Egypt and UN launch climate resilience project for cities in Damietta

Egypt and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have signed an action plan for a project aimed at enhancing the resilience of urban areas to climate risks. The province of Damietta has been selected as the pilot site. This was reported by Sada El-Balad, a TV BRICS partner.

The signing ceremony took place at the Ministry of Local Development in the New Administrative Capital. The document was signed by the UNDP Resident Representative in Egypt, Chitose Noguchi, and the Assistant to the Minister of Local Development for National Projects, Hisham El-Helbawy.

The main goal of the project is to protect cities from the impacts of climate change, such as sea-level rise, coastal erosion, extreme heat and flooding. As a result, cities will receive modern risk forecasting systems, learn to manage these risks, and be able to act promptly in emergency situations.

The initiative continues Egypt’s Sustainable Cities programme, presented by the country’s authorities at the 2022 UN Sharm el-Sheikh Climate Implementation Summit (COP27). The solutions developed in Damietta will become a ready-made model for other cities of the Delta. Moreover, its experience will be used by neighbouring countries (Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia) – Damietta will become part of a network of East African cities that, together with UNDP, will work to combat the consequences of climate change.

The work will be carried out in coordination with other Egyptian state programmes – for example, on the creation of an early warning system for climate-related disasters and a new water resources management policy.

Photo: Sakorn Sukkasemsakorn / iStock