The area defined as “Greater Cairo” is the largest metropolitan region in Egypt, with a total area of 3084.7 km2 and a population of 26 million (in 2023).
Being involved in the drafting of the “Integrated Climate and Air Quality Management Plan for the Reduction of Atmospheric Emissions in the Cairo Area” started last summer and funded by the World Bank, is for ARIANET and the entire SUEZ 𝐀𝐢𝐫&𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 group a great challenge, but knowing to be part of such an ambitious and necessary undertaking in light of the current environmental context is certainly very motivating for our French-Italian team that has just returned from its second mission to Cairo!
It was an intense and productive week, during which the SUEZ Air & Climate team, together with colleagues from Chemonics Egypt Consultants, engaged with numerous stakeholders, including the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA)—under the Ministry of Environment, the project’s main beneficiary—as well as representatives from various other ministries.
We also had the honor of being invited to the workshop organized by the World Bank for National Environment Day 2025, during which Egypt’s Minister of Environment, Yasmin Fouad, reiterated the country’s commitment to a just green transition, despite global challenges, thus emphasizing how environmental issues are now at the heart of national development and security.
Over the next 24 months, there will undoubtedly be a lot of work ahead, but it is truly motivating to contribute to a project that affects over 20 million people. Reducing emissions in the largest urban area of Africa means bringing together diverse expertise and applying it to a region where, despite recent improvements, pollution levels still exceed WHO-recommended concentrations by multiple times, with severe consequences for the quality of life—especially for the most vulnerable populations.