Minister Mohamed Saafan, Minister of Manpower, Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment, Major General Mohamed Ahmed Morsi, Minister of State for Military Production, Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Matini, President of Ain Shams University, Prof. Dr. Noha Samir Donia, Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Research and Studies, inaugurated today, Saturday, the Green Transformation Unit, and a project Shams Bee Green for Waste Recycling, at the headquarters of the College of Graduate Studies and Environmental Research at the university, as well as an exhibition of environmental products from reuse and waste recycling, in the context of the celebration of World Environment Day.
The ministers inspected the Green Transformation Unit and the Shams Bey Green Project, which includes many units, including: a waste sorting unit, a biogas production unit from organic waste, a wind electricity production unit, a waste collection unit, a plastic waste recycling unit, and a solid waste compaction unit, And a unit for the production of organic fertilizer from organic waste, a unit for the production of electricity from solar energy, a unit for recycling paper waste, as well as a unit for hydroponics and fish pond water farming.
Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment, confirmed that the Egyptian state is currently undergoing a transformation in various fields, noting that the environment is one of the most important areas that the political leadership has given attention from the first sight, and directed the need to change the language of dialogue regarding the environment, and to reformulate the strategy of the environmental sector, Because of its importance for the citizen and civil, private and public organizations, stressing that everyone is a partner in preserving the environment.
She added that it is natural, with changing the language of dialogue and the concept of the environment, that it is linked to all economic and social matters, noting that a study was conducted with the World Bank recently, which showed that air pollution in Cairo costs more than 47 billion pounds annually, which is a very high cost, and therefore in increasing pollution. It increases the financial burden on the state to face it, so the state has been keen to preserve natural resources, solve fundamental problems related to environmental pollution, and pay attention to biodiversity and climate change.
The Minister of Manpower also stressed that the process of changing citizens’ ideas, which has been entrenched for decades with regard to caring for the environment and preserving it from pollution, needs more time and effort to ensure its continuity and sustainability, stressing that the university is the beacon of the city, the governorate and any country, through which the light of science and thought radiates. Therefore, it is necessary to start with university students to contribute in this field, by making an initiative within the university to use the students to change the thinking of their families and the society around them.
The minister expressed the readiness of the Ministry of Manpower to cooperate with Ain Shams University in matters related to preserving the environment, increasing the awareness of workers in companies and factories to preserve it, and changing the methods harmful to it.
The Minister of Military Production also confirmed the cooperation between the ministry and its manufacturing capabilities and the university to manufacture solid waste recycling units presented today in the project, and praised the initiative to go green and its results on the human side.
For his part, Dr. Mahmoud El-Metini, President of the University, thanked and expressed his appreciation to the attending ministers. He also thanked the Faculty Council for the effort he made during the previous period to establish that unit, stressing full cooperation with all parties in the various activities of the university, noting that the world today celebrates World Environment Day and Ain Shams University did not It was not to make this occasion pass without having a mark and a distinctive mark, as the university worked with all its resources to be environmentally friendly, especially in light of the state’s plan and strategy for sustainable development by increasing the green area inside it, activities and workshops to teach students the goals of sustainable development.
El-Metini added that the university and its colleges are keen to serve the environment side by side with each other, which was evident in linking education with scientific research, encouraging innovation and raising awareness, especially with regard to the environment, and all that the university does in the field of green transformation to expand the extent of awareness of the environment and its needs, as it is considered The university’s green transformation unit is the first of its kind at the level of Egyptian universities.
In the same context, Dr. Noha Samir Donia, Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Environmental Research at the university, reviewed the vision and mission of the Green Transformation Unit within the college and its departments, as the unit aspires to be a distinct unit in environmental projects and green transformation, and aims to achieve sustainable development in projects, through Implementing various programs and activities for the advancement of society and the development of the environment in all parts of the Republic, conducting environmental studies and projects for the various faculties of the university, and exchanging all courses and services between the unit in the college and between all colleges
At the conclusion of the celebration, the President of the University, Dr. Mahmoud El-Metini, honored the ministers of manpower, environment, and military production, the head of the Arab Organization for Industrialization, and Major General Salah El-Din El-Gamasi, on behalf of the Director of the Military College, by gifting the university shield to them, in appreciation of the efforts of their ministries in the success of these projects, and their active participation In the projects implemented by the university.
The opening was attended by Prof. Mohamed Ayman Saleh, Vice President of Ain Shams University for Graduate Studies and Research Affairs, Prof. Hisham Tamraz, Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development, Prof. Moheb Al-Rafei, former Minister of Education and Senator, Prof. Hala Awadallah, Vice Dean for Community Affairs and Environmental Development, College of Graduate Studies and Environmental Research, Prof. Reham Refaat, Vice Dean for Graduate Studies and Research, Dr. Hoda Helal, Director of the Green Transformation Unit, d. Ahmed Maher, director of the Shams B Green project, d. Mohamed Kamel, Director of the Environmental Consultation Centre.