About the Country

Egypt

While Egypt is party to the Paris Agreement, its NDC does not contain specific GHG mitigation targets. Instead, the NDC outlines pathways for CO2 mitigation and can be read as a signal for where the country may choose to focus, but action is conditional on international aid.

The mitigation focus-areas specified in its NDC include energy efficiency, in particular end-user efficiency, increased use of renewable energy, more efficient fossil-fuel technology, nuclear power generation, and a reform of energy subsidies. Specific mitigation measures are mentioned with respect to sectors. For industry: energy efficiency and the utilization of solar energy for water heating. For transportation a variety of actions are stated including increased public transit, improvements to road transport efficiency for freight, and freight switchovers from road to river transport and from road to rail transport. For agriculture: energy efficiency improvements. For residential and commercials sectors: energy efficiency and the utilization of solar energy for water heating. For electricity: energy efficiency as well as nuclear and renewable energy use for power generation. And finally for petroleum, its main mitigation measure is energy efficiency. Further, it refers to several technology requirements for mitigation, including CCS, co-utilization of fossil fuel and biomass in plants, and co-generation plants.

Egypt is still at very early stages of mitigation action but its decision to join the Paris Agreement shows an indication of both future regulation as well as incentives to attract renewable energy investment. So far, there has been more of the later—activities aimed at establishing a favorable market for local and foreign private investment—whereas regulation is still slow. Notably, in 2008 the country set a target of generating 20% of electricity from renewable sources by 2020, 12% of which (or 7,200MW) to be generated by wind farms. However, even as energy efficiency is called out as a mitigation strategy for several sectors, little policy has been developed in that area.

Take Action

Commit to double energy productivity

Forward-looking companies are realising the transformational benefits of setting an ambitious energy productivity goal, while making a vital contribution in the transition to a low-carbon economy.

The benefits range from huge cost savings and improved energy security, to driving innovation throughout the company. And crucially, many companies are achieving an immediate impact on profitability as well as safeguarding future returns.

Companies can seize these opportunities by committing to double energy productivity through the EP100 initiative, brought to you by The Climate Group in partnership with the Alliance to Save Energy.

Take Action

Join the Low Carbon Technology Partnerships initiative

The Low Carbon Technology Partnerships initiative (LCTPi) is comprised of over 160 companies and 70 partners that are committed to accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Led by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and supported by We Mean Business partners, LCTPi offers a collaborative platform for businesses and policymakers to scale up deployment of business solutions to a level and speed that are consistent with limiting global warming to below 2°C.

Take Action

Commit to 100% renewable power

Forward-looking companies are harnessing the benefits of transitioning to 100% renewable power, including cost reduction, increased innovation and reputational gains.

By transitioning electricity needs to renewable sources, businesses are also playing a crucial role in driving the creation of a thriving, global market for renewable generation – a game-changer in reducing emissions.

Companies committed to 100% renewable power will be invited to join RE100 brought to you by The Climate Group in partnership with CDP. RE100 is a global, collaborative initiative uniting influential businesses committed to using 100% renewable electricity.

Take Action

Commit to implement the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures

Climate change poses serious risks to the global economy. Nonetheless, investors and financial markets lack clear and comparable information about which companies or assets are most exposed to this issue and which are best prepared.

To address this issue, companies are encouraged to commit to implement the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). The TCFD has published recommendations for reporting climate-related financial information in mainstream reports (annual financial filings).

Companies, investors and financial organizations globally are encouraged to implement the recommendations to allow a more efficient allocation of capital, improve the dialogue among all financial players and support a smooth and rapid transition to a low-carbon economy.

Take Action

Adopt a science-based emissions reduction target

Leading businesses recognise the opportunity – and the imperative – to be part of the low-carbon transition. Their future growth and competitiveness hinges on it.

By setting clear, ‘science-based’ emissions reduction targets, companies ensure their plans for carbon reduction meet the level of ambition needed to limit the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C.

Science-based targets enable companies to play their part in achieving this goal while harnessing climate action as a driver of innovation, competitiveness, risk management and growth.

Companies can develop targets via the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The SBTi is a collaboration between CDP, World Resources Institute (WRI), the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) and the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC).