Abu dhabi: Acting Environment Minister Manal Awad emphasized the importance of nature-based solutions as a vital tool in addressing climate change and protecting biodiversity and natural resources.

According to State Information Service Egypt, Awad spoke at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, calling for enhanced international collaboration to launch innovative initiatives that support sustainable development and improve life quality. She underscored the ENACT initiative, introduced at the Egypt-hosted global climate conference, COP27, in 2022 by Germany and the IUCN, as a global exemplar for expanding nature-based strategies under the three Rio Conventions: climate change, biodiversity, and desertification.

Awad highlighted Egypt’s endeavors, including a coastal protection project in the Nile Delta, implemented with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF). This project, which merges national funding with a $17 million GCF grant, employs nature-based techniques to protect 69 km of shoreline, aiding approximately 750,000 people.

Additionally, she noted advancements in President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s 100 Million Trees initiative, which has seen the planting of over 10 million trees to combat climate change and enhance urban air quality.

Awad concluded her address by urging countries and organizations to join the ENACT initiative, emphasizing that widespread, sustained cooperation is crucial to achieving climate and sustainability targets.