CAIRO: Environmental experts at a conference on climate change in Cancun, Mexico, said per-capita consumption of water in Egypt will fall below 400 cubic meters by 2050. They said Egypt will need up to 23 billion Egyptian Pounds (USD $4 billion) in assistance for the implementation of projects to adapt to climate change in the agricultural sector. The panel of climate change scientists from the United Nations said in a press release on Friday that roughly 220 million people on the African continent will face a shortage of water by the year 2020. The UN has placed the water shortage or poverty line at 1,000 cubic meters per capita. Egypt is currently estimated to have 750 cubic meters of water per capita, and that number is expected to fall below 400 cubic meters by 2050. Experts at the climate change conference predict estuary countries, such as those along the Nile, and the Sahara desert will be particularly vulnerable to water shortage. Scientists stressed the need to review water usage policies, focusing on provision of drinking water and reducing water use in crop cultivation. Crops such as rice, sugar cane, and bananas require vast quantities of water and can put countries such as Egypt at greater risk of desertification and decreasing biodiversity. Egyptian participants at the conference said the 23 billion EGP will be required for Egypt to implement climate change projects in the agricultural sector. These projects include developing strains of crops which could tolerate drought, high temperatures and high soil salinity in order to maintain the current level of crop production. Official sources have confirmed that Egypt will present its vision to cope with climate change through changes in agricultural and irrigation methods, but experts question the State's ability to fund these projects and wonder if Egypt will resort to securing funding from outside donors or concessional loans. Climate change experts have urged the Egyptian government to increase funds for research centers which could contribute to climate change projects. They have also suggested the creation of a plan to protect the northern Nile Delta region from an expected rise in the water level of the Mediterranean Sea, which could result in sea water mixing with the northern Delta aquifer. They have also suggested audits of investment projects in fragile and vulnerable areas regarding potential negative impacts by climate change and to ensure the sustainable development of these projects. The statements came at a press conference Thursday evening on the sidelines of the UN conference. 192 countries participated in the conference to confront the phenomenon of climate change. BM
