Egypt and Vodafone signed an MoU under which the British multinational telecommunications company will be the Principle Partner for Communications for the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), which is set to be held in Sharm El-Sheikh city in November.
As a principal partner for COP27, Vodafone Group will showcase the company's initiatives and programmes on the environment, a statement by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs quoted Nick Read, Vodafone Group CEO, as saying.
Vodafone will work to provide advanced communications services to link the conference and its participants based on the latest communications services and digital networks.
During its presence at COP27, Vodafone will also showcase the latest developments and achievements regarding the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) achieved by the company, Read said.
Vodafone will be the only mobile operator and principle partner during COP27, the ministry said, adding that the company will also showcase digital technology solutions that are relied upon in the different sectors, including the Internet of Things (IoT).
This aims to enable society to save energy, establish cities that are more eco-friendly, and raise the efficiency of relevant sectors, at top of which are the agriculture and transportation sectors.
Egypt's foreign minister and president-designate of COP27 Sameh Shoukry hailed Vodafone's preparations for the conference, expressing aspiration for continued cooperation with the company to achieve success during the conference.
Shoukry also stressed that global mega-companies play a large role in supporting international efforts to achieve the 2030 SDGs.
Choosing Vodafone as a partner
The ministry said that Vodafone is considered one of the first companies to show a commitment to reducing carbon emissions by 2030 and achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2040.
The ministry added that Vodafone seeks to become the first mobile operator that works fully with eco-friendly technology in the near future.
Vodafone Egypt CEO Mohamed Abdallah said that Vodafone has supported international and local initiatives to face climate change, including recycling and solar power stations in several Egyptian governorates.
This is in addition to launching a strategic partnership with the Ministry of the Environment and supporting the ministry's Ethadar lel Akhdar (Be Civilised to the Green) initiative.
Vodafone has endorsed these initiatives as part of its full and continued support for the Egypt National Climate Change Strategy (NCCS) 2050, Abdallah added.
Tackling climate change impacts
Vodacom Group, Vodafone Group’s sub-Saharan African subsidiary, said it will engage with the Egyptian government, business, and civil society to tackle the negative impacts of climate change in Africa, especially regarding food security, a statement by the subsidiary said.
"As a technology company, our digital solutions and capabilities play a critical role in helping society to mitigate and adapt against climate change impacts," the company quoted Vodacom Group CEO Shameel Joosub as saying in a statement today.
He added that the company is looking forward to engaging on the Internet of Things during COP27 to accelerate the fight against climate change.
“The Internet of Things (IoT) for instance, is key in saving energy, creating cleaner and more efficient communities and enabling sectors such as agriculture to be more efficient and sustainable,” Joosub said.
For his part, Read said COP27 is a crucial opportunity for the entire world to work on expediting the climate action plan and the process of taking the necessary measures to face the state of international climate emergency.
Success in various sectors and reliance on the latest digital technologies should not come at the expense of the environment and climate, Read stated.
Egypt is preparing to host COP27 from 6 to 18 November in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh, which Egypt plans to turn into a green city, with green projects being the linchpin of the country's preparations for the conference.
Egypt will also call for stepping up efforts to implement the Paris Agreement on climate change and turn the international climate pledges into actions on the ground.
Egypt has also said it will coordinate with all African countries to set a clear map for climate action on the global and regional levels as well as enhancing access to financial resources for African countries through COP27.
Egypt also plans to focus on the green recovery agenda and supporting Africa’s efforts to contain the impacts of the ongoing relevant challenges.