Sisi urges international support for African initiatives on renewable energy

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has pressed for international support for a renewable energy initiative and another on coping with climate change in Africa.

The two initiatives were launched in a meeting of African heads of state and government on the sidelines of the 70th session of the UN General Assembly in New York earlier this year.

Sisi made the remarks in a meeting Tuesday with Environment Minister Khaled Fahmy, who posted him on preparations for Egypt's participation in a UN conference on climate change, which will be held in Paris, France, on November 30 through December 11.

Fahmy reviewed Egypt's preparations for the conference as the head of a committee of African heads of state and government concerned with climate change, as well as the conference of African environment ministers, said presidential spokesman Alaa Youssef.

The minister also tackled Egypt's efforts to reach a binding and objective agreement on climate change, taking into consideration rights of all parties, Youssef said.

Egypt is seeking an agreement that would also recognize a joint responsibility and determine the different tasks of developed and developing countries to alleviate the effects of climate change, he added.

Fahmy made it clear that Africa remains the continent that contributed the least to greenhouse gas emissions and the worst harmed by climate change.

Sisi, for his part, stressed the importance of highlighting Africa's concerns and rights during the conference in Paris.

Africa should be offered financial and technical assistance to help it transfer to a green economy and achieve sustainable development, Sisi said.

Africa needs help to narrow a financial gap it will be facing until 2020 in order to cope with climate change, he added.