President of COP24 Barcelona Convention Abo Sena: Egypt advances blue economy projects, prioritizes eco-friendly ports

CAIRO – 8 December 2025: Dr. Ali Abo Sena, Head of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) and the President of the COP24 Barcelona Convention, said that the transition toward green ports is “the coming phase,” as ports worldwide will soon be classified based on their environmental performance.

In an interview with Egypt Today on the sidelines of the mettings of the COP 24- Barcelona Convention in Cairo in the period between December 2-5, Abo Sena added that this classification will have major economic implications, influencing shipping companies’ decisions on which ports to use. 

He noted that there is a coordination mechanism involving all relevant ministries and national authorities, not only the Ministry of Environment but also bodies such as the Suez Canal Authority.

Commenting on the participation of Admiral Osama Rabie, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), and officials from the maritime transport sector, Abo Sena highlighted the relevance of the MARPOL Convention, which regulates ships’ use of environmentally friendly fuels and their impact on waterways. He said the involvement of the Suez Canal Authority and maritime transport entities is essential, especially as global regulations under the IMO and MARPOL continue to evolve.

Abo Sena confirmed that the COP24 Barcelona Convention serves as a coordination framework among participating countries, providing technical support and facilitating financing for major blue economy projects. These include large-scale initiatives such as the construction of environmentally friendly ports. These projects require investments worth billions of Egyptian pounds, as well as efforts to combat marine pollution.

Abo Sena explained that funding for such projects relies heavily on bilateral cooperation, noting the recently signed strategic partnership between Egypt and the European Union. Through this partnership, Egypt seeks to encourage private-sector investments in environmental projects. 

Additionally, he noted that obtaining grant-based funding has become increasingly difficult under current global conditions; therefore, economic partnerships, often in the form of soft loans, have become the more practical alternative. “The key priority,” he stressed, “is setting clear national priorities for funding.”

In response to a question about reconciling development goals with environmental protection, Abo Sena said this balance is at the core of the Ministry’s work. He stressed the importance of evaluating every developmental project from all angles, including its potential environmental impact. “Some projects may offer limited economic returns but pose significant environmental risks,” he explained. For this reason, environmental impact assessment studies are carried out to ensure that development does not come at the expense of ecological sustainability.