Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of Environment, held a meeting with the team managing the ‘Green Sharm’ project to follow up on the implementation status and latest updates in Sharm El-Sheikh. The project aims to transform Sharm El-Sheikh into a sustainable green city through various environmental and developmental initiatives including renewable energy expansion, waste management, eco-tourism support, and sustainable transportation.

The minister emphasized the importance of the project as an umbrella for multiple initiatives such as improving energy efficiency, waste management, supporting eco-tourism, and sustainable transport, aiming to make Sharm El-Sheikh a leading model for green cities and sustainable tourism in Egypt.

The project manager, Engineer Mohamed Aliwa, reviewed the implementation progress and key achievements, including baseline environmental studies, investment opportunity assessments, sustainable development performance indicators, and strategic environmental assessments for key nature reserves. The project also launched two digital applications for marine life monitoring and electronic permitting.

More than 50 hotels have been supported through environmental management system reviews, installation of 900 solar-powered lighting poles, solar panel installations in 12 hotels, and energy efficiency programs in hotel rooms. Local communities received training in handicrafts and economic empowerment, while new nature protection workers and hotel staff were trained in sustainable environmental management.

Waste management improvements include projects for electronic waste and used oils in hotels and new technologies for handling plastic waste.

At the meeting’s conclusion, the minister directed the activation of the initiative to reduce single-use plastic bags, providing technical support and suitable alternatives, and urged the swift completion and launch of investment plans for Sharm El-Sheikh’s nature reserves ‘Nabq, Ras Mohamed, and Abu Galum.’

The ‘Green Sharm’ project is implemented by the Environmental Affairs Agency of the Ministry of Environment, in partnership with South Sinai Governorate and in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), focusing on reducing carbon emissions and conserving natural resources in the city.