Alexandria University: Alexandria University Organizes “Climate Changes and Green Transformation” Symposium in Presence of Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, Climate Change Champion for Egypt in COP27

Saturday the 29th of October 2022, Alexandria University held a symposium on “Climate Change and Green Transformation: The Vision of Alexandria University”, in the presence of Professor Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa, President of Alexandria University, and Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, High-Level Climate Change Champion for the Egyptian Presidency to the United Nations Convention for Climate Change COP27 and the UN Special Envoy on Financing 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. Among the attendees were also current and former university presidents and vice presidents, deans and vice-deans of faculties, faculty members, members of the House of Representatives and Senate, heads of business associations, civil society and unions in Alexandria, presidents and representatives of boards of directors of industrial companies in Alexandria, in addition to a group of specialists, and university students.

In his speech, Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa welcomed Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin to the University of Alexandria, stressing that climate change has become one of the most important issues that affect the path of development, and that the shift to green industry is the locomotive for sustainable development. He pointed out the participation of Alexandria University in this important file at the COP27 climate conference, through its professors and specialized centres, presenting its vision and suggestions to decision makers. Dr. Konsowa also highlighted the cooperation between Alexandria University and many partners at the governmental, academic, and industrial levels regarding the issue of climate change, and he said that Alexandria University has prepared 9 projects in the field of environmental sustainability, in collaboration with several universities and scientific bodies to participate in the COP27 climate conference. These projects include the use of green hydrogen and green ammonia in the fertilizer industry in cooperation with the Egyptian Chemical Industries Company (Kima), the establishment of the Alexandria University Company for Energy and Water Services, the localization of the electric car industry inside Egypt through the design and manufacture of the electric bus and the electric car, the role of the Suez Canal in reducing carbon emissions on the global level, the establishment of the Alexandria University Centre for the blue-green economy, the role of Egypt as a regional centre for Energy, the production of green and grey hydrogen, the establishment of the Electronic Components Manufacturing Centre, in addition to the establishment of the Alexandria University Centre for Sustainable Development, with the aim of achieving sustainable development goals within the Alexandria University campus in order to turn it into a green university.

For his part, Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin expressed his pleasure to be a guest of the prestigious Alexandria University, stressing that the nine projects presented by Alexandria University at COP27 reflect great efforts and fruitful work in which all dimensions of each project are integrated through scientific research, the practical implementation of the project, and the presence of an industrial partner. Mohieldin outlined several climate action priorities that should be focused on during the coming period, stressing the need to adopt a comprehensive and integrated approach that addresses the climate crisis within the framework of sustainable development, including providing investments also in the water and energy sectors, which contributes to facing extreme poverty and providing job opportunities. He also stressed on the importance of the idea of localizing development with the aim of community participation, referring to the National Green Projects Initiative under the auspices of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Republic, as the first national initiative of its kind at the governorate level, to select the best projects in each of the 27 governorates of Egypt, to confirm the community’s participation in the grand project of hosting COP27, that is considered the largest event in terms of attendance and representation on the global level, through the presence of heads of state, heads of governments and ministers, as well as civil society in its various organizations and companies, in addition to research and scientific centers.
He also referred to the Egyptian presidency’s adoption of several projects throughout the current year in which Egypt assumes the presidency of the COP27, to achieve benefit not only for the purposes of climate action, but also for development purposes.

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While Dr. Essam Wahba, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Engineering for Graduate Studies and Research Affairs, gave a presentation on the vision of Alexandria University and the nine projects through which Alexandria University will participate in the Climate Conference, stressing that the university’s projects witness cooperation and integration between three main partners: the academic community that provides creativity and innovation, the industrial community, and state executive and legislative institutions. Dr. Wahba pointed out the establishment of a solar energy plant within the Faculty of Engineering premises, in cooperation with the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce through Euro-Mediterranean support, as part of the transformation of Alexandria University into a green campus.
The President of the University and Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin listened to a number of comments and questions from the attendees, which contribute to presenting more ideas at the COP27 summit.

At the end of the symposium, the President of the University honoured Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin in appreciation of his efforts in the various tasks he accomplished during his various positions throughout his years of service.