The International Conference on Evaluating Climate Change and Development Comes to a Close
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Alexandria—
On Tuesday, 13 May 2008, the International Conference on Evaluating Climate Change and Development came to a close. The Conference was held under the auspices of Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak, Chairperson of the BA Board of Trustees and attended by almost 250 participants from Egypt and the Arab World.
The closing session, which was devoted to a discussion between experts, public and media, started with screening the American documentary film The Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore, Former United States Vice President. Al Gore was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2007, jointly with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), for his efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change.
The documentary, was followed by a session attended by Dr. Mostafa Kamal Tolba, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP); Dr. Fatma Denton, IPCC Foundation; Dr. Michael Cernea, Senior Adviser to the World Bank in Social Policy and Sociology; Dr. Holly Dublin, Chair of the IUCN’s Species Survival Commission; and Dr. Robert D. Van Den Berg, President, International Steering Committee for Global Environment Facility (GEF).
Dr. Berg summed up the Conference’s recommendations on assessing international efforts to face the issue of climate change. Dr. Tolba stated that Egypt lays among the countries most affected by climate change, although it is one of the least countries producing greenhouse effects.
Dr. Tolba added that developing countries, most affected by climate change, have no capabilities to cope with or overcome the negative consequences of that phenomenon, unlike developed countries. Thus, it is the responsibility of rich countries to help less developed countries technologically and financially in this respect.
Dr. Tolba also pointed out that Egypt is suffering from numerous problems due to greenhouse effects, including: rise in the sea level, which threatens Egypt’s North Coast and its humanitarian and economic consequences; soil and agricultural development degradation; lack of water resources; and the occurrence of epidemic diseases, such as Malaria.
Dr. Tolba suggested the establishment of a virtual center, hosted by the BA or Egyptian Cabinet Information and Decision Support Center, bringing together a number of scientists and researchers to collect data and statistics on the phenomenon of climate change, to study its negative effects on Egypt, and to report to decision-makers.
Dr. Denton stated that the battle to reduce greenhouse effects is not fought only by science and scientists, it should involve civil society, media, decision makers and people at large. She added that Al Gore’s film is a good example, since he was able to raise people’s awareness on the issue of climate change. One of the participants suggested producing an Arabic film, similar to Al Gore’s film, to raise public awareness in the Arab World.
In conclusion, Participants agreed to join hands internationally to confront the phenomenon of climate change affecting humanity at large.