3rd Day of COP27 Witnesses International Initiatives

Saudi delegation attending a session at COP27 (AP)

The third day of the UN's climate change summit (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh witnessed several international proposals and initiatives in an effort to solve the exacerbating environmental crises.

The participants discussed the Blue Mediterranean Partnership, which focuses on the Mediterranean countries and their marine environments and "displacement related to climate change," seeking to boost efforts to protect the climate.

During a session attended by Asharq Al-Awsat on promoting solutions to the climate-related displacement crisis, the speakers stressed that the opportunities offered by the summit take into account the economic damages that are reflected on displaced persons due to climate change.

They also discussed the countries that suffer from displacement problems.

The attendees stressed the importance of international initiatives that include the affected countries as part of the societal contribution to cooperate in solving the repercussions of climate crises on economic indicators.

On the sidelines of the summit, the Minister of Peacebuilding in South Sudan, Stephen Par Kuol, told Asharq Al-Awsat that his country currently suffers from climate change, unlike the countries who discuss the future impact of the problem.

Par Kuol noted that an essential aspect of attending COP27 is to find solutions through international cooperation and the initiatives that have been launched or will be launched during the conference.

He hoped the discussions would consider the people economically and socially affected by the crisis.

Meanwhile, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Investment Bank (EIB), and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) announced the creation of the Blue Mediterranean Partnership.

The Partnership aims to support the development of a sustainable blue economy in the EU's Southern Neighborhood countries in the Mediterranean region.

The Blue Mediterranean Partnership is the partners' response to the commitments made at the EU level to integrate the blue economy into the Green Deal fully, the priorities outlined in the EU's new Agenda for the Mediterranean, the Union for the Mediterranean ministerial declaration on sustainable blue economy and the UfM blue economy agenda as well as to the environmental challenges faced by the Mediterranean region.

The Partnership has received comprehensive political support, including from the European Commission.

It aims to bring international donors, beneficiary countries, interested financial institutions, and philanthropies to support policy reforms, attract donor funding, and mobilize public and private financing for projects initially in Egypt, Jordan, and Morocco.

Egypt Minister of Environment and COP27 Envoy Yasmine Fouad said that Egypt understands the critical importance of a sustainable blue economy for the future development of our country.

"As host of COP27, we want to stress the integral role of the seas and oceans in climate action. The proposed Blue Mediterranean Partnership is fully aligned with our new National Climate Change Strategy 2050, and we are keen to cooperate with international partners and financial institutions."

UfM Secretary General Nasser Kamel said: "We are raising the bar on our collective ambitions of governments, civil society, research, and the private sectors to ensure that maritime activities are sustainable, innovative, and job-creation oriented and address the main challenges of our times."

Kamel said that the meetings also tackle important drivers for the recovery from the pandemic and the long-term restructuring of the sector.