Paris talks will be intense, Egypt to demand $70bn

Minister of Environment Khaled Fahmy said the Paris Climate Change Conference, due to open in Paris on Monday, would witness fierce talks as developed countries will be asked to shoulder their responsibilities regarding the funding of plans to meet the impact of climate change as they are the first to blame for such serious repercussions of changes in the climate.

In statements on Sunday to MENA, Fahmy said Egypt's participation in the Paris conference is to discuss the framework agreement on climate and the plans of Egypt and the African countries in this regard.

Talks in the summit will also address new and renewable energy, rationalization of power as well as solutions to the rise in temperature especially in the agricultural field and means of confronting the new types of diseases emerging from climate change, he added.

Egypt, in its capacity as head of the African Environment Ministers Conference, will seek to get dlrs 70 billion for the period from 2020 to 2030, Fahmy said, noting that Egypt's plan to face the climate changes complies with the African and Arab stances.

The minister also said Egypt has taken several steps ahead of the Paris Summit and outlined a promising strategy for the sustainable development which aims at saving up to 30 percent of energy and to reach an annual growth rate of 7 percent along with carrying out projects targeting the poor classes in the field of health and education.

Fahmy is scheduled to leave for Paris later in the day to take part in Paris Climate Change Summit. 

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi left here earlier in the day for Paris to attend the conference.(

Source: MENA