The Faculty of Graduate Studies and Environmental Research at Ain Shams University organized a workshop entitled “Mainstreaming nature-based solutions to adapt to climate change in Egypt”, in preparation for the COP 28 Climate Conference, under the auspices of Prof. Dr. Ghada Farouk, Acting President of the University, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Noha Samir Donia, Dean of the College.
Prof. Dr. Mohamed Al-Hajry, Head of the Irrigation and Drainage Unit at the Desert Research Center, participated in the workshop, Prof. Dr. Khaled Shaaban Tarkhan, Secretary-General of the Arab-African Council for Agriculture and Partnership for Development, Prof. Dr. Hussein Al-Atfi, Secretary-General of the Arab Water Council, Prof. Dr. Hala Yousry, Professor of Sociology at the Desert Research Center and Rapporteur of the Rural Women’s Committee, Prof. Dr. Hassan Abul Naga, International Expert in Water Security and Sustainable Development, Prof. Dr. Alaa Mohamed El-Bably, d. Samir Tantawy, climate change consultant at the United Nations, member of the International Panel on Climate Change, and former director of the Land and Water Research Institute.
Facing environmental challenges
Prof. Dr. Noha Donia, Dean of the Faculty, explained during the workshop that nature-based solutions are considered one of the important methods for facing environmental and social challenges in Egypt and around the world, adding that these solutions aim to exploit and enhance natural processes to solve the problems surrounding us, such as air pollution. water, and biodiversity degradation.
Promote biodiversity
During his speech, Dr. Eng. Hassan Abul-Naga, workshop coordinator and international expert in water security and sustainable development, touched on methods of generalizing nature-based solutions in Egypt, stressing that these nature-based solutions rely on the use of landscapes and ecosystems to provide multiple benefits, such as improving air and water quality. These solutions could include creating parks and natural areas in cities, restoring wetlands, and developing sustainable agricultural projects.
He pointed out that Egypt can achieve sustainable development to balance human needs and preserve the environment. This requires comprehensive collaboration between governments, institutions and local communities to develop and implement these solutions and ensure their long-term success.
Dr. reviewed. Mohamed Al-Hajry, Head of the Irrigation and Drainage Unit at the Desert Research Centre, Project Leader for Nature-Based Innovative and Improved Solutions for Sustainable Urban Water (NICE) stated that this project aims to expand the availability of improved natural solutions (nice-based solutions) to provide solutions for the urban water cycle.
Adding that the project will provide basic knowledge to design and implement nature-based solutions, close water cycles (loops) in urban areas, and make solutions available and reusable for water for various purposes, in addition to mitigating pollution and surface runoff and forming an attractive and integral part of the urban landscape. The project strategy is based on the comprehensive study of existing nature-based solutions, along with research and development of nature-based solutions in cities (Cairo, Bordeaux, Ostrava).
Dr. touched. Samir Tantawy, a consultant on climate change at the United Nations and a member of the International Panel on Climate Change, former director of the Land and Water Research Institute of the axis of adaptation to existing climate changes without prejudice to the axis of mitigation of carbon emissions.
He also gave a presentation in which he shed light on the strategic axes in terms of adapting to these changes, which were adopted by the Egyptian Ministry of Environment, and the objectives of this strategy, which include Egypt becoming a carbon neutral country, enhancing climate resilience and adaptive governance with climate changes.
Develop a strategic plan for adaptation
He pointed out that many ministries in Egypt have become members of the National Council for Climate Change, and Egypt has finished developing a strategic plan to adapt and mitigate the effects of these changes and confront the threats that Egypt may face.
Engineer Mohamed Wagih, a smart city engineer, gave a lecture on the most important technological means and devices that help reduce waste of water resources, which are used in smart and green cities and modern water plants, which contributes to greatly reducing climate changes and helps achieve Egypt’s agenda regarding the smart cities file. .
I directed dr. Hala Yousry, Professor of Sociology at the Desert Research Center and Rapporteur of the Rural Women’s Committee, advises researchers, especially in the environmental field, that they have to think in a new way outside the box to reach scientific research that is widely applied on the ground, stressing that they have a great societal responsibility, and at the conclusion of the workshop A panel discussion and an interactive session were held for the participants.