Governance and Institutional Structure of Climate Change in Egypt
49
• Non-Governmental Organizations: It has been estimated that, in Egypt, there are
more than 200 NGOs that work in environmental protection in general, some of
them focus on climate change issues.
3 Environmental Policies and Legislation in Egypt
All Egypt’s economic sectors are linked in one way or another with climate change
because they emit greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or are themselves impacted
by climate change. Notable industries include energy, transport, urban communities, water, agriculture, health and tourism. Integration of the environmental policies
to include the concerns of different sectors is a major challenge in the country. In
response to this challenge, Egypt has paid much attention to environmental legislation. Examples of the most important laws include Law No. 48 of 1982 (better
known as the Nile Protection Law) and Law No. 4 of 1994, which was amended
in 1999 to include 104 articles regulating the various means of environmental work
in different sectors. The latest amendments to the Egyptian constitution, passed in
2011, included the addition of Article 59, which states that environmental protection
is a national duty and that the measures necessary to protect the environment shall
be governed by law.
• Law 4/1994 is considered the first environmental protection law that describes
the mandate of the Ministry of Environment and the Egyptian Environmental
Affairs Agency (EEAA). The law concentrates on: Developing and following up
on policies, plans and standards for environmental protection;
• Running pilot projects and promoting economic incentives, which respectively
demonstrate and facilitate improved environmental performance;
• Conducting studies, monitoring, and supporting other bodies in their environmental monitoring duties;
• Preparing an environmental contingency plan for confronting environmental disasters and implementing a national system of Environmental Impact Assessment;
• Establishing natural protectorates, and managing bio-diversity within and outside
these areas;
• Coordinating and following up on international environmental relations and
obligations, preparing programs for environmental education.
The EEAA also introduced amendments to be included in a new environmental
Law 9/2009 that address main gaps and challenges that were identified in Law 4/1994.
Moreover, the Prime Minister renewed the “National Committee for Climate
Change” (established in 1997) by his Decree No. 272 in 2007. It is the Minister
of Environment that heads the new Inter-Ministerial National Committee for Climate Change. The members represent a wide range of governmental, experts and
non-governmental stakeholders, demonstrating a movement more towards improved
integration. Furthermore, the Ministry of Environment scaled up the “Climate Change
49
• Non-Governmental Organizations: It has been estimated that, in Egypt, there are
more than 200 NGOs that work in environmental protection in general, some of
them focus on climate change issues.
3 Environmental Policies and Legislation in Egypt
All Egypt’s economic sectors are linked in one way or another with climate change
because they emit greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or are themselves impacted
by climate change. Notable industries include energy, transport, urban communities, water, agriculture, health and tourism. Integration of the environmental policies
to include the concerns of different sectors is a major challenge in the country. In
response to this challenge, Egypt has paid much attention to environmental legislation. Examples of the most important laws include Law No. 48 of 1982 (better
known as the Nile Protection Law) and Law No. 4 of 1994, which was amended
in 1999 to include 104 articles regulating the various means of environmental work
in different sectors. The latest amendments to the Egyptian constitution, passed in
2011, included the addition of Article 59, which states that environmental protection
is a national duty and that the measures necessary to protect the environment shall
be governed by law.
• Law 4/1994 is considered the first environmental protection law that describes
the mandate of the Ministry of Environment and the Egyptian Environmental
Affairs Agency (EEAA). The law concentrates on: Developing and following up
on policies, plans and standards for environmental protection;
• Running pilot projects and promoting economic incentives, which respectively
demonstrate and facilitate improved environmental performance;
• Conducting studies, monitoring, and supporting other bodies in their environmental monitoring duties;
• Preparing an environmental contingency plan for confronting environmental disasters and implementing a national system of Environmental Impact Assessment;
• Establishing natural protectorates, and managing bio-diversity within and outside
these areas;
• Coordinating and following up on international environmental relations and
obligations, preparing programs for environmental education.
The EEAA also introduced amendments to be included in a new environmental
Law 9/2009 that address main gaps and challenges that were identified in Law 4/1994.
Moreover, the Prime Minister renewed the “National Committee for Climate
Change” (established in 1997) by his Decree No. 272 in 2007. It is the Minister
of Environment that heads the new Inter-Ministerial National Committee for Climate Change. The members represent a wide range of governmental, experts and
non-governmental stakeholders, demonstrating a movement more towards improved
integration. Furthermore, the Ministry of Environment scaled up the “Climate Change