Cairo, Egypt – October 12, 2025 – In celebration of Youth Adaptation Day, a key event aimed at empowering young voices in climate action, 25 young leaders from across Egypt gathered for a Youth Consultation on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and climate adaptation strategies. This event was organized in collaboration with the Environmental Compliance Office of the Federation of Egyptian Industries, and the YLE Foundation, serving as the focal point for the event.
The consultation, which took place on October 12, focused on fostering actionable recommendations from youth on how to strengthen Egypt’s climate policies. The young participants discussed critical issues in the adaptation, mitigation, and finance sectors, providing insights into how the country's NDCs could be updated to meet ambitious climate targets.
Key Themes Discussed:
1. Adaptation and Resilience
The youth discussed several pressing adaptation challenges, particularly in the agriculture sector, where they raised concerns over the impact of heatwaves and shifting agricultural seasons. They emphasized the importance of strengthening agricultural directorates and enhancing the capacity of farmers to adapt to climate changes through better knowledge and access to resources. The group also highlighted the need to provide funding to smallholders and integrate new technologies into the sector to improve resilience.
Additionally, there was a focus on infrastructure and urban resilience, particularly the importance of sustainable urban design. Key points included the need for early warning systems and the integration of green certifications and incentives into the urban planning and construction sectors.
2. Education and Youth Empowerment
The group also emphasized the importance of education and youth empowerment in tackling climate change. Discussions centered around TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) as a means to equip young people with the necessary skills to actively participate in climate action and green jobs.
3. Mitigation Targets and Renewable Energy Transition
On the mitigation side, youth discussed Egypt’s renewable energy targets and explored ways to make the transition more inclusive and accessible for all sectors of society. They proposed the development of proactive policies and steps to support the shift towards renewable energy sources, ensuring that no one is left behind in the transition to a greener economy.
4. Climate Finance Mechanisms
In the finance mechanism group, youth highlighted the need to enhance investment in the sectors most in need, particularly agriculture, renewable energy, and infrastructure. The discussion also included the creation of a dedicated unit to improve financial mapping, and a platform to connect public and private sectors, ensuring more effective financial management for climate adaptation and mitigation projects.
5. Innovation and Technology
Another key area of focus was the integration of new technologies, with discussions around how Egypt can benchmark and integrate Business-to-Business (B2B) models into the adaptation and mitigation sectors. The youth also called for enhanced incentive dynamics to encourage the adoption of green technologies.
The event concluded with a shared understanding of the importance of youth-driven solutions in shaping Egypt’s climate future. The recommendations and insights provided by the participants will be compiled into a report, which will be shared with national policymakers and used to guide the update of Egypt’s NDCs. The report will also be submitted to regional platforms, contributing to a broader African Youth NDC Network and climate action strategy.
A detailed statement summarizing the outcomes of the consultation will be released later this week, providing the full spectrum of youth recommendations for Egypt’s updated climate policies.
