Egypt's Acting Environment Minister and Local Development Minister Manal Awad announced on Monday the completion and online publication of the 2023 State of the Environment Report, reaffirming the government's commitment to integrating environmental priorities across all development plans in line with Egypt Vision 2030. Awad said the report reflects unprecedented political backing for environmental protection as a central component of Egypt's "New Republic," detailing national efforts to address key challenges including water scarcity, Nile pollution and sustainable resource management. She noted that 2023 saw strengthened monitoring of industrial wastewater, upgrades to treatment plants, and the expansion of desalination and water-reuse projects to confront the growing pressures of climate change and regional water stress. Awad added that Egypt intensified its work on biodiversity conservation and the protection of natural reserves, investing in fragile ecosystems, promoting eco-tourism as a pathway for both conservation and economic growth, and advancing the National Biodiversity Strategy to safeguard endangered species in line with global commitments. In waste management, she said Egypt made significant progress through an integrated system for solid and hazardous waste, encompassing new sanitary landfills, transfer stations and recycling facilities, along with the safe disposal of medical and hazardous waste — all supporting the country's circular economy ambitions. The minister also highlighted improvements in the management of chemicals and persistent organic pollutants, noting that Egypt aligned its policies with international obligations and carried out projects to safely eliminate high-risk substances. Awad said the report places strong emphasis on the economic and social dimensions of environmental action by promoting green investment, expanding circular-economy initiatives, linking economic incentives to environmental performance, creating green jobs and steering development onto a sustainable path. She called on government institutions, the private sector and civil society to continue working collaboratively toward a healthier, more sustainable environment for future generations.
