Egypt Addressing Climate Change

Climate Change Central Department, EEAA

Egypt Addressing Climate Change

Egypt ratified UNFCCC in Dec.1994, Kyoto Protocol in Jan. 2005 established Egyptian (DNA-CDM); consisting of (EB-CDM) and (EC-CDM).

Egypt participates in climate change conferences , workshops and related activities, besides fulfilling its obligations under the Convention.

Egypt Addressing Climate Change (cont.)

Implemented and submitted the Initial National Communication in 1999, And the Second National communication in 2010 that include inventory for Greenhouse Gases and developing National Action Plan for Climate Change ,now preparing the Third National communication .

Proposing idea of establishing a national or regional center for climate change researches

Climate Change Impacts on EgyptClimate Change Impacts on Egypt

Despite the very low GHG emissions ( 0.6%), Egypt is one of the highly vulnerable countries to climate change and the most vulnerable one in the Mediterranean region.

Adverse Impacts of Climate Change on Egypt • Sea level Rise: in the North Coast and the Delta.• Decrease in Crop Productivity.•Desertification: Including North West coastal areas and Northern areas of Sinai, the fertile land of Upper Egypt, the Delta, Oases of the Western Desert and Southern Remote Desert Areas.•Unexpected changes in water inflow due to the change in the rain pattern, • Deficit of water resources• Deterioration of Biodiversity• Coral reefs bleaching• Affecting tourism & tourist areas• Public Health will be affected

Climate Change Risks

Coastal zones, Nile Delta are inundation prone by SLR .Agricultural productivity will be negatively affected.Human health at risk .Impacts on tourism sector; coral reefs bleaching.Water resources subjected to risk.Housing and roads also will be impacted.Egypt seeks help and support to adapt to and mitigate the impact of climate change.

Egyptian Needs for AdaptationEgyptian Needs for Adaptation

Among 10 countries, Egypt has been selected by the UNFCCC to submit its National Environmental, Economic and Development Study (NEEDS) repot, which covers an assessment for the needs of agriculture sector and coastal zone under adaptation, while it covers the needs of industry and energy sectors under mitigation.

Necessity to focus on Adaptation in Egypt. Urgent need to find fund to provide Technology, Finance and

Capacity Building of Adaptation measures in Egypt. The implementation of national communications requires

significantly increased financial support. Use of mathematical models that predict risks on threatened

sectors.

Identify adaptation options to cope with the impacts of CC that GOE needs to protect the vulnerable areas and identify needed adaptation policies .

have prioritized plan to address CC risks and disaster reduction in EgyptCapacity building to vulnerability assessment to evaluate costs of

adaptation activities.Egypt believes that issue of technology transfer is important especially

supportive technology that increase adaptive capacity:To protect the north coast and coastal area of the Nile Delta, crops tolerant to increasing temperature ,soil salinization and water stress Livestock tolerant to high temp.

Egyptian Needs for Adaptation (2)Egyptian Needs for Adaptation (2)

Adaptation Activities

A National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change is being developed Conducted projects for Tec. NEEDs and Financial Assessment to address CC.Climate Change Risk Management Program (CCRMP) a national program aimed to apply the principles of adaptation and mitigation to climate change impacts and to assist Egypt in the climate change matters. (Spain)Climate change and human mobility project aims to study the various dimensions of internal and external migration and the impact of climate change on migration in the countries of the Middle East (AFD)Assessment and Strategy Development to respond to the impacts of sea-level rise on human mobility in Egypt (IOM)

Mitigation Activities

• Conducted National Strategy for Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in 2002 followed by Capacity Development Project in CDM (2003-2006).

• Established Egyptian DNA for CDM in 2005, Approved 94 projects in RE,EE, Industrial processes, fuel switching, Solid Waste and Affroestation.

• Total investment cost $5.04 Billions, total GHG reduction 11 mmtCO2/year.

• Implementing programs for fuel switching to natural gas in energy, industrial and transport sectors.

• Established of Energy Supreme Council.

Cooperation with Line Ministries

Ministry of Electricity and Energy: establishment of several projects in field of New and Renewable Energy (Wind - Solar - Hydro - Bio), and encouraging Energy Efficiency Projects.Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation: Implementing projects for shore protection (Egyptian Public Authority for Shore Protection), establishment of specialized research centers in cooperation with development partners.Agriculture Research Center: carrying out some researches about the impacts of climate change on crops productivity and adoption of more heat-tolerant cultivars

Egyptian View in Climate Change Issue

Adaptation is a first priority. Urgent Need to establish Multilateral Fund under the Convention to provide Technology, Finance and Capacity Building of Adaptation &Mitigation measures in Developing Countries. Egypt accepts undertaking National Appropriate Mitigation Actions by Developing Countries in the context of NSDP conditioned with providing Technology Transfer, Finance & Capacity Building. Necessity to focus on Adaptation in Egypt as the most Vulnerable Country in Mediterranean region.

Egypt Position related to climate change

• There are commitments on developed countries towards developing countries: GHGs emissions reduction, technology transfer, adaptation finance, research and observation systems, addressing adverse impacts , response measures and compensate developing countries for climate adverse impacts.

• Egypt believes that the developed countries should fulfill their obligations towards developing countries.

• Reject negotiations that would lead to any commitment on developing countries.

Egypt Position related to climate change (cont.)

Egypt concerns the slow progress of the AWG-KP in completing essential tasks of its work program. Egypt realizes that balance between two negotiating tracks, i.e. AWG-LCA and AWG-KP, is respected and the balance within each track is maintained.Egypt welcomes the continuation of negotiations with developed countries for future commitments post 2012.Egypt believes that issue of technology transfer is important.The implementation of national communications requires significantly increased financial support.

Aspects of cooperation between Egypt & other countries

Need to establish National/Regional Research Center for CC and national Center of Excellence for CC information.Need for regional cooperation between north and south.Need to have regional plan to address CC risks and disaster reduction.Need to increase national capacity to evaluate the costs of adaptation activities. Developing the National Strategy for Low-Carbon Economy.Developing performance in field of CDM to attract international investments.

Adaptation ProjectsAdaptation Projects Climate Change Risk Management Program CCRMP:

A national program aimed to apply the principles of adaptation and mitigation to climate change impacts and to assist Egypt in the climate change matters.

It is supported by the Spanish Development Fund, and includes many ministries and sectors (Ministry of: Irrigation and Water Resources, Agriculture, Environment, International Cooperation and Foreign Affairs)

The program consists of four components;  the Supreme Council for Energy seeks to support the Supreme Council of Energy in the areas

of renewable energy and energy efficiency,  The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to promote and encourage the use of the

mechanism to add economic benefit of new investment projects, Forecasting and Integrated Water Resources Management to develop scenarios of the climate

change implications and to include it in the National Integrated Water Resources Management plans,

Adaptation component of the agricultural sector, to develop crops which have ability to adapt to extreme climatic conditions, lack of water, soil salinity and high temperatures.

Climate Change and Human Mobility ProjectThe project aims to study the various dimensions of internal and external migration and the impact of climate change on migration in the countries of the Middle East. Five countries have been selected for the project (Egypt, Algeria, Yemen, Morocco, Syria). Two Egyptian governorates have been chosen for studying; Dakahlia and Sharkeia.

The project is supported by the French Agency for Development and in partnership with the Institute for Environment and Human Security of the United Nations University and the World Bank.

Adaptation ProjectsAdaptation Projects (2)

Assessment and Strategy Development to Respond to the Impacts of Sea-level Rise on Human Mobility in Egypt The project aims to make a number of rapid assessments to develop an understanding of the effects and potential consequences of sea level rise on the issues of migration and human security in low lying coastal areas in the Nile Delta and on some coastal cities in Egypt.

This project is implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in cooperation with the Ministry of Manpower and Immigration, the Ministry of Environment, the Coastal Researches Institute and number of non-governmental partners.

Three local communities have been selected in Alexandria (model can be applied) for the study which are: Abu Qir Bay – the East Port - the Max area, these communities will be affected by sea level rise and have high population, also they are similar in the economic, social conditions and livelihoods (agriculture and fishing).

Adaptation ProjectsAdaptation Projects (3)

Climate change Adaptation and Natural Disaster Preparedness in the Coastal Cities of North Africa (Alexandria)The project aims to assess risk and determine the expected impacts of climate change and natural disaster risks through data and information  collection in some coastal cities and in collaboration with the World Bank and the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport.

Alexandria has been selected from Egypt and Tunisia in Tunis, Casablanca, Bouregreg Valley in Morocco. The first phase of the project has been implemented which included the assessment of the weaknesses in Alexandria and the expected impacts of climate change and the risks of natural disasters.

The data has been analyzed to assess the expected effects of climate change on the city by the year 2030.

The second phase of the project is ongoing; an action plan for adaptation to growing climate change impacts would be designed for Alexandria in order to be able to deal with natural disasters when they occur. 

Adaptation ProjectsAdaptation Projects (4)

Development of an Integrated water and land-use strategies for policy-making, tools for sustainable development in the context of climate variability and change

Enhance knowledge, skills and qualifications for key Egyptian stakeholders

Increase the resilience of rural communities through appropriate adaptive land/water management practices and livelihood strategies

Proposed projects:

Next Steps

Developing CC National Strategy including NAPA and National Low Carbon Economy planEstablish strong information dissemination system and network for CC and impacts on different sectors.Pay more attention to research studies and pilot projects that cover CC socio economics aspects and ready for cooperation and knowledge transfer with other countries.Extending Adaptation activities to include:

adaptation planning evaluation of adaptation economic community based adaptation increase public awareness campaigns use of mathematical models that predict risks of impacts for

vulnered sectors.

ccu@eeaa.gov.eg

www.eeaa.gov.eg

The Arab Republic of Egypt

Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency

Climate Change Central Department