With the participation of the President of Ain Shams University... The Minister of Higher Education chairs the expert meeting to prepare for the Conference of Parties on Climate Change

Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, chaired the meeting of climate experts organized by the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, in the presence of Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, Climate Leader for the COP27 Sharm El-Sheikh Summit, United Nations Special Envoy for the 2030 Financing Agenda, Senior Vice President of the World Bank for the 2030 Development Agenda and former Managing Director of the World Bank, Dr. Mahmoud Sakr, President of the Academy.

At the beginning of the meeting, the minister indicated that this meeting comes within the framework of the efforts undertaken by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research to participate in the Sharm El-Sheikh Climate Conference COP 27, pointing to the importance of this major international event that Egypt is organizing next November, in parallel with global interest issues of climate change and its potential impacts on the environment, and global solidarity to discuss them and find solutions to confront the challenges and potential risks, including them at all environmental and humanitarian levels, pointing to the ministry’s interest in putting all its capabilities to participate within the system of official bodies responsible for organizing this global event in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Environment and all parties concerned to work for its success, as it represents an affirmation of Egypt’s leadership and appreciation of its role globally.

The Minister noted the implementation of several initiatives through the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, Egyptian public and private universities, research centers, and the Science, Technology and Innovation Financing Authority to deal with climate change issues as one of the goals of the country's sustainable development plan that the Ministry of Higher Education is working to achieve, as well as supporting applied scientific research to find Practical and innovative solutions to confront the potential impacts, risks and threats of climate change.

The minister stressed the activation of the initiatives that were put forward and the dissemination of the successful experiences already carried out by many Egyptian universities, and the coordination between them to ensure that there is no repetition, stressing the excellence of the efforts undertaken by universities and research centers in this context, and thanking them.

The Minister directed to hold this meeting periodically to follow up the joint coordination between all the agencies affiliated with the Ministries of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and to work in a joint plan to implement the agreed-upon items, and the time coordination between the activities to be implemented, and the central assembly of all research, plans and initiatives and their evaluation before working on them.

Dr. Abdel Ghaffar called for the formation of a point of contact through the Academy of Scientific Research, under the supervision of Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin.

On his part, Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin said that the Egyptian state is working on climate change issues through two parallel tracks; They are the official track of international negotiations, agreements and protocols to protect Egypt from the effects of climate change, and the other track on informal participation, which includes encouraging NGOs, civil organizations, financial institutions, universities, schools, and all small and large entities alike to join forces to confront climate change within the Marrakesh framework, praising what It was presented by Egyptian universities from initiatives.

On his part, Dr. Mahmoud Saqr, President of the Academy, the points on which the Ministry’s plan to participate in the conference is working, which includes the representation of all research centers and the representation of the General Secretariat of the Supreme Council of Governmental Universities and the Councils of Private and Private Universities, and funding and support funds for scientific research to achieve joint cooperation between them, and agreement on a joint working paper regarding Every issue of climate change that Egypt is exposed to in particular, including the threats of global warming and the threat to livestock and fisheries, examining and evaluating the submitted reports, opening a community dialogue on the final plan, working on preparing educational content approved by the Supreme Council of Universities on climate change, and starting to teach it as of From the next academic year, directing strategic studies and scientific research to research climate issues and proposed solutions to confront them, supporting research projects in this field, as well as contributing to societal work that raises awareness of the risks and impacts of climate change on the environment and humans.

Dr. Mohamed Latif, Secretary of the Supreme Council of Universities, explained that a number of scientific research has been carried out on climate change issues as part of environmental issues within the faculties concerned with this specialty in Egyptian universities, and they are compiled through a joint committee to work out joint policies to implement them.

Dr. Walaa Sheta, CEO of the Science, Technology and Innovation Financing Authority, pointed to focus on supporting and financing research projects in this field, stressing the importance of benefiting from the expertise of Egyptian scientists abroad and their evaluation of the proposed research projects.

Dr. Mahmoud El-Metini, President of Ain Shams University, pointed out that the university implemented a training program to prepare climate ambassadors among one million young volunteers for climate adaptation, pointing to the university's interest in climate issues as part of the country's sustainable development goals, and intensifying work to implement the initiatives that serve it.

Dr. Ashraf El-Araby, head of the National Planning Institute, pointed out that there is allocated diploma and a professional master’s degree on climate change, cooperating with the Ministry of Planning in the green national accounts project, and strengthening regional cooperation with African countries in this field.

Participated in the meeting, Dr. Mohamed Ayman Ashour, Deputy Minister for University Affairs, and Dr. Yasser Refaat, Deputy Minister for Scientific Research Affairs, and Dr. Muhammad Latif, Secretary of the Supreme Council of Universities, and Dr. Walid Al-Zawawi, Secretary of the Supreme Council for Research Centers, Institutes and Bodies, and Dr. Ashraf El-Araby, President of the National Planning Institute, and Dr. Walaa Sheta, CEO of the Science, Technology and Innovation Financing Authority, and Dr. Mahmoud El-Metini, President of Ain Shams University, and Dr. Mohamed Lotfy, President of the British University, Dr. Alaa El-Din Mohamed Fahmy, representing the Military Technical College.