Egypt should go green by putting a price on carbon

By Deborah Lehr, as featured on Middle East Institute

It is time for Egypt to put a price on carbon. While Cairo has taken small steps toward developing a sustainability plan, it needs a bold idea to stop rising carbon emissions. Establishing a carbon exchange — or putting a price on carbon — would be good for the country and help make Egypt an environmental leader in the region.

As one of the most populous nations in the Middle East and Africa, Egypt is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Rising waters on the coast or Nile delta threaten the food security of millions. Egypt’s economy is largely dependent on tourism, which is impacted by weather — whether at the archaeological sites or its beaches. The cost of Cairo’s air pollution alone exceeds 1% of GDP, and there are significant costs to the health care system stemming from rising carbon emissions from power, transportation, and manufacturing.