Advertising
Supported by
Next week’s COP27 assembly will allow an indebted African country to protect the climate desires of poorer countries. But it also puts Egypt under surveillance.
Send a story to any friend.
As a subscriber, you have 10 gift pieces to offer per month. Everyone can read what you share.
By Viviane Ye
Follow our policy of the COP27 weather summit in Egypt.
CAIRO (AP) — Biodegradable straws and recycling bins, beach rides and electric buses — a blanket ban on plastic bags: For months, Egypt has given the Sharm el-Sheikh city hotel a green makeover to host a global climate convention starting Sunday.
It’s a lighthearted vision of what promises to be a complicated summit for Egypt, whose repressive policies have undermined its attempts to become a looming world climate champion.
Egypt plans to lead a crusade at this year’s meeting, known as COP27, to offset countries that have fewer global emissions but feel the most from the effects of climate change.
“We want a holistic view of African nations in their efforts to adapt to the climate update,” Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said in September at a climate update forum.
But Egypt’s position amid the convention raised questions about whether an authoritarian country with a troubling environmental and human rights record will host a primary climate summit.
Egypt is targeting a regional export hub for herbal fuel, and its capital, Cairo, has one of the world’s most polluted airs. Many environmental teams in Egypt are being harassed until closure, according to Egyptian rights and environmentalist teams, although they have had more leeway in the run-up to the summit.
And the environment is just one of many issues Egypt considers sensitive.
El-Sisi’s government has jailed or driven into exile thousands of alleged political parties at odds since he arrived here to force an army takeover in 2013. Among them are Egyptians who criticize the government on Facebook and well-known opposition politicians.
Advertising