CAIRO — Egyptian and French officials discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation while Egypt gets ready to host the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The conference is scheduled for November in Sharm el-Sheikh.

Egyptian Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad met June 12 with representatives of the French Development Agency (AFD). The two sides discussed ways of cooperation in the field of initiatives that will be announced during the COP27.

In a statement following the meeting, Fouad announced, "Egypt launched the national strategy for climate change until 2050. The objectives include mitigation, adaptation, climate financing and technology. Egypt focuses on green transformation, linking climate with economic plans and focusing on the green economy in the field of agriculture, expansion of seawater desalination, solar energy generation and ways to engage the private sector in investments in this field.”

On May 19, the Egyptian government had rolled out the National Climate Change Strategy 2050, in line with the country's sustainable development strategy Egypt Vision 2030. The strategy aims to reduce harmful emissions and prepare the country to withstand the effects of global warming.