Mahmoud Bakr takes a look at how Egypt celebrated its Environment Day World Environment Day, 5 June, is the day the world looks deep into the future of the planet and its inhabitants. For Egypt, the celebration took a variety of forms: children books were published, films were screened, and reassurances were made that more trees would be planted, vehicles would emit less poisonous fumes and factories less toxins into our air and water. The slogan chosen for this year's celebration was "Melting Ice: A Hot Topic." The reassurances were declared by Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, who said that Egypt was eager to cooperate in the world efforts to fight global warming. "It is possible to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases, but only if all international organisations act together," said the prime minister. Egypt was one of the first to sign the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol. The Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs (MESA) has been working on monitoring air quality, introducing industrial regulations, and helping businesses achieve higher standards of environmental safety. MESA is also promoting various types of clean energy, including solar, wind, and bio energy. "The expansion in the use of natural gas in transport and industry will help limit pollution, while the transfer of small- and medium-sized industry from cities will also improve air quality. We have also started on a new project that will cost about LE1 billion and last till 2012 to combat industrial pollution," said Minister of State for Environmental Affairs Maged George. Children and art were a major part of this year's celebrations, with an environmental exhibition at Cairo House to display the outcome of climate change projects in Egypt. An exhibition including 30 paintings by children with special needs has been organised and a children's bulletin called Akhdarino (Little Green) published. An educational game was also developed and given to school children in order to encourage them to think about the environment. A documentary entitled Forests in Egypt was screened. Pedestrians and motorists in Cairo knew something was up when two weeks of traffic discipline were declared in which car emissions were monitored closely. While in the countryside, a flurry of activities took place as 100,000 trees were planted in order to reduce the impact of industrial pollution. In workshops in Cairo, simulation models were prepared to predict the climate changes in the Nile Basin and estimate the future availability of water resources. Pilot projects using solar energy and biogas have been initiated. UK Ambassador to Egypt Sir Derek Plumbly said the cost of reducing climate change is much less than the losses that can be incurred by failing to curb the phenomenon. He urged an international policy to apply clean technology and fight desertification. Plumbly is only one of several diplomats encouraging Egypt to press ahead with its environmental programmes. Egypt has participated in various workshops and conferences on climate change abroad, starting with the Berlin Conference in 1996, and has formed a National Committee on Climate Change to help formulate policies on that matter. Egypt has also set up a National Committee on Clean Development, which is monitoring industrial standards and promoting sustainable development. Environment expert Magdi Allam said that the Kyoto Protocol, which went into effect in February 2005, calls on industrial countries to reduce carbon emissions to 95 per cent of the 1990 levels by 2012. The arrangement allows companies to meet their quotas through environmental efforts in developing countries, a matter that gives environmental projects in developing countries a certain boost. Over the past two years, Egypt approved 29 projects under the Clean Development Mechanism arrangement. Total payments to developing countries to reduce emissions could be as high as $25 billion by 2012. "Egypt has been reducing its emissions of greenhouse gases through a multi-facetted approach and at the same time reducing leakage from the petroleum and gas distribution systems, treating solid waste, planting trees, and starting wind farms in Zaafarana, Hurghada, and in the North Coast," said Sayed Sabri, director of the Climate Change Unit at MESA. Solar energy is also being developed at Toshka and Al-Koraymat, and a pilot project is being tested to use hydrogen fuel in buses. Projects to produce bio energy from rice stalks, to limit emissions from factories, and to improve the efficiency of energy consumption are also under way. Sherif Al-Gabali, chairman of the Steering Committee of the Office of Environmental Commitment (OEC), said the office will turn into an environmental department by the end of this year. "With loans amounting to LE45 million to various industrial sectors, including textile, food, chemical, engineering and metallurgic industries, the OEC has succeeded in reducing emissions by the equivalent of 145,000 ton/years of carbon dioxide," said Ahmed Kamal, acting director of the Office of Environmental Commitment.
