On Cop 28 Sidelines : Egypt’s Planning Minister Reviews Gov’t efforts to promote Gender Equality & Climate Action

H.E. Dr. Hala El-Said, Egypt’s Minister of Planning and Economic Development reviewed the Egyptian state’s efforts to promote gender equality and climate action, during her participation in the Arab Women Leaders’ Summit on the sidelines of the activities of COP28 in Dubai.

The Arab Women Leaders’ Summit in COP 28 came in cooperation with the Wiser and Better Foundation, the summit’s High-level discussion session came under the title of “Gender Inclusion and Climate Change: Advancing Equality for a Resilient Future”

During her speech at the session, El-Said said that the Arab world, with its rich biodiversity, abundant renewable energy resources, and growing youth population, holds enormous potential for climate solutions, and Arab women, as essential members of their societies, play a pivotal role in unlocking this potential.

El-Said stressed that the Egyptian government has taken commendable steps to promote gender equality and climate action, as the National Strategy for Sustainable Development: Egypt Vision 2030 recognizes the importance of women’s participation in sustainable development and climate action.

The Egyptian government also launched several initiatives to empower women economically and socially, including the National Strategy for Empowering Egyptian Women 2030.

El-Said explained that with women bearing primary responsibility for household chores, food security, and water management, climate-induced changes in resource availability and environmental degradation disproportionately affect women’s ability to fulfill these roles.

  Women also make up 60% of the agricultural workforce in the Arab world, meaning they are disproportionately affected by the effects of climate change on agriculture, such as drought and pests, according to El-Said.

 She added that the rural areas in Egypt are home to 58% of Egypt's population, where they are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

El-Said indicated that the Arab population is expected to grow from 430 million people in 2020 to 560 million people by 2050.

This will put pressure on already scarce water resources, as the Arab region now includes 14 of the 20 water-stressed countries in the world.

El-Said highlighted the role of the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects in providing financial and technical support to women-led companies and projects, in addition to promoting gender-responsive climate action throughout the country.

Regarding women's health and climate change, El-Said explained that Egypt has made great strides in expanding access to reproductive health services, including family planning consultations, modern contraceptives, and maternal and child health care.

This has empowered women to make informed decisions about their reproductive health and has contributed to lower maternal mortality rates and improved child health outcomes.

El-Said referred to the (100 Million Health)  ["100 Million SIHA”] Initiative, which was launched in 2019.

The ["100 Million SIHA”] is a comprehensive healthcare program aimed at improving the health of all Egyptians, with a special focus on women.

The initiative introduced a range of measures to address critical health issues, including cancer, hepatitis C, and non-communicable diseases.

The ["100 Million SIHA”] initiative has screened more than 60 million people for non-communicable diseases, and the Maternal and Fetal Health Initiative has provided antenatal care to more than 10 million women.

El-Said added that as part of the comprehensive Decent Life initiative launched in 2019, Egypt’s Green Villages program is a testament to the country’s commitment to climate resilience and women’s empowerment.

 This initiative aims to enhance the lives of rural communities, especially women, by promoting sustainable practices and building resilience to the effects of climate change. The Green Villages Program also actively engages women in development efforts who are capable of adapting to climate change.

El-Said stressed that, in recognition of the critical role of gender equality in addressing climate change, the Egyptian government has begun implementing a comprehensive strategy to mainstream gender equality considerations in climate policies, programs, and initiatives.

This comprehensive strategy sets out the Government's approach to integrating gender considerations into all aspects of climate change action.

The session witnessed the presence of Dr. Ghada Wali, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Sheikha Jawaher bint Khalifa Al Khalifa, Founder and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of FUTURES.

Princess Lamia bint Majid Al Saud, Secretary General of Alwaleed Philanthropies in Saudi Arabia, and Jessica Robinson, Head of Sustainable Finance at EY MENA Region also participated.