Egypt inked on Tuesday an agreement for the Green Hurghada project, a joint venture between the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), with investments of more than $3 million, the Egyptian Cabinet stated. Dr. Yasmine Fouad, the Egyptian Minister of Environment, confirmed that the project was aimed to support measures to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and preserve biodiversity in the coastal area of Hurghada. The initiative builds on the successful experience of transforming Sharm El Sheikh into a green city during Egypt's preparations for hosting the COP27 climate conference. The project will mainstream climate-smart technology and biodiversity conservation practices in the infrastructure of the tourism, energy, and transport sectors. "The project includes a number of work axes, namely developing strategic policy frameworks to achieve green recovery and sustainable growth in the tourism sector and other sectors affecting Hurghada," Dr. Fouad explained. The green recovery plan will be linked to financial support mechanisms and climate investments by promoting green technology investments, which aim to mitigate emissions, limit the decline of marine ecosystems, improve the economic competitiveness of the tourism sector, and ensure the long-term environmental and economic sustainability of low-carbon infrastructure. The Green Hurghada project is part of extended co-operation with UNIDO, supporting environmental compatibility in industry and other areas within the framework of Egypt's green transformation plan. Over the past years, this co-operation has included a number of projects, such as improving energy use efficiency, implementing the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, preparing environmental investment strategies, and the Sustainable Green Industry Project in Egypt.
