Egypt on Monday hosted an introductory workshop for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), underscoring its push to strengthen the role of Global South scientists in producing climate knowledge and informing evidence-based policymaking.
The workshop was opened by Acting Minister of Environment Manal Awad as part of Egypt’s efforts to develop its national adaptation plan, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Green Climate Fund, the environment ministry said.
The event was attended by Bart Vanden Hurk, co-chair of IPCC Working Group II, UNDP Resident Representative Chitose Noguchi, along with scientists, climate experts and government officials.
Awad said hosting the workshop reflects Egypt’s conviction that science must underpin policymaking and that research should be closely linked to public policy outcomes. She stressed that developing countries should play an active role in generating global climate knowledge, rather than remaining passive recipients of externally produced assessments.
She highlighted Egypt’s efforts to expand the participation of Arab, African and Global South scientists in IPCC assessment processes as authors and reviewers, helping to address gaps in data availability and research capacity and ensuring that climate policies better reflect the realities of regions most vulnerable to climate change.
According to Awad, Egypt’s national adaptation plan prioritises strengthening scientific capacity, advancing climate research and deploying technology, in line with the country’s Climate Change Strategy 2050 and Egypt Vision 2030.
Vanden Hurk said the IPCC’s city-focused work examines climate impacts such as rising temperatures, flooding and sandstorms, noting that new assessment reports are scheduled for release in March 2027.
Noguchi praised Egypt’s progress on climate adaptation and stressed the importance of aligning policy measures with adequate financing to protect vulnerable sectors. She noted that UNDP-supported initiatives have helped fund the protection of around 1,200 kilometres of Egypt’s Mediterranean coastline, adding that further support is planned for Damietta governorate through French financing.
