{"id":658638,"date":"2025-01-14T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-14T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/goinggreens\/what-does-egypts-first-biennial-transparency-report-tell-us-about-the-nations-efforts-to-go-green\/"},"modified":"2025-01-14T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2025-01-14T00:00:00","slug":"what-does-egypts-first-biennial-transparency-report-tell-us-about-the-nations-efforts-to-go-green","status":"publish","type":"goinggreen","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/goinggreens\/what-does-egypts-first-biennial-transparency-report-tell-us-about-the-nations-efforts-to-go-green\/","title":{"rendered":"What does Egypt\u2019s First Biennial Transparency Report tell us about the nation\u2019s efforts to go green?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Egypt shares its first BTR: <\/strong>Egypt has submitted its First Biennial Transparency Report (BTR1)<\/a><\/a>(pdf)<\/a> to the UN, highlighting its progress in implementing its nationally determined contributions to cut down on emissions during the period ending in 2022. The report \u201cmarks a critical milestone in the nation\u2019s journey toward effective climate governance, showcasing its commitment to transparency and climate action.\u201d<\/p>\n

TL;DR: <\/strong>\u201cThis report outlines our progress, ambitious goals, and the strategies we are implementing to address climate change at national, regional, and global levels,\u201d Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad wrote in the report\u2019s foreword. The report \"provides a comprehensive overview of Egypt's climate initiatives, including an updated Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory, progress toward achieving our Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), mitigation strategies, and Adaptation Communication. Furthermore, it details the support we have received in this critical endeavor.\u201d<\/p>\n

First things first, what is a BTR? <\/strong>BTRs<\/a> outline a country\u2019s national inventory reports, progress made towards achieving nationally determined contributions<\/a> (NDC), policy implementation, climate change effects, financial status, technology advancement, and areas of improvement. Parties to the Paris Agreement are required to submit BTRs every two years under the enhanced transparency framework.<\/p>\n

Right on time: <\/strong>Egypt submitted its first BTR on 30 December 2024, one day before the<\/a><\/a>deadline<\/a> set by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).<\/p>\n

The context: <\/strong>Egypt\u2019s population now stands at almost 106 mn \u2014 and is expected to reach 160 mn by 2050 \u2014 placing burdens on food security, water security, and economic development. Although the country has made progress on the macro front, the Covid-19 pandemic hindered recent progress. At the same time, significant macroeconomic disruptions \u2014 including the float of the EGP \u2014 have caused economic shocks.<\/p>\n

The stats: <\/strong>CO2 accounts for the largest share of emissions, making up 75.9% of total emissions among gases due to being closely linked to energy production and industrial manufacturing. Following CO2, the gases that account the biggest shares of emissions are methane (13.7%) and nitrous oxide (7.4%). <\/p>\n

We have a plan to slash carbon emissions: <\/strong>The Oil Ministry is currently following a plan that<\/a>it says<\/a> lowers emissions and offers economic returns. The ministry has implemented around 340 projects aimed at optimizing energy use, resulting in annual savings of USD 135.5 mn and reducing 1.2 mn tons of CO2 emissions a year. Part of the initiative included detailed energy audits in five key energy companies and the training of some 250 engineers.<\/p>\n

Egypt is especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change: <\/strong>Egypt has suffered extreme temperatures over the past 30 years, while also seeing a 22% decline in annual rainfall. Temperatures are set to rise by 2.1\u00b0C to 5.7\u00b0C by the end of the century under a high emission scenario. The Nile Delta is a region that is among the world\u2019s most vulnerable to climate change due to its dependence on the Nile for agriculture, industry, fisheries, and energy. <\/p>\n

The country has set ambitious goals: <\/strong>Egypt plans to reduce the electricity sector\u2019s greenhouse gases emissions by 37% by 2030. The Madbouly government also has plans to slash emissions in the oil and gas sector by 65% and transport sector-related emissions by 7% over the same time period. <\/p>\n

How can we achieve this? <\/strong>The government is looking to attract USD 34 bn of renewable investments through 2026-2027, a government source told EnterpriseAM<\/a> last year. The government wants to push its green investments to 75% of its total investment spending by 2030<\/a> and have its green economy contribute no less than 5% to its GDP.<\/p>\n

It won\u2019t come without challenges: <\/strong>\u201cThe expansion and modernization of Egypt's power grid is crucial for integrating renewable energy sources. The government is investing in the development of a smart grid that can accommodate the growing share of solar and wind energy \u2026 However, financial constraints are impeding the expansion of the power grid, thereby limiting the integration of renewable energy at the planned capacities,\u201d the report reads. <\/p>\n

The progress made so far: <\/strong>Egypt reduced emissions by 34.3% in 2022 compared to the business as usual (BAU) scenario. In the oil and gas sector, emissions were reduced by 57% compared to BAU levels and the transport sector surpassed its goal of slashing emissions 7% by 2030, reducing them 16.9% in 2022. Additionally, the Oil Ministry outperformed its energy efficiency goals, cutting energy consumption by 5.6% between the years 2015 and 2022 against a target of 5% thanks to implementing energy-saving measures in petroleum companies. <\/p>\n

How can we keep the ball rolling? <\/strong>\u201cEgypt requires adaptation measures such as climate-resilient infrastructure, public health campaigns, and energy-efficient designs to mitigate the impacts of climate change on society and the economy,\u201d the report reads, highlighting the need for stronger cooperation between government bodies, local communities, NGOs, and the private sector to help develop effective solutions. <\/p>\n

To help pay for it all: <\/strong>The nation is looking to secure financial support across various sectors to help it implement climate mitigation and adaptation strategies. The report points to barriers hindering efforts to secure international finance including \u201ccurrency instability, shortage in<\/p>\n

foreign currency, high lending rates and inflation.\u201d<\/p>\n

What\u2019s next? <\/strong>The report will undergo a technical expert review<\/a>, which will \u201chelp demonstrate action, identify areas of improvement and capacity-building needs, attract targeted support, and ultimately build trust.\u201d The UN will also undertake a facilitative multilateral consideration of progress<\/a> to \u201copen dialogue on climate actions, successes, and challenges.\u201d <\/p>\n

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