Monday, 25 May 2026
Source: Egypt’s Cabinet Facebook page
Egypt and Mexico strengthen environmental cooperation amid global challenges
Egypt’s Minister of Environment, Dr. Yasmine Fouad, welcomed Mexico’s Ambassador to Egypt, H.E. Leonora Rueda Gutierrez, for high-level discussions on enhancing bilateral and multilateral cooperation to address pressing environmental challenges.
During the meeting, Ambassador Rueda congratulated Dr. Fouad on her recent appointment as the new Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), underscoring the critical links between desertification, climate change, and biodiversity loss—issues that deeply impact both developed and developing nations.
Ambassador Rueda expressed Mexico’s confidence in Dr. Fouad’s leadership, citing her extensive environmental expertise and highlighting the similarities between Egypt, Mexico, and other developing countries in facing such challenges.
Dr. Fouad emphasized the special relationship between Egypt and Mexico in the sphere of environmental diplomacy, especially following Egypt’s receipt of the presidency of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) from Mexico in 2018. She noted that under Mexico’s leadership, important groundwork was laid for the CBD’s Global Biodiversity Framework, further advanced during Egypt’s COP14 presidency. Both countries are collaborating bilaterally on green transformation and advancing the circular economy.
During her term heading COP14, Dr. Fouad highlighted President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s initiative to integrate the “Rio Conventions”, on climate, biodiversity, and desertification, into a unified approach, emphasizing that their interlinked challenges have historically been addressed separately. This initiative, spotlighted at the Africa-hosted CBD conference, brought attention to desertification’s threat to African nations and its connection to food security amidst biodiversity loss and climate impacts.
The Minister also spoke about the current global context, where increasing regional conflicts, environmental crises, and food security threats have elevated the urgency of desertification. She noted that despite Egypt and Mexico contributing minimally to climate change, they, like other developing nations, disproportionately bear its costs.
Looking ahead, Dr. Fouad described 2026 as a pivotal year, showcasing the credibility of multilateral action. The upcoming results of the three major UN environmental conferences, on biodiversity, climate, and desertification, will provide a major opportunity to mobilize financing through the Global Environment Facility and build momentum for collective action, she added.
Dr. Fouad highlighted the potential for Egypt and Mexico to share best practices—such as Egypt’s nature-based adaptation solutions along coastal areas, which are similarly affected by climate change in both countries. These strategies achieve climate adaptation, curb biodiversity loss, and maintain agricultural productivity and quality of life at lower costs, making them valuable models for other nations.
On the bilateral level, Dr. Fouad emphasized Egypt’s success in transforming longstanding waste management challenges into an integrated national system. With legal reforms enabling the circular economy and private sector engagement, Egypt’s experience could help inspire similar transformations in Mexico and beyond.
Ambassador Rueda expressed Mexico’s eagerness to deepen cooperation, both bilaterally and within multilateral frameworks, especially in areas such as desertification’s impact on agriculture, flood management, best farming practices, and advancing sustainability education. She affirmed that Egypt and Mexico can become strategic partners, leveraging their shared experiences to address common environmental challenges and create new economic opportunities.
This partnership, both officials agreed, stands as a model for other countries facing the dual challenge of environmental degradation and sustainable development.