Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Egypt’s Minister of Environment, met with Dr. Ghada Wali, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), to discuss enhancing cooperation in combating environmental crimes at local, regional, and international levels.

The meeting took place during Dr. Wali’s 22nd official visit to Egypt, alongside other officials, including representatives from the Middle East Office and experts in criminal justice.

Dr. Fouad welcomed Dr. Wali at the Ministry’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital. They discussed collaborative efforts related to environmental crimes and preparations for the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, and the ongoing UN Conference on Biological Diversity (COP16) in Cali, Colombia.

The Minister emphasized the need to integrate criminal justice responses into the agendas of environmental conventions, highlighting that environmental crimes, such as pollution and deforestation, significantly impact cl
imate change. She noted that the upcoming Conference of the Parties to Combat Desertification, hosted by Saudi Arabia, would be an important platform to address the link between environmental crimes and desertification.

Additionally, Dr. Fouad stressed the importance of including criminal justice measures in regional agreements, particularly the Convention for the Protection of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, which aims to safeguard biodiversity in the region. She also discussed initiatives to combat hazardous waste crimes, proposing a pilot project in the Red Sea in collaboration with UNODC.

Dr. Wali praised the Ministry’s efforts and emphasized the need for ongoing collaboration to address environmental crimes, including illegal waste disposal and wildlife protection. She expressed UNODC’s commitment to support Egypt in enhancing law enforcement capabilities against environmental offenses and building on initiatives from COP27 and COP28 in preparation for COP29.

Source: State Information Service Egypt