The Green Hurghada project aims to foster a more sustainable and resilient tourism industry that fosters local social and economic development
Egypt and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) have signed an agreement for the Green Hurghada project with investments totaling more than $3 million.
The initiative, which builds on the success of transforming Sharm El Sheikh into a green city, aims to support green recovery in the tourism, energy, and transportation sectors in Hurghada while enhancing climate investments to reduce emissions.
The Green Hurghada project aims to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, preserve biodiversity in the coastal Hurghada region, and promote climate-smart technology and biodiversity conservation practices in the tourism, energy, and transport infrastructure sectors.
The agreement was signed by the President of the Environmental Affairs Agency, Ali Abu Sunna, Director of the Regional Office of UNIDO in Egypt, Patrick Gilbert, Deputy Representative of the Program in the Regional Office, Ahmed Rizk, and UNIDO Representative, Jihan Bayoumi. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of the Minister of Environment, Yasmine Fouad.
Gilbert expressed his satisfaction with the agreement, highlighting the significance of the tourism industry for Egypt. He noted that Egypt is one of the most important tourist destinations in Africa, making the industry a vital contributor to the country's economy and a major source of employment opportunities.
The Green Hurghada project aims to foster a more sustainable and resilient tourism industry that fosters local social and economic development. It will accomplish this by encouraging investment in environmental, economic, and social sustainability, promoting sustainable tourism practices, and implementing policies to mitigate the impact of tourism and fishing activities on biodiversity.
The project will also include a strategic environmental assessment and measures to mitigate the effects of climate change and air pollution through technical assistance, technology development, and investment stimulation programs.
The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility and the minister emphasized that the project draws upon the successful experience of transforming Sharm El Sheikh into a green city, which took place during the preparations for Egypt's hosting of the COP27 climate conference.
The project encompasses several key areas of focus. These include the development of strategic policy frameworks to achieve green recovery and sustainable growth in the tourism sector and other sectors affecting Hurghada. It also aims to establish links between the green recovery plan and financial support mechanisms, as well as climate investments.
By promoting green technology investments, the project seeks to mitigate emissions and reduce the degradation of marine ecosystems. Moreover, it aims to enhance the economic competitiveness of the tourism sector and ensure long-term environmental and economic sustainability through low-carbon infrastructure investments in biodiversity, and robust monitoring and evaluation practices.
