CAIRO, Egypt: Environmental watchdogs from across Africa gathered in Cairo this week for the second African Regional Environmental Agencies Forum. The meeting, which runs from Dec. 3 to Dec. 5, aims to foster regional collaboration on conservation efforts.
The event follows the launch of the forum in Kigali, Rwanda, in 2023, under the framework of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCE). Delegates are discussing sustainable development and environmental preservation strategies in the face of growing challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss.
The forum, hosted at the Intercontinental Citystars Cairo Hotel, is organized by the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Africa Regional Office in partnership with the Arab and European Regional Centre for Environment and Development’s African Sustainability Programme.
Dr. Immaculate Sware Semesi, Director General of Tanzania’s National Environment Management Council (NEMC), is among the key participants. She emphasized the importance of regional unity in addressing shared environmental challenges, stating, “This forum provides a critical platform to exchange ideas and strengthen collaboration for sustainable development across Africa.”
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According to NEMC, This year’s forum is being organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in collaboration with the Africa Sustainability Programme (ASP) of the Center for Environment and Development for the Arab and European Region.
During her opening speech, Egypt’s Minister for Environment Yasmine Fouad emphasized the significance of integrating science and policies to effectively utilize information and data for finding solutions and opportunities for the African environment.
The forum brings together heads of Environmental Protection Agencies (EPAs), directors of environmental departments from African nations, members of the Africa Group within UNEP’s Committee of Permanent Representatives, and international experts with the aim to address pressing environmental challenges across the continent.