Latest news with #COP27
Arab News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
A new national climate vision for Arab youth
For young people across the Arab world, the climate emergency is deeply alarming. In the cradle of civilization, the Tigris and Euphrates rivers are at their lowest levels in recorded history. Deserts are spreading; saltwater from rising sea levels is seeping into the Nile and Shatt Al-Arab, threatening farmers and food systems; city-dwellers toil under debilitating heatwaves, the intensity of which is magnified by their concrete surroundings. For those touched by conflict, the prospects are even more terrifying. And these generations are bulging — over half of those living in the region are under the age of 25. This means a future with more demand on resources, more pressure on ecosystems and more demand for jobs that can withstand a changing climate. That young people are anxious about all of this is not only understandable; it is justified. Young people want — and deserve — a new vision for the future. Fortunately, young people are determined to be a force for good. During COP27 in Egypt, the first youth envoy was appointed and given a seat at the table. At COP28, the UAE advanced these efforts by institutionalizing the Presidency Youth Climate Champion role, ensuring the voices of children and youth were amplified in high-level climate discussions. As the COP29 Presidency Youth Climate Champion team, we helped ensure that negotiations in Azerbaijan on a new finance deal for developing countries addressed youth priorities. The Baku Finance Goal specifically addressed youth financial inclusion, committing donors to financing the well-being of future generations on the frontlines of the climate crisis. This year is pivotal. Under the Paris Agreement, countries must submit their updated national climate plans — known as Nationally Determined Contributions — by September. These must plot, in detail, how all sectors of national economies will cut carbon emissions over the next decade. In addition, countries must lay out how they will adapt to the relentless consequences of a warming world. Together, these NDCs form the backbone of our global climate efforts. First, these documents are our last best chance to keep the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement in reach and stave off the worst effects of climate change. Second, by highlighting priority industries of the future, setting timelines and targets and demonstrating government commitment, they send powerful market signals which serve as green lights to green investment. This is an opportunity we cannot afford to miss. And third, today's young generation is not simply inheriting these plans; we will carry them out. We stand ready and determined to meet this responsibility. In the next round of climate plans, young people want to see a new vision for our future. Leyla Hasanova As governments enter the final few months before submission, they must focus on three essential pillars: consultation, integration and education. Consultation underpins all effective policymaking, and youth inclusion is no exception. We have proved we can help deliver better outcomes with the Baku Finance Goal at COP29. Now we believe governments must act on the concerns and priorities of their young people. Last year, our team led numerous consultations with youth groups across the world. This experience reaffirmed that meaningful engagement with youth fosters a stronger sense of ownership over the processes we are expected to deliver. Next, climate plans must be fully integrated into national development strategies and policy frameworks. Across the Arab world, governments are rolling out ambitious national programs — Qatar's National Vision 2030 and Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 are just two examples which emphasize environmental stewardship. However, as countries prepare to submit their updated climate plans to the UN, we cannot let them sit on the sidelines — they must be embedded at the heart of national missions. Only then can we turn pledges into progress. Of course, not all countries have sufficient resources or policy know-how. As COP29 host, Azerbaijan is working closely with the UN as COP29 host to ensure every country has the support necessary to produce the best version of their plans. And finally, education and skills will be critical. Climate literacy is essential to help young people understand and navigate the challenges ahead. Equally, possessing skills in the industries of the future, from clean energy to regenerative agriculture, will help them seize tomorrow's opportunities. At COP29, we launched the Baku Initiative on Human Development for Climate Resilience, spotlighting the importance of integrating education, capacity building and skills into national climate strategies. If governments are truly committed to their pledges, they need to equip the next generation that will be doing the work. Our generation may have our whole lives ahead of us, but we are in a race against time. In the next round of climate plans, young people want to see a new vision for our future. We want something positive. And we want plans that we can work towards. • Leyla Hasanova is a COP29 presidency youth climate champion
Al-Ahram Weekly
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt PM accepts Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad's resignation ahead of UNCCD post - Society
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly accepted the resignation of Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad on Sunday following her appointment as Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), a top international post she is set to assume later this year. Madbouly assigned Local Development Minister Manal Awad to temporarily oversee the Environment Ministry's duties until a new minister is appointed. Fouad, who has served as Environment Minister since June 2018, was named by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in May as the next UNCCD Executive Secretary, becoming the first Egyptian to hold the role. She will succeed Mauritania's Ibrahim Thiaw, whose term will end in early August. The exact start date for Fouad's three-year term has yet to be announced. Madbouly congratulated Fouad on her new post, calling the appointment a testament to her expertise and leadership in environmental diplomacy. He praised her service and wished her success in supporting international efforts to combat desertification and promote sustainable development. Fouad brings over 25 years of experience in environmental governance, international climate negotiations, and sustainable development policy. She previously served as Assistant Minister of Environment and was Egypt's Ministerial Coordinator and Envoy for COP27, held in Sharm El-Sheikh in 2022. She holds a Master's degree in Environmental Sciences and a PhD in Political Science with a focus on Euro-Mediterranean relations. In a statement welcoming his successor, outgoing Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw said: 'Yasmine Fouad brings with her a wealth of experience and deep commitment to the environment and sustainable development. I warmly congratulate her on her appointment and have full confidence that she will bring new energy and vision to the role.' Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
CairoScene
20-07-2025
- Politics
- CairoScene
Egypt's Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad Resigns
Minister of Local Development Dr. Manal Awad will temporarily assume the duties of the Minister of Environment. Jul 20, 2025 Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has accepted the resignation of Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Egypt's Minister of Environment, and appointed Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development, to temporarily assume her duties in addition to her current role until a new minister is named. Fouad had served as environment minister since 2018, playing a key role in shaping Egypt's climate agenda, including hosting the COP27 climate summit in Sharm El-Sheikh in 2022.
Daily News Egypt
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt advances environmental cooperation in Africa at AMCEN summit
Egypt reaffirmed its leadership in shaping Africa's environmental agenda during the 20th African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), held in Nairobi from 14–18 July 2025. Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad headed Egypt's delegation, using the forum to strengthen bilateral partnerships and advocate for climate resilience and sustainable development across the continent. On the sidelines of the summit, Fouad met with Somalia's Minister of Environment and Climate Change, General Bashir Jama, to explore cooperation in climate change adaptation, combating desertification, and building institutional capacity. Fouad reiterated Egypt's commitment to supporting Somalia and other African countries in addressing shared environmental challenges. Jama praised Egypt's leadership during COP27 and welcomed the proposal to sign a new memorandum of understanding aimed at launching joint projects and introducing sustainable technologies. In a separate high-level meeting, Fouad met with Ambassador Luis Vayas, Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution. She highlighted the urgent need to develop a binding international treaty to tackle plastic waste and pollution. Fouad pointed to Egypt's national progress, including the adoption of extended producer responsibility (EPR) for plastic bags, and stressed the importance of establishing an intergovernmental process backed by independent financing mechanisms to secure treaty effectiveness. Fouad also held discussions with EU Commissioner for the Environment Jessica Roswall on topics including water and food security, as well as plastic pollution. She emphasised AMCEN's critical role in uniting African nations through collective dialogue and joint action to address environmental challenges. Reflecting on the history of AMCEN, founded in Cairo in 1985 by Mostafa Kamal Tolba, Fouad described it as one of Africa's most influential platforms for shaping environmental policy. In her official address to AMCEN, Fouad looked back on four decades of African resilience and progress in environmental protection. She underscored Egypt's own contributions, including updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), projects to protect natural resources, and promotion of the circular economy. Fouad called for fair and accessible international climate finance—particularly for adaptation—and urged greater alignment among the three Rio Conventions on climate change, biodiversity, and desertification. She also voiced hope that the ongoing Geneva negotiations on a global plastic treaty would produce consensus that recognises different national contexts and socioeconomic realities. Egypt, she said, will send a multi-stakeholder delegation to the next negotiation round—including government representatives and private sector stakeholders—to reflect an inclusive, nationally driven approach to the treaty process. Looking ahead to her forthcoming role as Executive Secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, Fouad underlined that deeper cooperation, innovation, and inclusive governance will be central to tackling desertification and securing a sustainable future for Africa. She concluded by thanking AMCEN's leadership and South Africa for hosting the summit, and reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to advancing shared environmental priorities across the continent. The Egyptian delegation also included officials from the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Embassy in Nairobi, all working together to position Egypt as a key driver of environmental cooperation and climate action in Africa.
The Wire
02-07-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
60 Former Civil Servants Write to CJI Citing Conflicts of Interest in Central Empowered Committee
New Delhi: A group of 60 retired civil servants have written to Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai, raising concerns about the impartiality of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) which now comes under the aegis of the union environment ministry. The CEC was first created in 2002 under the insistence of the Supreme Court, to keep track of the judgments of the apex court pertaining to forests, wildlife and conservation and look into cases of non-compliance by various parties in these matters. The CEC also contained two independent members, apart from retired government officials. However, the new CEC – reconstituted in December 2023 – comprises only retired officials who have held high posts in the union environment ministry. The retired bureaucrats' letter to the CJI, dated June 30, notes their 'great concern' about the 'conflict of interest, and transgression of the principles of natural justice, which promises to take the diminution of India's forests even further down the road'. Signatories to the letter include Prakriti Srivastava, a former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests in Kerala, Meena Gupta, former Secretary to the union environment ministry, Anup Mukerji (former Chief Secretary of Bihar), N.C. Saxena (former Secretary to the Planning Commission) and Julio Ribeiro (former Director General of Police, Punjab). The CEC and its current members The Supreme Court constituted the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) in 2002. Its role was to keep track of the judgments of the apex court pertaining to forests, wildlife and conservation, and look into cases of non-compliance by various parties in these matters. Currently, the CEC has five members: a chairperson, three members and a member secretary. The current Chairperson of the CEC is Siddhanta Das. Das, who retired as the Director General of Forests and the Special Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, is a former Indian Forest Service officer of the 1982 batch of the Odisha cadre. The other members of the CEC are C.P. Goyal, Sunil Limaye and J.R. Bhatt. Goyal is also a retired IFS officer and former Director General of Forests and Special Secretary of the union environment ministry, and a former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests in the Uttar Pradesh forest department. Limaye retired as a Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Chief Wildlife Warden in the Maharashtra forest department. Bhatt, a retired scientist, has served as the lead negotiator for India at the Paris Agreement and several subsequent Conferences of Parties under the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change till COP 27, and was a director in the union environment ministry from April 2005 to September 2012. He was also an advisor to the ministry from September 2012 to March 2023. The Member Secretary of the CEC is Banumathi G., an IFS officer of the 2009 batch. She is currently the Assistant Inspector General of Forests at the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) which comes directly under the union environment ministry. The NTCA not only oversees Project Tiger, but also India's ambitious Project Cheetah in Madhya Pradesh. Conflicts of interest The letter by 60 former civil service officers to the Chief Justice of India dated June 30 points out their 'grave concerns' regarding several conflicts of interest. 'Two of the members of the CEC have held the topmost forest and wildlife posts under the government of India, that of Director General and Special Secretary and have retired recently,' the letter noted. 'A CEC which is comprised of officers who had held the highest positions in the MoEFCC, and were closely involved in policy making, can hardly be expected to give independent advice to the Supreme Court, advice that is different from what they gave while they were in the government,' it read. The letter said that it was a member of the CEC – who was then 'at the helm' in the union environment ministry – who prepared the Forest Conservation Amendment Bill 2023 and defended it before the Joint Parliamentary Committee that was instructed to look into the Bill and the various concerns that the public, including scientists and other experts, had raised. Several petitions submitted in the Supreme Court have challenged the Forest Conservation Amendment Act 2023. The cases are still being heard by the apex court, and its final decision on the matter is pending. The CEC and its members perform an advisory role to the Supreme Court, and will be advising the Court on this case as well. Another concern the letter raises is the lack of independent members in the current CEC. Experts had raised concerns about the new CEC In 2002 when the Supreme Court directed that the CEC be constituted, the CEC comprised three former officers of the union environment ministry, and two other members who were not linked to the union government in any way but had experience in the fields of wildlife, forests and conservation. 'In short, the Committee had not only expert members from the government, but also independent members who had not served in high positions in the government of India, nor had been involved in decisions of forest policy, thus ensuring impartiality and preventing conflict of interest,' the letter to the CJI dated June 30 read. However, in September 2023, the union environment ministry issued a new order specifying that the CEC would now report to the ministry and not the Supreme Court as it used to earlier. This order also announced that the union ministry would now choose the members of the CEC. The Indian Express reported that the environment ministry issued this order after the Supreme Court permitted this 'in the interest of all the stakeholders'. The new CEC, the ministry said, would also not have the two non-government members anymore. Experts had raised concerns at this move immediately. 'The underlying issue pertains to the primary motivation behind this action,' environmental policy researcher Debadityo Sinha, commented on X (formerly Twitter), five days after the ministry pronounced the order. 'It's widely understood that prioritising the 'ease of doing business' will inevitably overshadow all other considerations, leaving the government and CEC with limited leeway or alternative choices beyond adhering to political objectives.' Most of the environmental violation cases involve government actions, Sinha, said on X. 'The pertinent question arises: How can one anticipate the CEC to function independently or issue impartial judgments when its composition solely consists of civil servants appointed by the government?' Sinha also added that when considered alongside the recent revisions to the Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980, it was 'evident' that the union government had 'gained an unprecedented level of control over forests and a substantial influence over the State's jurisdiction concerning forests, which fall within the concurrent list of subjects'. 'This shift in authority has significant implications for the management and governance of our forests,' he said. 'It's already happening' The biased and partial advice given by the current CEC to the Supreme Court is already evident, the retired bureaucrats' letter said. The letter cited the example of the recent order by the Supreme Court on zudpi forests in Maharashtra. Zudpi forests are scrublands and grasslands, often designated as 'wastelands' because they do not typically contain lush tree cover. These lands, however, support a huge diversity of wildlife including critically endangered species such as the Great Indian bustard, a grassland-dwelling bird whose numbers have dwindled to less than 200 across India. This essentially makes the bird far rarer than a tiger in the wild. As per the former civil servants' letter, the Supreme Court on May 22 this year 'recommended the untrammelled use of such forests for 'compensatory afforestation' considering 'zudpi' forests as ecologically inferior forests as they cannot support thick stands of forest trees'. The Court had based this order on the CEC's recommendations, the letter said. It also added that diverting zudpi forests for non-forestry purposes is violative of the Supreme Court's Godavarman order of 1996 (which made it clear that any land that satisfied the dictionary meaning of a forest be considered a forest legally), and other recent orders pertaining to cases surrounding petitions against the amendments made to the Forest Conservation Act of 1980. 'As the Maharashtra zudpi forest case judgement clearly reveals, a CEC which is composed of only retired government officials merely reiterates the position of the government in its advice to the Supreme Court, a clear conflict of interest,' the letter noted. It urged the CJI to ensure that such a CEC not be allowed to advise the Court in the FCAA 2023 cases before it, 'or be part of other such important cases in the interest of the country's forests, wildlife and ecological security'.
