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Egypt Calls for Taking ‘Serious Steps’ to Limit Climate Change Impact

Sameh Shoukry during his participation in the World Sustainable Development Summit (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Sameh Shoukry during his participation in the World Sustainable Development Summit (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
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Egypt Calls for Taking ‘Serious Steps’ to Limit Climate Change Impact

Sameh Shoukry during his participation in the World Sustainable Development Summit (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Sameh Shoukry during his participation in the World Sustainable Development Summit (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)

Egypt has called for taking serious steps to limit the negative effects of climate change globally.

This came during the participation of Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry in the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS), which was organized by India’s Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) via video-conference on Thursday.

President of the upcoming Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP27) said the summit should represent a turning point in global climate action by turning vows into actions, whether on reducing emissions, adapting to the negative effects of climate change, or securing the financing needed to address the climate change crisis in developing countries.

He underlined the importance of raising the level of ambitions on climate action by urging various parties to update their nationally determined contributions to mitigate emissions that lead to climate change.

Shoukry further called for encouraging countries that have not yet submitted their contributions to the Executive Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to do so in line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

He underscored in this regard “the importance of responding to the science’s best findings on climate change, according to reports issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).”

According to a foreign ministry statement, Shoukry stressed the need to empower the youth and civil society and engage them in global climate action.

Shoukry emphasized the need to assist and listen to complaints of the groups most affected by the consequences of climate change, which requires taking serious steps to limit the damage associated with the climate crisis.

He said Cairo will carry on its efforts with all parties concerned with global climate action to build confidence and ensure all parties’ comprehensive participation.

Participants extended their congratulations to Egypt for being chosen to host the COP27 Climate Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh at the end of 2022, according to the statement.

They expressed confidence in Egypt’s ability to make the event a success, reflecting the great progress and national efforts it has made in the field of environmental protection and the transition to clean energy.

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UNHCR Praises Saudi Support Amid Dire Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan

King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center distributes food aid in the city of Umm Rawaba, North Kordofan State, Sudan (SPA)
King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center distributes food aid in the city of Umm Rawaba, North Kordofan State, Sudan (SPA)
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UNHCR Praises Saudi Support Amid Dire Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan

King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center distributes food aid in the city of Umm Rawaba, North Kordofan State, Sudan (SPA)
King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center distributes food aid in the city of Umm Rawaba, North Kordofan State, Sudan (SPA)

A senior United Nations official has described the ongoing crisis in Sudan as one of the world’s largest humanitarian emergencies, yet also among the least funded. Less than 18 percent of the $1.8 billion needed to support relief operations in 2025 has been secured.

Mamadou Dian Balde, Regional Director of the UNHCR for East Africa, the Horn of Africa, and the Great Lakes, and the agency’s regional refugee coordinator for Sudan, stressed the importance of Saudi Arabia’s continued support.

He noted that the Kingdom’s contribution remains vital to maintaining life-saving aid, especially at a time when global humanitarian funding is shrinking.

During a recent visit to Riyadh, Balde met with key Saudi officials to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation with UNHCR. His discussions focused on supporting over 27 million refugees and displaced individuals across East Africa, the Horn of Africa, and surrounding regions.

He stressed that Saudi Arabia’s partnership, both through direct aid and international collaboration, has played a crucial role in sustaining relief efforts in the face of the largest displacement crisis worldwide.

Balde’s visit included meetings with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief), the Saudi Fund for Development, and Islamic development institutions such as the Islamic Development Bank and the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development. He also consulted with humanitarian and religious organizations like the Muslim World League and the World Assembly of Muslim Youth.

In Sudan, despite limited resources, UNHCR continues to deliver core services such as refugee registration, relocation to safer areas, and distribution of emergency supplies. This includes shelter kits, blankets, mosquito nets, solar lamps, and kitchen essentials, as well as medical supplies and support for survivors of gender-based violence and unaccompanied children.

Balde highlighted the scale of the crisis, pointing to nearly 13 million Sudanese who have been displaced in just two years, with 4 million fleeing across borders. He warned that displacement is accelerating, citing the arrival of approximately 2,000 new refugees daily in Chad due to recent violence in North Darfur.

With only 11 percent of the regional response plan for Sudan funded, humanitarian actors face difficult choices, often unable to reach all those in need.

Looking ahead, UNHCR’s strategy combines emergency relief with long-term development.

Balde stressed the need to integrate refugees into national systems, improve host community services, and avoid parallel aid structures, Balde told Asharq Al-Awsat.

For 2025, the agency and its partners require $1.8 billion to assist 4.8 million people, including refugees, returnees, and local communities across the region.