By Faridat Salifu
Hurghada, a coastal town in Egypt, is set to become a must-visit destination in the coming years after undergoing an ecological transformation.
This initiative, which costs a whooping $3 million, is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
It was gathered that Egypt is undergoing significant development with projects like the new capital Al-Masa and enhancements to rail and commercial infrastructure across the governorates.
Alongside these economic growth endeavors, the country is also focusing on environmentally-friendly initiatives, including the development of green cities.
The Egyptian government is said to be actively working on creating more green spaces, transitioning to electric vehicles, increasing waste recycling facilities, and expanding the use of solar panels in targeted cities.
Recently, Sharm el-Sheikh benefitted from these sustainability measures during the 27th Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP27) it hosted in November 2022.
The neighboring peninsula of Hurghada on the Red Sea is now the next city in line for this ecological transformation.
The project, spearheaded by the Egyptian Ministry of the Environment and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), with financial support from the GEF, focuses on investments to protect biodiversity threatened by activities like scuba diving, boat trips, and safaris, popular among the town’s 87,000 residents and foreign visitors.
Part of the funding, reports say, will be used to restore degraded marine ecosystems and construct low CO2 emission buildings using climate-friendly technologies.
The GEF stands as one of Egypt’s key partners in nature-based development projects, driving sustainable growth and environmental conservation in the region.