Hossam Badrawi Official Website
I said: It is a model of economic development, which aims to create a relationship between man and the environment, linked to preserving natural resources from depletion and limiting environmental decline and resource depletion and the adverse impact of human activities on climate change and global warming.
His colleague said: What does this have to do with sustainable development?
I said: The concept of green sustainable growth is closely related to the concept of sustainable development, which aims to develop the land, cities, communities and businesses, provided that they meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
Another young man said: We know that you are one of the founders of the Egyptian National Competitiveness Council, so what is the relationship between green growth and competitiveness?
I said: Green growth is a measure of a country’s ability to compete based on its green advantage, taking into account previous definitions, whether in terms of tourism, agriculture or manufacturing. International studies have proven that countries with a strong environmental regulatory system are the ones that achieve the highest ranks in the global competitiveness index.
Another said: So what is the green shift?
I said: It is the transition to a low-carbon economy, characterized by the use of new and renewable energy within the framework of sustainable environmental practices. It also refers to the change in ideas, trends, values and principles, because of its economic, environmental and social benefits.
One of the dreamers said: Tell us more about the benefits of what you are calling for!!!
I said: The shift towards a green economy is an element that attracts foreign direct investment and encourages technological industries, with the importance of not looking at sustainability and environmental safety as an economic burden… as well as understanding and realizing that pollution represents a form of resource waste and inefficiency.
We have to consider the low level of energy consumption as one of the main factors that generate savings.. I am interested, as I said, for you to know that there are industries associated with the transition to a green economy, such as tourism, agriculture, manufacturing and logistics services. The concept of sustainability is linked to innovation and makes Egypt less vulnerable to future energy price shocks.
As for the environmental benefits of the transition towards a green economy, they are achieved by taking the path leading to a society that enjoys a low carbon environment, and then the transition to a green economy will be Egypt’s unique contribution to mitigating the effects of climate change.
In my opinion, the shift towards a green economy has positive effects on the health of individuals, through reducing air pollution, adopting less harmful production methods, and using cleaner water, which in turn will reduce the cost of the public health system, and thus lead to an improvement in the quality of life and achieve Better quality of life.
The young reader said: There are a number of questions that are raised to clarify and evaluate the current situation in Egypt and where we are from this transformation. Does Egypt suffer in the first place?
I said: Yes, Egypt suffers from air pollution, water pollution, underdevelopment in waste management and the deterioration of land quality.
And if Egypt does not take measures to stop this deterioration, the pressure on the country’s natural resources will increase in light of the increasing pressure resulting from the population increase, and the overexploitation of natural resources will negatively affect the quality of life for all sectors of society, especially the poor.
His colleague said: What are the advantages that Egypt possesses in this field?
I said: Renewable energy in Egypt has potentials that enable it to become a source of rapid growth. The Red Sea coast in Egypt contains highly efficient windmills, working to generate increasing amounts of renewable wind energy to the electricity grid, with the possibility of other giant projects to take advantage of wasted energy. . Egypt has the largest solar power plants in the world.. Months ago, a new giant solar power plant was opened in southern Egypt. There are other sectors that depend on green growth, such as the tourism sector, which requires more commitment to green standards, especially because the environment is distinguished by exceptional characteristics such as coral reefs, rich fossil sediments and the migration of many types of birds that can be used as a basis for a profitable tourism industry based on nature.
It was planned that Sharm El-Sheikh would be transformed into a green Sharm.. I do not know where it is from the implementation stages.. The transformation aims to use policies aimed at improving environmental sustainability, increasing energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions, and improving the efficiency of green buildings. There are also international commitments that aim for the Egyptian agricultural sector to adopt green methods with regard to fertilizers and pesticides.
A number of young people argued: What are the solutions to be adhered to?
I said: Of course, I am not a specialist, but I am a good reader, and all my answers to you are from sources of knowledge that I resort to, and from which I share with you. As far as I know, there are quick-win initiatives that are easy to implement and applicable, achieve immediate impact, and create the necessary momentum to bring about more change that ultimately leads to tangible change to preserve the environment and achieve sustainable development, such as reducing the traffic crisis.. It is internationally recognized that it is one of the most important ways To reduce waste and carbon emissions, and improve the productivity of individuals who waste unnecessary time due to traffic congestion.
As well as projects to deal with garbage and create an added value for recycling. The solid waste management initiative represents a clear and rapid manifestation of green sustainable growth, as besides the ability to create economic activity, recycling it is beneficial for health and aesthetics.
Also, the speed in rehabilitating the slums or referring them to another in a modern human style positively affects the improvement of the environment.
And I have read about the initiative to ban overfishing and defining no-fishing areas, which is a very important initiative, which aims to develop a plan to openly and effectively divide fishing areas in order to protect sensitive habitats, nurseries and breeding areas. For example, the destruction of the fisheries revolution in the Red Sea is not limited to being Wrong behavior from a legal, social and ethical point of view, b
It does not harm the sustainability of environmental resources. Not to mention the Energy Efficiency Initiative, which aims to achieve rapid gains that reduce cost and availability.
The use of thermal insulation in construction, which represents the reduction of energy consumption for heating, ventilation and air conditioning devices, which constitutes about 50% of the total consumption of the residential and commercial sector, is also a fast way.
Here we must talk about the water efficiency initiative in Egypt, which aims to achieve quick gains by using the right type of water in the right place in the appropriate manner. For example, and not limited to, consideration should be given to desalinating sea water in coastal cities and desalinating agricultural wastewater or treated wastewater that is rich in nutrients to replace Nile water for agricultural purposes, reducing waste quantities, securing water supplies, and avoiding fragility and economic and political weakness associated with water issues.
The young activist said: What are the long-term initiatives?
I said: Long-term initiatives include stimulating investments in the green economy, facilitating the production, import, export and re-export of green products and technologies, planning green cities and green buildings, providing environmentally friendly means of transportation, encouraging organic agriculture, preserving biological diversity and ecological balance in Egypt, promoting environmental education, developing green technology and relying on Clean energy is one of the most important elements for preserving the environment.
One of the young people said: Who is responsible for the successful transformation of the green economy?
I said without hesitation: It is the duty of the government, even the responsibility of society begins with informing and educating the people of the importance of this transformation.
The government must determine its path towards transition to a green economy by formulating a clear and comprehensive policy, ensuring financial support for it, and realigning the institutional legislative framework that does not allow any activity that does not take into account the environmental balance and the preservation of the rights of future generations, regardless of the temptations of the moment, with Designing an incentive system for green investments, encouraging awareness of available opportunities, raising public awareness of green technology, and establishing a follow-up system to assess the extent to which Egypt is transitioning to a greener, known and time-limited economy.
My children, the revolution that you must embrace is not a revolution of demolition and anger, but rather a revolution of human development, and its entrance is education and knowledge, a revolution working to achieve world-class health care, and a revolution in the pursuit of environmentally friendly public transportation that preserves respect for the citizen.
We have to work to ensure that Egypt occupies an advanced position for the upcoming green revolution in terms of economic, environmental and social terms, within a framework of freedom, dignity and justice in managing the country.
Egypt should lead, and set an example.
