EGYPT SECOND NATIONAL COMMUNICATION AND ITS ROLE IN ADDRESSING THE CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUE IN EGYPT

Abstract All developed and developing countries are committed to prepare a national communication report to be submitted to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to address Climate Change issue in the country. Egypt prepared its Initial National Communication and submitted it in 1999 and its Second National Communication (SNC), submitting it in June 2010 which identifies the enhancement of general awareness and knowledge on Climate Change-related issues in Egypt, and helps taking them into account in the process of National planning and policy. Climate change could have serious implications on Egypt. Sea-level rise (0.6 meter in 2100) could impact the Nile Delta, and the people living in the delta and other coastal areas. In addition, there will also be a high degree of uncertainty regarding the flow of the Nile. Egypt will likely experience an increase in water stress, with a projected decline in precipitation and a projected population of between 115 million and 179 million by 2050. This will increase water stress in all sectors. Moreover, temperature rise will likely reduce the productivity of major crops and increase their water requirements, thereby, directly decreasing crop water-use efficiency according to findings of Fourth Assessment Report of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued in 2007. The second activity of Egypt's SNC was devoted to report on GHG Inventory (CO2, CH4, N2O, PFCs, SF6, and HFCs). Extent studies on data and emissions estimation for the transportation, the industry, energy, agriculture, waste sectors have been implemented. SNC highlighted the polices and measures taken to mitigate climate change, the measures adopted to enhance adaptive capacity of Egypt towards climate change. The cross-cutting issues such as capacity building, education, public awareness, technology transfer and research& systematic observation have been discussed also due to its importance to address both climate change mitigation and adaptation issues in Egypt.