During the second edition of the Aswan Forum, “Shaping Africa’s New Normal: Recovering Stronger, Rebuilding Better”, UK Minister for Africa James Duddridge called on all participants to join the UK-Egypt led Adaptation Action Coalition, which commits countries to act on climate adaptation, integrate climate risk into all decision making, and increase the availability of adaptation financing.
This year’s forum, held virtually from March 1-5, is focused on the need to build back better, stronger, and greener. Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, pre-existing vulnerabilities in many countries around the world, including Africa, have been exacerbated, destabilizing people’s lives. That is why the forum aims to find solutions to ensure that African countries are able to deal and adapt to the ‘new normal’, in an effort to strengthen resilience.
One of the main topics this year is climate security. Minister Duddridge addressed this year’s participants in a pre-recorded speech, emphasizing the risks of climate change and the need to act fast, and asking African countries to join the Adaptation Action Coalition launched by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in January 2021.
He noted that although Africa is least responsible for historical and current global emissions, the continent remains the most vulnerable to climate change. Therefore, the UK is keen to work with African countries to encourage greater ambition on adaptation planning, while strengthening efforts amongst donor countries to increase access to climate finance.
In the run up to COP26, the UK is also hosting the Climate Development Ministerial on March 31. This will convene countries, including Egypt, to identify practical steps that they can take together with key multilateral organisations to support the delivery of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
UK COP26 Regional Ambassador Sir Nick Kay also took part in the climate security session, speaking of the importance of COP26, which will be hosted by the UK in November. COP26 will provide an opportunity to champion a green economic recovery from COVID19 across the continent, and drive global action on clean energy innovation and nature-based solutions.
The UK and Egypt have been cooperating on adaptation and resilience as well as clean energy innovation in the past years, with the latest collaboration being the UK-established Energy Transition Council, which hosted its first national dialogue with Egypt to find ways to support Egypt in its clean energy transition.
Other sessions included in this year’s forum considered women, peace and security, as well as regional cooperation for peace in the Red Sea, with UK Special Envoy for the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa, Julian Reilly, in attendance.
British Ambassador to Egypt Sir Geoffrey Adams said: “We are proud to support the Aswan Forum for sustainable peace and development, bringing together African countries to explore African-led solutions to issues affecting the future of the continent. It is vital that discussions like this take place, and especially so at present, as we all strive to ensure a resilient, sustainable and equitable recovery from COVID-19. This year and last at the Aswan Forum, the issues discussed have a direct bearing on the lives of millions, whether regarding climate security, or the role of women in society. The UK is committed to working with Egypt on these issues. We have already supported many African countries in the implementation of their National Action Plans on women, and we are leading the way on climate action, in preparation for COP26 later this year. I am confident that UK-Egypt partnership on these issues will continue to strengthen, and that we will continue to find ways to work together to meet the challenges, and seize the opportunities, that Africa presents.”