MENA

Foreign Minister and COP27 President Sameh Shoukry attended Saturday an event for launching a COP27 Presidency initiative titled "Climate Responses for Sustaining Peace"(CRSP).
With support from the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the African Union, the initiative was launched through the Cairo International Centre for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping, and Peacebuilding (CCCPA) during the 7th day of the ongoing global climate conference in Sharm El Sheikh, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said.
The CRSP initiative, the first to recognize the link between climate change and peace, will be implemented by working on three main themes, namely fostering the connection between climate adaptation and peacebuilding, sustaining peace through climate-resilient food systems, and pushing for sustainable solutions to climate-induced displacement, Shoukry said.
It also involves speeding up climate financing for sustained peace.
The CCCPA will follow up the implementation of the five-year initiative, in line with the goals of the AU Agenda for 2063 and the AU Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan (2022-2032), Abu Zeid pointed out.

Egyptian presidency of COP27 keen to get acquainted with indigenous people's experiences: Shoukry

The Egyptian presidency of the 27th session of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) is keen on getting acquainted with the experiences of the indigenous peoples' representatives, said Foreign Minister and President of COP27 Sameh Shoukry. 
Such experiences contribute to supporting the main goal of the conference, which is implementing climate pledges and turning them into a tangible reality on the ground, added Shoukry during a dialogue held with the indigenous peoples' representatives, who are participating at the global climate summit. 
Egypt was keen to provide the indigenous people a good representation at the COP27 via exempting their pavilion from fees, he added. 
The delegation members expressed their appreciation to Shourky for this dialogue as he listened to their concerns, including about preserving their culture and identity, and providing climate finance, said Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid. 

FM says, 'finance plan necessary for adapting to climate change'

African states contribute only 4 per cent to greenhouse gas emissions; however, they have been significantly affected by all recent climate events, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said Saturday.
Speaking during a session on the "Saudi Green Initiative," held as part of the 7th day of the ongoing global climate conference (COP27) in Sharm El Sheikh, Shoukry emphasized the need for adopting a climate adaptation finance plan.
Shoukry also asserted the need for collective action to fight climate change, whether in the Middle East or neighboring regions.

Shoukry stressed that the lives of indigenous peoples have been severely impacted by climate change.
He said economic conditions must be taken into account during discussions on climate financing to ensure that no parties are hindered by them.
Shoukry called for securing $1 billion in climate financing as a confidence-building step to demonstrate commitment, emphasizing also the need to promote private climate financing and reform multilateral development banks (MDBs) to cut the cost of funds and roll out incentives and guarantees that ensure greater private sector contributions.

Shoukry said no legally binding arrangement on the UNFCCC multilateral system is possible without the agreement of all parties.
He deplored that some states are not willing to make their national climate commitments legally-binding.
Shoukry underscored that all parties must be convinced of the urgency of meeting climate goals, including the goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The minister applauded the broad participation of NGOs at COP27.