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Egypt hosts UNSDCF 'Planet' group meeting to adopt 2026 sustainability and environmental targets
via Egypt Today4 min read
The Egyptian Ministry of Local Development and Environment hosted a meeting of the "Planet" group under the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework UNSDCF to review 2025 achievements and adopt priorities and an implementation plan for 2026. This initiative supports the Egyptian government's efforts in sustainable natural resource management, climate change adaptation, circular economy transition, and sustainable urban development. Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development and Environment, emphasized the need for stronger coordination with development partners. Ambassador Raouf Saad, Advisor to the Minister on Multilateral Agreements, highlighted that environmental and climate change issues are cross-cutting challenges requiring an integrated approach to enhance resilience and mitigate impacts. In 2025, programs improved natural resource use for approximately 2.4 million citizens, reclaimed 9,573 hectares of land, and enabled 181,000 smallholder farmers to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices. Integrated land and water management systems in 12 governorates reduced irrigation water consumption by up to 20 percent and increased crop productivity by 15 percent. Climate change adaptation efforts included developing 11 national policies for disaster risk reduction and extending early warning services to over 2.1 million citizens. In the circular economy, 17 national policies were developed, reducing over 334,000 tons of pollutants and saving 33.7 mill
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Egypt Today.
Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptians Abroad Dr. Badr Abdelatty, and Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Hakan Fidan, held a telephone call on Saturday to discuss enhancing Egyptian-Turkish relations and exchanging views on regional issues. Both ministers noted the rapid development of bilateral relations and committed to building on progress from the 2016 High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting, co-chaired by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and President Recep Tayyip Erdo臒an. They emphasized strengthening strategic dialogue and economic cooperation. The call also covered regional developments, with both ministers stressing de-escalation, containing tensions, and intensifying efforts to revive negotiations between the United States and Iran to achieve a final agreement through dialogue. They also discussed coordination within the regional quartet mechanism comprising Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, highlighting the importance of respecting sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-interference. Furthermore, they consulted on the Palestinian issue, rejecting displacement attempts, calling for a halt to escalation in Gaza and the West Bank, and ensuring humanitarian aid access. They also exchanged assessments on developments in Syria, Lebanon, Sudan, and Libya, underscoring the importance of supporting security, stability, unity, and sovereignty.
General Ashraf Salem Zaher, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and Minister of Defense and Military Production of Egypt, met with Guy Kabombo Muadiamvita, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense and Veterans Affairs of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on July 11, 2026. The meeting, held at the General Secretariat of the Ministry of Defense in Cairo, focused on regional and international developments affecting African security and stability, as well as strengthening bilateral military and security cooperation. General Zaher highlighted the strong ties between the two nations and the importance of continued coordination and joint action in various military fields. Mr. Muadiamvita commended Egypt's efforts in supporting African issues and promoting peace and stability, expressing a desire for further cooperation. Lieutenant General Ahmed Khalifa, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, and other senior military officials from both countries also attended the meeting.
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received Egypt鈥檚 national football team, along with their technical and administrative staff, in Alamein. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Youth and Sports Gouhar Nabil, and President of the Egyptian Football Association Eng. Hany Abu Rida. President El-Sisi awarded the team the Presidential Merit Cup and honorary decorations, recognizing their heroic performance, outstanding technical level, determination, perseverance, and discipline during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Spokesman for the Presidency Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy stated that President El-Sisi expressed pride and appreciation for the team's honorable performance, noting that this commendation reflects the general sentiment among Egyptians, the Arab world, and international communities. The President lauded the team's noble values and stressed that their achievement represents commendable effort and dedication for Egypt. He emphasized that sport is not just about winning, but also about earning respect, which the national team achieved. President El-Sisi highlighted that the team admirably represented Egypt鈥檚 youth, bringing joy to citizens. He also commended their performance as a reflection of Egyptians' ability to succeed and underlined the importance of impartial talent scouts to identify and support promising young players, affirming the State's readiness to back national coaching staff. The President encouraged continued hard work, pre