CAIRO- 15 September 2022: Foreign Minister and President-Designate of the UN Climate Change Conference 2022, COP27, Sameh Shoukry called for strengthening collective action to face climate change and transform climate pledges into a reality on the ground.

Shoukry's call came during a speech he delivered on Thursday at the Arab Regional Forum on Climate Initiatives to Finance Climate Action and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (ESCWA) in the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

The top Egyptian diplomat stressed the importance of boosting cooperation between the five regional commissions of the UN Economic and Social Council and the Egyptian presidency of the COP27, especially with regard to reducing carbon emissions that cause climate change and providing the necessary funding for countering climate change.

Shoukry reviewed Egypt's preparations for hosting the COP27 in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm El Sheikh in November and its vision for the key issues to be raised in the upcoming climate summit, notably adapting to climate change and mitigating its repercussions, as well as working to rally climate finance.

The Arab Regional Forum is one of five regional forums organized by the Egyptian Presidency of the 27th session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP27), the UN climate change high-level champions, and the five UN regional commissions.