Foreign Minister and President-designate of the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) Sameh Shoukry stressed the importance of Sharm El-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda launched by Egypt earlier today.
Shoukry’s comments came during a joint press conference with Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, UN Climate Change High Level Champion for Egypt and UN Special Envoy on Financing 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
The foreign minister said the Sharm El-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda is a key step toward promoting international climate action, especially with regard to advancing adaptation measures and strengthening resilience to climate change.
Shoukry added COP27 sent a clear message that climate pledges should be honored, saying the participating leaders stressed the need to keep global warming within 1.5 degrees C and provide climate finance.
Shoukry went on to say the conference’s agenda included for the first time an item on loss and damage from climate change.
The foreign minister noted the first three days of the global climate summit saw fruitful discussions among all parties and focused, in particular, on the needs of the most vulnerable and indigenous people.
He stated that different parties at the conference have already made pledges, such as the UK, Belgium and Sweden.
Shoukry underlined the Sharm El-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda is the first plan that offers solutions to the issues of climate finance and the implementation of pledges.
The foreign minister said Egypt’s COP27 presidency seeks to double climate finance, especially as the recent tragic global events caused by climate change emphasize the necessity of stepping up climate adaptation efforts and adjusting programs to provide sustainable and credible financing.
On his part, Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, the UN Climate Change High Level Champion for Egypt and UN Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, hailed Egypt’s presidency of COP27 that focuses on strengthening partnership between the public and private sectors and stakeholders, stressing the need to provide the necessary funding for climate adaptation.
