Egypt - Gender Equality and Climate Change : Background Note to the Climate Change and Development Report (English)

Egypt's National Climate Change Strategy 2050, launched in May 2022 sets out an ambitious and comprehensive 324-billion-dollar plan to support a stronger, greener Egyptian economy. The Strategy integrates the climate change dimension into the general planning of all sectors in the country, especially in areas such as energy, transportation, agriculture, and water resources. In addition, the climate summit COP27 held in Egypt in November 2022 gave new impetus to Egypt's path to green transformation when the Government announced a 500 million dollars deal with Germany, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the U.S. to shrink its fossil gas consumption and expand renewable energy. COP27 also underscored the need for countries to secure prosperity and decent jobs while delivering on the goals of greening the economy through a just transition. Egypt has committed to turning climate action into an economic and social development opportunity, for example, by reskilling and skilling workers in many new jobs in the green economy, enhancing resilience and adaptive capacity to climate change, and alleviating the associated negative impacts. This policy brief aims to contribute to the discussion on how gender equality can become an integral part of green economy strategies in Egypt and how equal access for women and men to decent green jobs can be enhanced. The brief also aims to discuss and move forward the agenda on delivering a gender transformative and inclusive just transition in climate-related issues. It provides an overview of the gendered impacts of climate change in selected vulnerable sectors in Egypt and highlights women's role in climate resilience while identifying barriers and opportunities for gender-responsive climate action.