Minister of Environment, Yasmine Fouad, submitted her resignation from the government, as she was appointed as Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). This appointment follows a distinguished national career as Minister of Environment from 2018 until her resignation was accepted. She is now preparing to assume her new responsibilities in climate and desertification issues at the United Nations, continuing her efforts to address global environmental and climate challenges.
Earlier in July 2025, Karim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, praised Fouad’s efforts throughout her tenure as Minister of Environment. He underscored her commitment to aligning environmental priorities with industrial development—particularly the petroleum sector—achieving a delicate balance between sustainability and growth. Her efforts in fostering productive cooperation between the Ministries of Environment and Petroleum played a pivotal role in conserving natural resources and integrating climate-conscious practices into the energy landscape.
It’s worth noting that Yasmine Fouad is one of the distinguished experts in environmental diplomacy, boasting over 25 years of experience in environmental governance and global environmental files and issues. Fouad assumed the position of Minister of Environment in the Arab Republic of Egypt on June 18, 2018. Before that, she served as Assistant Minister of Environment since 2014.
Recent years have seen the implementation of numerous large-scale initiatives aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change. These projects have yielded remarkable results in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This is in conjunction with Egypt’s energy policy reform program, which began in 2014 by opening investment opportunities in financially viable mitigation efforts. This initiative has contributed to encouraging individuals, institutions, and stakeholder communities to implement energy efficiency improvement initiatives across the commercial, residential, and industrial sectors.
Meanwhile, Minister of Local Development, Manal Awad, is appointed Acting Minister of Environment. She expressed her pride in the trust placed in her by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. She stated that she will exert her utmost effort to implement the directives and vision of the political leadership in advancing environmental and climate work at all levels.
