator of the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects in Egypt, moderated the session, which was held in the presence of Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat, Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Program, Michelle Milnar, UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt Elena Panova, and UNDP Representative in Egypt, Alessandro Fracassetti.
The Egyptian Initiative for Smart Green Projects is considered a model for climate action at the global level, as it demonstrates the power of local partnerships in addressing urban sustainability challenges. Through collaboration between the government, the private sector, NGOs, and local communities, the initiative has supported innovative projects across all 27 governorates of Egypt, addressing critical issues such as renewable energy, waste management, and low-carbon transportation. These local solutions are scalable, making them a model that cities around the world can benefit from. The initiative’s focus on youth is a key factor in its success, with young people leading many projects that focus on addressing environmental challenges.
Speakers at the session highlighted the need to scale up successful projects such as the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects, in order to achieve greater global impact. In this context, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, stressed the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration to ensure that sustainable solutions are scalable and aligned with global climate goals.
In turn, Michel Mlinar, Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, praised the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects, which he said reflects Egypt’s commitment to localizing the Sustainable Development Goals and promoting climate action. He explained that the initiative offers local solutions, “and we need local solutions.”
UN Resident Coordinator Elena Panova considered that highlighting the initiative during the World Urban Forum is important, as it can be a model for other countries, noting the diverse support provided by the United Nations in Egypt to the initiative throughout its three phases. Addressing the owners of the winning projects in the initiative, Panova said, “Your commitment, experience and vision show us that the amount of knowledge, innovation and passion we see here in Egypt can be used to address the challenges of climate change.” Elena Panova, UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt, also stressed the importance of providing the necessary resources and support for young innovators to scale up their solutions.
UNDP Resident Representative in Egypt, Alessandro Fracassetti, also pointed to the broad impact of this initiative, saying, “Through our partnership with the Green Enterprises Programme in Egypt, we are not only contributing to advancing local climate action, but also setting a model for the world to follow.” Ambassador Hesham Badr, National Coordinator of the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects in Egypt, said, “By highlighting the achievements of the initiative’s winners, we seek to inspire other countries and regions to adopt a similar model that empowers local communities, supports innovation, and ensures effective participation in addressing climate change globally.”
The National Initiative for Smart Green Projects is an embodiment of Egypt’s leadership in the field of climate action and sustainable urbanization, as it presents a pioneering model in addressing climate change through collaborative, local, and innovative solutions that combine environmental solutions such as sustainable urban design, low-carbon transportation, and energy-efficient buildings in urban planning. The initiative also focuses in particular on empowering women and youth, in recognition of their vital role in promoting climate action.
The twelfth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12), organized by the United Nations Human Settlements Program in cooperation with the Egyptian government in Cairo, focuses on transformative solutions for sustainable urban development. This year’s forum is of particular importance as it returns to the African continent, with Cairo, which faces the challenges of urbanization and climate change together, as the main stage for this event.
