Editor's note: Decision Makers is a global platform for decision makers to share their insights on events shaping today's world. Assem Hanafi is the ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to China. The article reflects the author's views and not necessarily those of CGTN.
The city of Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, is currently hosting the 27th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27), and a plethora of climate-related events, where Egypt demonstrates its belief in the necessity of urgent actions addressing the climate crisis and the importance of a swift and urgent shift from negotiations and planning to implementation and tangible action. 埃及沙姆沙伊赫市正在召开《联合国气候变化框架公约》第二十七次缔约方大会（COP27）,并举办一系列相关活动。作为大会主席国，埃及认为全球应当采取紧急行动应对气候危机，同时也应将工作的重点尽快从谈判和规划转向开展切实行动。Egypt's vision for COP27 can be outlined by what the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs and COP27 President-Designate, Sameh Shoukry, said: "We must accelerate climate action on all fronts including mitigation, adaptation and finance in addition to adopting more ambitious mitigation measures to keep the 1.5 degree Celsius within reach. There can be no room for delay in the fulfilment of climate pledges or backtracking on hard-earned gains in the global fight against climate change. We must work together for implementation. We need to act, and act now, to save lives and livelihoods." Moreover, Egypt believes that in order to strengthen the quality of climate action, current geopolitical challenges should not hinder international communities' efforts and joint actions. 埃及外长兼COP27主席塞米哈·舒克里在致辞中道出了埃及为此次大会构筑的愿景：“我们必须全方位加快应对气候变化的步伐，在减排、适应和气候融资等方面加紧行动，此外还应采取更为有力的减排措施，争取实现将全球升温控制在1.5℃以下的目标。气候承诺的履行不容推迟，来之不易的气候变化应对成果不容践踏。为此，我们必须携手努力。我们要行动起来，马上行动，以拯救生命与生计”。此外，埃及认为，为提高气候行动的质量，当前的地缘政治问题不应对国际社会的协同合作构成障碍。 In July 2022, Egypt updated its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), upon the directives of Egypt President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, in which it announced its emission reduction objectives for 2030, where it pledges to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the power generation, transmission and distribution sector by 33 percent. To attain this goal, Egypt intends to accelerate the scale-up of on-grid renewable energy by reducing coal capacity and replacing inefficient thermal power plants. As for the oil and gas sector, Egypt pledges a 65 percent reduction in emissions in 2030 by extension of the natural gas pipeline network to help households switch towards cleaner fuels.2022年7月，根据埃及总统阿卜杜勒·法塔赫·塞西的指示，埃及公布了其最新的国家自主贡献目标（NDC），其中包括2030年的减排承诺，即将发电、输电和配电部门的温室气体（GHG）排放量减少33%。为实现这一目标，埃及计划降低煤炭产能并取代低效热电厂，以加速扩大并网可再生能源的规模。埃及还承诺通过扩大天然气管道网络帮助家庭转向使用更清洁的燃料，在2030年之前将石油和天然气的碳排放量减少65%。 For the transport sector, Egypt plans a 7 percent reduction in emissions , and planning to drive low fossil fuel modal shift from private passenger and freight vehicles into mass transit thanks to the expansion of the Cairo underground network, the development of the Alexandria Metro, the development of several rail lines, the transformation of public buses to operate on lower carbon intensive fuels (i.e. natural gas), and greening of the civil aviation sector through the introduction of 2 percent biofuels for aircraft, which was used for the first time to operate an Egypt Air's flight transporting a delegation attending COP27. In addition, Egypt has expanded the construction of wind power plants, as well as solar farms as demonstrated by the construction of "Benban" solar park, one of the largest solar power plants in the world.在交通运输方面，埃及计划减少7%的排放量并推动普及低化石燃料依赖型交通工具，即促进私人客货运车辆向公共交通工具的转变。这一转变的实现将有赖于开罗地铁网络的扩建、亚历山大地铁的建成、多条铁路线路的开发、公共汽车向较低碳密集型燃料（即天然气）的转变，以及通过在飞机中使用2%的生物燃料促进民航产业的绿色转型。埃及航空公司已经在一架运送参会代表团的飞机上首次做此尝试。此外，埃及还加大了风力发电厂和太阳能发电厂的建设力度，世界上最大的太阳能发电厂之一本班光伏产业园（Benban Solar Park）就是一个力证。 However, in order for Egypt and for most developing countries to achieve their NDCs and to successfully fight against climate change, it is crucial to have an adequate and predictable climate finance model. To this end, Egypt calls for enhanced transparency of finance flows and facilitated access to meet the needs of developing countries especially those in Africa, Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). 然而，要使埃及和大多数发展中国家实现其自主贡献目标并成功应对气候变化，关键在于引入有效的、可预测的气候融资模式。为此，埃及呼吁提高资金流动的透明度，使资金获得渠道更为顺畅，进而满足发展中国家（特别是非洲发展中国家）、最不发达国家和小岛屿发展中国家的需求。
Egypt Prisident Abdel Fattah Al Sisi speaks at COP27, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, November 7, 2022. /CFP
In fact, a report commissioned by the current and previous climate summit hosts, Egypt and Britain, was released ahead of talks on climate change finance at the COP27. It stated that "The world needs a breakthrough and a new roadmap on climate finance that can mobilize $1 trillion in external finance that will be needed by 2030 for emerging markets and developing countries."事实上，由本届和上届气候峰会东道主埃及和英国委托撰写的一份报告在COP27气候变化融资会谈开始前就已经发布。报告指出，“世界需要在气候融资方面做出突破并规划新路径，以筹集新兴市场和发展中国家在2030年之前所需的1万亿美元外部融资。” The report also highlighted that the majority of the increase in financing should be provided by the private sector, both domestic and foreign, while annual flows from development banks should be tripled. Concessional loans for environmental goals, which offer more favorable terms than markets, should also be stepped up. The report also calls on governments of developed countries to double their grants and low-interest loans to developing countries from $30 billion annually to $60 billion by 2025. 该报告还强调，大部分新增融资应由国内外的私营部门提供，而每年来自开发银行的资金流也应增加两倍。条件优于一般贷款、用于实现环境目标的优惠贷款也应增加。报告还呼吁发达国家政府将其向发展中国家提供的赠款和低息贷款增加一倍，在2025年之前，由每年300亿美元增加至600亿美元。 The COP27 is also a display of the strong cooperation between Egypt and China. There is a mutual vision between the two countries when it comes to the necessity of continuing the global effort to mitigate climate change impacts. This was clear in the latest China's Policies and Actions on Climate Change report in which the Chinese government repeatedly calls on developed countries to fulfilling existing commitments, particularly in the areas of financing and adaptation, as well as the report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, presented by Xi Jinping, which pointed out the necessity of protecting the environment, fighting climate change and accelerating green economy transformation. This was also clearly demonstrated with the success story of the Chinese authorities in drastically reducing the air pollution rates in the city of Beijing. COP27也彰显了中埃两国间的紧密合作。全球必须继续努力减轻气候变化的影响是两国间的共识，这一点在最新公布的《中国应对气候变化的政策与行动》年度报告中也得到了清晰体现。在该报告中，中国政府多次呼吁发达国家履行既有承诺，特别是在气候融资和适应方面。此外，习近平在中国共产党第二十次全国代表大会上所作的报告中也指出了保护环境、应对气候变化和加快绿色经济转型的必要性。中国政府在大幅降低北京城市空气污染率方面的成功经验就是这方面的有力证明。 Being a partner in multi-billion-dollar ecofriendly projects, China works hand in hand with Egypt on important projects including Egypt's first light railway train, first electric bus, in addition to investments in Egypt’s solar farms. It is important to mention that fighting climate change requires collective efforts and continuous dialogue between all stakeholders, both developing and developed countries. Furthermore, the high-level cooperation between China and the Egyptian presidency of COP27 continues to become stronger and assumes a crucial role within the upcoming months. 中国与埃及在多个价值数十亿美元的重要生态项目上携手合作，助力埃及建成了首辆轻轨列车和电动巴士，并投资了埃及的光伏电厂。必须指出的是，应对气候变化需要包括发展中国家和发达国家在内的所有利益攸关方共同努力并持续开展对话。与此同时，中国与作为COP27主席国的埃及之间的高级别合作还将进一步加强，并在未来几个月中发挥关键作用。 There is a reason for hope, this year's conference will add new milestones to the ongoing positive steps towards climate action which cannot be overlooked, such as the development of technology and satellite imaging which allows us to monitor any changes to the climate to a greater accuracy, and boosts our resilience in the fields of agriculture and offsetting desertification, in addition to the existence of early warning systems which provide protection against extreme weather conditions. Another cause for optimism is the ascendancy of science-based research on climate and environment, gaining access to global policy makers with climate change deniers on the wane, and the remarkable increase of youth engagement in climate awareness and action.我们有理由期待，今年的会议将为气候行动奠定新的里程碑。目前的应对行动已经取得了有目共睹的积极进展。例如，相关技术和卫星成像的发展将使我们能够更准确地监测所有气候变化，并增强农业和荒漠化治理机制的韧性。此外，早期预警系统也能起到保护作用，减轻极端天气造成的影响。另一个令人乐观的理由是，气候和环境方面的科学研究越来越受到全球政策制定者的重视，气候变化否认者逐渐失势。同时，青年人对于气候问题的意识和参与度也在显著增加。 推荐阅读：