Egypt's environmental situation has improved as compared to previous years after government attempts to reduce pollution, a government report issued Wednesday said.
The Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics report said Egypt ranked 68th in international environmental indicators out of 163 countries in 2010.
Egypt's higher rank reflects a relative improvement in Egypt's environmental conditions, the report said. Egypt ranked 85th out of 133 countries in 2006, and 71st out of 149 countries in 2008.
Egypt's total consumption of petroleum and natural gas products amounted to 66.5 million metric tons in 2009/2010, as compared to 62.8 million metric tons in 2008/2009. The difference represents a 5.9 percent increase.
The report said that as a result of increased industrial activities and population growth, carbon dioxide emissions from petroleum and natural gas consumption stood at 177 million metric tons in 2009/2010, as compared to 166.7 million metric tons in 2008/2009, a 6.2 percent increase.
Losses of clean water through distribution networks decreased to 21.5 percent of total water production in 2009/2010, as compared to 25.9 percent in 2008/2009, as a result of improved transport lines.
The number of protected natural reserves in Egypt stayed the same, with 27 protected areas in total.
Egypt's consumption of chlorofluorocarbons — compounds that deplete the ozone layer — decreased by 5 percent from 200 tons in 2009 to 190 tons after Egypt agreed to start reducing the consumption of such products.
