Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry, COP27 President, participated today, November 15, 2022, in the launch of Energy Day as part of the thematic days of the conference, in the presence of Dr. Mohamed Shaker, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, and Eng. Tarek El Molla, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, as well as Dr. Amani Abou Zeid, the African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, Kadri Simson, the European Union Commissioner for Energy, Francesco La Camera, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency, and Mary Burce Warlick, Deputy Executive Director of the International Energy Agency.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Director of the Public Diplomacy Department, Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, stated that the Foreign Minister indicated during the event that the energy sector represents today one of the most carbon-emitting economic sectors, highlighting the need to invest in new sources of energy, which are clean, low-cost and sustainable, in order to enhance mitigation efforts and transition towards a green economy.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs also added that the transition towards a green economy is no longer just a necessity to confront climate change, but has become an economic option which entails many benefits given the repercussions of the current geopolitical situations and the ensuing global energy crisis. In this context, Minister Shoukry emphasized that the transition towards clean energy sources was at the top of the issues discussed in the Sharm el-Sheikh implementation summit on November 7-8, which generated a significant political momentum that must be built on and exploited.
Ambassador Abu Zeid added that the Foreign Minister stressed the need for the transition towards clean energy sources to be just, and to take into account the economic and social conditions in developing countries, including African countries whose millions of people lack clean and low-cost energy despite the enormous renewable energy generation capabilities that the Continent enjoys.
The Spokesperson concluded his remarks by noting that the Foreign Minister called for seizing Energy Day of the climate conference in order to reach specific steps that must be taken to achieve a swift and just transition towards environmentally friendly energy sources, in a manner that preserves the goals of the Paris Agreement and achieves economic prosperity and sustainable development.
Learn more, here.
