Greenish, an Egyptian environmental enterprise, concluded its first environment festival in Egypt this weekend with the support of the British Embassy in Cairo, among other European embassies, attracting an audience of around 3000 people.
The festival, which comprised 7-panel discussions, also featured workshops on photography, origami, storytelling, pottery, and agriculture, as well as a sustainable fair including 25 social enterprises offering sustainable products and solutions.
The goal of the festival was to link associations, institutions, and inpiduals working in sustainable development with international organizations interested in the same field, and to discuss the importance of the role of youth in raising awareness of climate change and its impact on the environment.
Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Cairo, Qudsi Rasheed, took part in two panels alongside representatives from the Italian and Swiss embassies, explaining the UK’s leading role in climate change mitigation and climate financing and its cooperation with Egypt on climate adaptation ahead of COP26, which the UK is hosting in Glasgow in November.
In the ‘Policies towards a greener economy’ panel, Rasheed said that reducing emissions and transitioning to a greener economy helps achieve economic growth rather than deter it, creating job opportunities in the process. “It is no longer sustainable to pay money for the impact of floods and extreme weather,” Rasheed said.
He explained that the UK has increased the size of its economy by 75% during the last 20 years while at the same time reduced its carbon emissions by 50%, thereby making the call for countries to reduce global emissions to net-zero by 2050 a possible reality.
On the ‘Road to COP26’ panel, Rasheed said that the UK is working closely with Egypt on climate change, stressing that Egypt has been a regional leader in renewable energy.
He elaborated on the importance of developed countries financing climate action in developing countries, adding that the climate change crisis cannot be solved by a single entity alone.
“It can’t be only government, it is a collaboration between all of us - whether policymaking or using non-plastic bags.”
The UK is committed to supporting Egypt in sustainable development and cooperating together as Egypt has bid to host COP27 next year.
At the end of the festival, Greenish presented excellence awards to recognize the efforts of 25 of the best projects that provided sustainable environmental solutions designed by graduates of Greenish Environmental Clubs in 10 governorates.
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