Geographical location

Egypt is located in the North Eastern part of the African continent with a predominantly desert landscape. The climate for the most parts of the country is dry with inconsistent rainfall patterns. Nevertheless, the Nile River and the fertile Delta region, which together constitute only 5.5% of total area, support around 99% of the total population.

Economic Growth and Development

Government's policy economic reforms focused on substantial depreciation of the Egyptian pound (of about 35 percent). The resulting increase in foreign exchange earnings from tourism and manufactured exports succeeded in achieving a boost in GDP growth reaching 4.4 percent in 2004. The economic growth was further enhanced by the gas fields' discoveries. 

Nowadays, Egypt's economic diversification is thought to be the precursor for its stability: Hydrocarbon extraction accounts for 17%; manufacturing for 17%; agriculture nearly 17%; wholesale and retail trade 11%; construction and real estate 7%; financial and telecommunications services 7%; and externally oriented sources, such as the Suez Canal and tourism, 4% each.

Egypt still faces major challenges covering mainly overpopulation (Largest population in the Arab countries), unemployment and low living conditions ( 20% of population surviving on less than $2 a day). 

Main contributors to GHG emissions

Energy sector is the largest contributor to GHG emissions since Egypt depends for its energy generation on fossil fuels, agriculture is the second largest GHG emitter mainly from enteric fermentation and rice cultivation. Industrial sector is the following largest contributor to green house gas emissions mainly generated from steel and cement factories.

Potential Impacts of Climate Change

Egypt is highly vulnerable to climate change due to its arid climate conditions and to its high population density in the Nile Delta and valley area. Scientific studies show that Climate Change will severely the agriculture sector where national grain production losses are expected, which will force Egypt to rely even further on expensive food imports. 

Also, coastal areas will be dramatically affected where sea level rise of 0.5 to 1 meter could lead to considerable losses in surface area, and to the displacement of 14 million people. Overall economic losses attributed to impacts on coastal areas were estimated at more than US$35 billion.

Additionally, corals in the Red Sea are especially sensitive to changes in water temperature resulting in coral bleaching. Scientific simulations suggest that climate change will also have its toll on coastal lakes or wetlands which provide for around 65% of total fish production and a considerable hub for migratory birds. Wetlands are thought to increase in salinity, weed swamps will be replaced with salt marshes, natural fry supply for aquaculture will be disturbed and aquatic plants will decompose and die off.

Water level in the Nile River is expected to fluctuate, but with a general decreasing trend. Losses in Nile river water resources could be up to 75% in this millennium.

Oil and Gas

Oil and gas currently meet 95% of Egypt's energy needs, but the government is working towards reducing oil dependence in favor of natural gas. Despite discoveries and enhanced oil recovery techniques, oil production has been declining since 1996. Nevertheless, Egypt's oil production of 664,000 barrels of oil per day (bbl/d) in 2007 matched the domestic consumption.

Production and consumption of natural gas are continuously increasing (30% increase between 1999 and 2007). Government strategies are in favor of further increases in production at 5% annual increase by 2020. Since 2006, gas production is outweighing consumption making Egypt a net exporter.

National Climate Change Work

In 1997, a special unit was established within the EEAA that is solely responsible for climate change issues. In 1980s, the government integrated renewable energy as an integral part of the national energy planning in Egypt. Also, the New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA) was founded under the Ministry of Electricity and Energy and in charge of planning and implementing renewable Energy Programs.

Egypt's renewable Energy strategy addresses wind, hydroelectric and solar energies with studies underway to assess need and feasibility of nuclear energies. Egypt is taking the lead in the Middle East region in developing its wind energy as the country is endowed with substantial wind potential. The county plans to cover 20 percent (7200 MW) of its electricity needs from renewable sources by 2020, 12 percent of which originates from wind energy. The first solar thermal power plant has been constructed 90 km south of Cairo at Kuraymat. The power plant is able to contribute 140MW to renewable energy generation. 

Position with regards to current negotiations for a new global climate agreement

Egypt recognizes the urgent need to deal with the impacts of climate change  on a  global level through extensive cooperation and coordination efforts, and in line with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. Also, Egypt suggests addressing the negotiations in terms of criteria and impacts, as well as qualitative (e.g, type of emissions) and quantitative (e.g, volume of emissions, size of population, etc) dimensions, in an equal and balanced way. It also calls for greater focus on countries with deltas threatened by inundation of sea water. 

Positive Role

Egypt is one of the rare Arab countries that have stated that developing country mitigation responsibilities should vary based on the levels of development of those countries, suggesting greater effort among developing countries. Egypt also recognizes its population and land’s serious vulnerabilities to sea level rise and climate change impacts at large in its official submissions and expressed proactive willingness in discussing this issue. They strongly push for progress on adaptation and mitigation work in agriculture.

Negative Role

Although Egypt seems to understand its level of vulnerability to climate change and the gravity of the projected consequences, the country has not presented a position on global and developed countries mitigation targets. Egypt should realize that adaptation alone will not save the country. Unless strong mitigation efforts occur, the Nile, Nile delta and Red Sea coral reef remain under threat. Egypt believes that bunker fuels should be mainly manageed under ICAO and IMO which are the key entities under which aviation and maritime transport are addressed. However, a cooperative process between those entitites and under the UNFCCC would best ensure that emissions from bunker fuels are addressed. IMO and ICAO have not been doing a good job at reducing the emission of these two sectors.  

What could be better

Dr. Mostafa Tolba, an Egyptian citizen who was the executive director of UNEP for 17 years, was the main driver behind establishing the UNFCCC. Egypt has a long-history in shaping the Convention, and Egyptian diplomats are among the most experienced and skilled country representatives. Egypt has the potential to push and strengthen the position of G77+China. Their recognition of the impacts of climate change on their population and land place it in a position where it should support language related to prioritizing the poorest and most vulnerable countries. Egypt should also support and push for strong mitigation ambition, knowing that there is a lot at stake for the country. Therefore, it must specify and call for clear targets and commitments by developed countries and support for developing countries in mitigating climate change.