Nairobi, 15 January 2015 - His Excellency Sameh Shoukry, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt, today called for a post-2015 agenda with agreements that are supported by clear means of implementation that guarantee success, in a special address to the 129th Session of the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Minister Shoukry delivered his remarks as Egypt prepares to receive the coordination of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change, and just weeks ahead of the 15th Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment which will be hosted by the Egyptian government.
Congratulating UNEP on the success of the inaugural session of the United Nations Environment Assembly in June 2014, and looking ahead to 2015, the Minister recommended balance and realism as parties work together to agree upon a new global development agenda, and to reach consensus on a new legally binding and universal climate agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
"We seek a process that can build on completing the work under other tracks such as the Millennium Development Goals, and draw conclusions from lessons learned therein. We should be wary of seeking agreements that carry commitments that cannot be implemented, but should rather focus on reaching agreements that are supported by clear means of implementation that guarantee success," he said.
UNEP, the Minister said, had Egypt's full support in fulfilling its mandate, and in particular, supporting the efforts of developing countries to address environmental challenges. He drew particular attention to the issues of drought and desertification, recommending that means be found collectively to include desertification as part of sustainable development financing in the context of the outcomes related to Rio+20.
Concluding his address, Minister Shoukry stressed the importance of South-South Cooperation as a complement to current international cooperation efforts, and reiterated the commitment of the Egyptian government to remain engaged with all parties in collective efforts to achieve sustainable development, and poverty eradication around the world.
