Bakr: COP27 Boosts Egypt’s Capacity to Host Global Events

Reporter: Sara Fahmy

Adjunct Professor of Political Science Noha Bakr was one of many AUC faculty who actively participated in COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, a conference she describes as inclusive and vibrant.

 

“It was filled with different politicians, people from Africa, the donors, and academics,” Bakr, who gave a session organized by the Ministry of Social Solidarity on resolving the monetary regulatory system, told The Caravan.

 

The system requires companies with more than EGP 100 million financial capacity (and listed in the capital market) to operate a social responsibility utility. She also said that such companies have a responsibility for their carbon footprint and ensuring gender equality. 

 

Bakr, who holds a Ph.D. in International Relations and International Organizations from Cairo University, conducted several TV interviews while at COP27 to explain decarbonization and being net zero. She aims to educate and inform people who aren’t in Sharm El-Sheikh about the importance of the global conference, and to raise public awareness of climate change.

 

She also attended several sessions and engaged in discussions about decarbonization, zero net emissions, human rights, and agriculture.

 

But US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate Change John Kerry’s was the most memorable.

 

“Meeting important people [like John Kerry] is always inspiring,” said Bakr. 

 

Though Kerry set the bar high, she could not help but feel impressed by the local designers who worked with recycled materials, an NGO that works on up-cycling, and several Egyptian government officials with whom she had exciting and inspiring conversations. 

 

She was also moved by the energy of the global youth who were galvanized and engaged at the conference to make their voices heard about the urgency of taking action … now.

 

“Youth here are very inspiring as organizers. They are always smiling and trying to help everyone. Simply put, everyone was inspiring in their [own] way,” Bakr said. 

 

Amongst those youth, she also met many of her former students, some of who are working for the Ministry Of Foreign Affairs.

 

“I was thrilled to see my students who are now diplomats. It’s nice to see students with success stories,” she told The Caravan. 

 

AUC’s participation was vital, in Bakr’s opinion, as it had to show its capacity to contribute to the search for climate change solutions.

 

The university’s entourage was comprised of President Ahmed Dallal, Provost Ehab Abdel Rahman, Dean of Graduate Studies Adham Ramadan, several senior administrators, faculty, students, and staff who all took part in the AUC Pavillion, showcasing their ideas and projects being worked on in the heart of AUC, its lab facilities. 

 

She believes COP27 gave Egypt visibility and recognition and will help boost the country’s tourism. 

 

“It gave Egyptians a sense of pride that they can organize such a large-scale global event,” Bakr said.

 

Egypt organized COP27 on behalf of Africa – this reflects what the country is capable of in terms of advancement and striving to be more environmentally friendly, she says. 

 

“The whole experience was very rich, and I learned a lot,” she said. 

 

Hosting COP27 was a testament to Egypt’s and Africa’s acknowledgment of the dangers climate change poses to the continent.

 

The harshest drought in 40 years has led to starvation and famine for over 50 million people in East Africa. According to the United Nations, at least half of the 59 million internal migrants worldwide in 2021 were uprooted due to the effects of climate change. 

 

President of Ghana Nana Akufo said that while Africa is one of the continents that has least contributed to global warming, African youth are particularly suffering the repercussions of climate change the most.

 

“Support and join in the fight against climate change,” he said, appealing to world leaders. 

 

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi urged that the time for implementing plans has arrived. He added that the summit is known as the “implementation summit,” which should be the focus of all efforts. 

 

“We are at a fateful moment in the history of the planet, and I am confident that we are worthy of the responsibility.” 

 

They’ll fund developing countries’ plans, help them combat climate change issues, and plan their way to a more climate-friendly future. 

 

“This support, whether technological or through funding, should not be at the expense of the funding for development,” she said. 

 

“It was good to see that the world is taking climate change seriously,” explained Bakr.