On Monday, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, in collaboration with the United Nations in Egypt, organized an event to launch the EGYouth4Climate Committee and to honor the first delegation of young Egyptians to negotiate on climate issues.
The ceremony was held at the Civic Education Center in Zamalek, Cairo and was attended by high-profile guests, including Dr. Ashraf Sobhi, Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Jeremy Hopkins, UNICEF Representative in Egypt, Resident Coordinator, Elena Panova, UNDP Representative, Alessandro Fracassetti, and Assistant Representative of UNFPA, Germaine Haddad.
The EGYouth4Climate is a new initiative led by the Ministry of Youth and Sports in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Foreign Affairs, with the support of the United Nations. It was established as an outcome of the COP27 climate conference and aims to empower young people to participate in climate discussions and make their voices heard.
The committee also provides training courses on negotiation, community leadership, and initiative design to strengthen youth capacities in various aspects of climate change.
In his address, the Minister of Youth and Sports stated that his ministry places great importance on supporting and empowering young people in society, led by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi. He emphasized that youth are the driving force behind societal change.ge.ge.
Meanwhile, Panova said: "The EGYouth4Climate Committee is an excellent outcome of UN Egypt's strategic partnership with Egypt's government on empowering young people as future leaders and negotiators on ClimateChange."
On his part, Hopkins said: "The EGYouth 4 Climate Committee is a result of the steadfast leadership of the three Ministries and unwavering commitment of our young generation to take decisive action in addressing one of the most pressing challenges of our time. This Committee, comprised of nine passionate young leaders, will serve not only Egypt but the global community, championing our collective commitment to elevate the voices and actions of young people for a cleaner, cooler and happier planet. Our journey to this point started in 2022, under Egypt's leadership at COP27, which catalyzed a significant surge in youth engagement in climate action."
He continued: "The EGYouth 4 Climate Caravan, born of a partnership between UNICEF, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Swiss Development Cooperation and the UN in Egypt, traversed Egypt, amplifying young voices and laying the groundwork for today's committee."
In the same connection, Hopkins acknowledged the dedication of the UN Youth Task Force, which is led by UNICEF and UNFPA, as instrumental in realizing the vision.
He further mentioned that the Ministry of Youth and Sports has been making significant efforts which resulted in the endorsement of the EGYouth 4 Climate Committee by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"This recognition underscores the pivotal role of youth in shaping the climate action discourse and empowers them to drive meaningful change at the national and global level."
"The launch of the EGYouth 4 Climate Committee is a significant leap towards a sustainable and resilient future. I am confident that the continued leadership of the Ministry of Youth and Sports; the Ministry of Environment; and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with the UN in Egypt will take us closer to this shared goal," Hopkins concluded.
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