Egyptian Youth Spearhead Climate Action Efforts

In the face of escalating floods, storms, and heatwaves resulting from the climate change crisis, which are among the most prominent challenges the world has faced in recent times, global efforts have been united to mitigate these risks. 

Particularly, the youth, who believe they bear the responsibility of environmental preservation, have played a significant role. What are the most notable efforts of Egyptian youth?

One of the most important initiatives that demonstrated the role of Egyptian youth in supporting climate action is Hayah Kareema (Decent Life) initiative for rural development. It has brought about a qualitative leap in improving the Egyptian countryside and enhancing the quality of life for over 58 million citizens. 

It has also created a comprehensive transformation in infrastructure, basic services, and the establishment of a new reality of sustainable development for these local rural communities.

Moreover, the initiative has considered environmental conservation in its projects and plans by promoting climate adaptation efforts to mitigate its intensity, enhance the resilience of rural communities, and improve their adaptive capacity.

The number of volunteers has exceeded 30,000 young people, making it the only civil society institution within the management committee of the presidential initiative. This institution markets all the projects implemented in this national project.

Additionally, the initiative contributes to the implementation, financing, and monitoring of the national project in collaboration with partner entities. It has worked on planting over 100,000 fruit trees throughout the Egyptian countryside to combat climate change, reduce air temperature and purify it, decrease wind speed, and increase urban biodiversity.

Furthermore, it supports waste recycling as an industry for producing various products from palm waste. It also works on purifying the Nile water from all environmentally harmful waste.

Various sectors of the state participated in the Green Village initiative, which aims to rehabilitate Hayah Kareema villages to comply with the latest international environmental standards.

 The initiative started by selecting Fares Village in Aswan as the first green village within Hayah Kareema initiative, achieving sustainable development goals and expanding the green area. It serves as a model that can be replicated in 175 villages in the future.

The youth also had a remarkable presence at the Conference of the Parties (COP) 27, held last November. Their evident contribution was reflected in the organization of this global event, which was praised by the United Nations for their efforts.