During a busy week of events, MedECC was invited at multiple engagements in Egypt, providing an opportunity to underline its unique role as a science-policy interface on climate and environmental changes. MedECC also emphasised its commitment to producing robust scientific knowledge and making every effort to disseminate it effectively to stakeholders.
Cairo Sustainable Energy Week (CSEW) – Oct 1 – 3 , 2024
Hosted by the Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE), the second edition of CSEW was held brought together over 150 speakers from diverse sectors and featured more than 30 dialogue sessions, to discuss sustainable energy systems, resource management, and low-carbon technologies. These sessions provide an ideal platform for exchanging ideas and visions on the best ways to achieve a sustainable energy transition in Egypt in particular and the Arab region as a whole. Mohamed Abdel Monem, MedECC Co-coordinator of the Special Report Interlinking climate change with the Water – Energy – Food – Ecosystems (WEFE) nexus in the Mediterranean Basin, participated in event “Tackling Water-Energy-Food Nexus Challenges & Opportunities in the MENA Region” of the Session Session S4 – Navigating Strategies, Policies and Regulations for Clean Energy & Clean tech. He presented the key highlights of the reportalong the exploration and assessment of the critical energy-water nexus in the MENA region, addressing water scarcity’s impact on energy security and water-efficient energy production methods. Topics included desalination, wastewater treatment, and integrated policies for sustainable resource management.
Read more on Cairo Sustainable Energy Week website
4th UfM Energy and Climate Business Forum – 2 October 2024
The 4th UfM Energy and Climate Business Forum took place in Cairo, bringing together senior national and inter-governmental officials, international financial institutions leaders, and private sector actors in the field of sustainable energy from across the Mediterranean.
The Forum, organized in collaboration with the Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE), was held on the sidelines of the Cairo Sustainable Energy Week (CSEW), taking place from 1-3 October 2024.
The Republic’s Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, Rania Al Mashat, addressed the Forum with a recorded speech, emphasizing the country’s commitment to sustainable energy transition in the face of climate change. At the beginning of her speech, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat referred to the enormous challenges posed by climate change to the Mediterranean region, where we have witnessed negative developments at the level of climate change, confirmed by the reports issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the MedECC, explaining that these reports not only refer to environmental changes, but also warn of threats to the stability, security and prosperity of the region, adding that climate change is no longer It has become a purely environmental challenge, and has become a security and economic issue that requires a comprehensive and integrated response from all parties.
Read more about the event here.
High-level meeting on science diplomacy – 2 October 2024
On October 2, 2024, a High-Level Meeting on Science Diplomacy convened at the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States in Cairo. Organised collaboratively by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), the European Commission, and the League of Arab States, the event brought together representatives from governments, international organizations, academia, and NGOs to explore how science, technology, and innovation can drive regional dialogue and cooperation.
Building on the momentum of the 2023 Euro-Mediterranean Conference on Science Diplomacy, this meeting served as a platform to discuss concrete initiatives in research infrastructure, mobility, training, and science-informed foreign policy.
During the session “Science Diplomacy on the Ground: Showcasing Initiatives,” Mohamed Abdel Monem highlighted MedECC’s unique role as a science-policy interface in the Mediterranean. He showcased its activities and contributions in addressing climate and environmental challenges, underscoring the organisation’s efforts to bridge the gap between scientific research and actionable policy in the region.
The discussions reinforced the transformative potential of science diplomacy in fostering sectoral cooperation and addressing shared challenges, such as climate change and sustainable development, for a more resilient Mediterranean future.
Read more about the event on UfM website and explore the Full Agenda.