But while Egyptians may be less responsible for global warming, Egypt is one of the most vulnerable to its imminent consequences. Even in the most favourable scenarios predicted by climatologists (where global temperatures will rise by only about 1.5 degrees by the end of this century), Egypt is facing sea level rise of about 1-1.25 meters, which would occupy most of Alexandria, Port Said and parts closest to the Nilets Mediterranean. Once again, I am amused by the lack of transparency and the absence of climate change as a living subject in our daily lives, and I wonder about the reasons for this silence. Could this be related to the fact that climate change will affect the poorest and most vulnerable Egyptians long before they affect the rich and privileged? Why does the Egyptian government, alone and “behind the scenes”, seem to be working on adaptation strategies instead of openly involving and thus strengthening those who will be directly affected? And why not ask for more? At this point, I have even more questions than answers. Tourism around the Red Sea and its rapid development could have a significant impact on the region`s ecosystem – Photo: NASA Earth Observatory CAIRO – Two years after Egypt joined other nations as a signatory to the 2016 Paris Agreement, many questions remain about what the Egyptian government intends to do to adapt to some of the inevitable consequences of climate change. Among the measures mentioned in the declaration are efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from all sectors, cooperation with European countries for the transfer of technologies to improve energy efficiency, public awareness, support for sustainable development and the gradual increase in the use of renewable energy sources. The Dabaa nuclear power plant project, in cooperation with Russia, is one of those projects to help Egypt abandon fossil fuels. While official public documents give the impression that the Egyptian government is committed to playing a leading role in the field of climate change, the official documents available to the public are very broad. Similarly, the Department of the Environment`s annual environmental reports provide little detail. This makes it quite difficult for a concerned citizen to judge whether the measures being considered are appropriate. Reading these documents, I wonder exactly how the coasts of coastal Alexandria are protected from sea level rise. Will a sea wall be built? Will some kind of pumping and drainage system be put in place? To what extent are we confident that the solutions chosen will be effective? How are they funded? How can we ensure compliance with the various emission policies? The estimated total economic loss to Egypt due to a sea level rise of 1.25 meters is more than $4 billion. This estimate does not even take into account the impact on Red Sea tourism, which is more difficult to predict.
An increase in the frequency of coral diseases and coral bleaching over the next 50 years due to heat could decimate Coral Reefs in the Red Sea, which could no longer make them attractive to tourists, which could result in a further loss of millions of dollars in annual income and thousands of jobs.