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| Environment Committee
Cleaner
production technologies Environment Committee chairman Fikri Abdel Shafie
and co-chairman Sami Gabr welcomed Ahmed Hamza, professor of environmental
engineering at Alexandria University and senior adviser to the Ministry
of State for Environmental Affairs, on December 24 to speak about
“cleaner production technologies.” The discussion focused on new
concepts and trends, the need for life-cycle assessment in Egyptian
industry and initiatives for cleaner production in new industrial
centers. Hamza defined “sustainable development” as “meeting
the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs.” He said this could be done
by any of the following means:
The ministry, he said, encourages environmentally
friendly practices through a wide variety of measures, including
technical assistance to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), financial
assistance to ailing public enterprises for pollution control and
assistance to SMEs for dealing with hazardous waste. He also discussed
the effectiveness of laws and regulations in promoting environmentally
friendly methods. The question and answer session focused on ways
to promote environmentally friendly processes and improve coordination
between the ministry and various industries. Hamza also addressed
questions about unleaded gasoline and natural-gas usage, bio-engineered
food, the infamous black cloud and solid-waste management in Egypt. International funds available for environmental projects The Environment and International Donor Programs committees held a joint meeting on October 30 to discuss "international funds available for environmental projects." Ann Radwan, executive director of the Binational Fulbright Commission and chair of AmCham’s International Donor Programs Committee spoke along with Hassan M. Hussein, CEO of The International Investment Advisor (TIIA) and co-chair of the International Donor Programs Committee. Both speakers were asked to help explain and highlight the available funds in international donor programs earmarked for environment-related projects. The meeting highlighted major sources of international funds, such as the World Bank, USAID, European Investment Bank and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Discussion focused on the mechanism for offering funds, with panelists noting the lack of defined procedures for administering funds. It was proposed to produce a position paper on possible mechanisms. Any suggestions in this regard should be sent to both committees. The Human Resources Committee held a meeting on October 28 at the Conrad Hotel with Ibrahim Hegazy, associate professor of marketing and director of the Institute of Management Development, who talked about "barriers to sustainable human-resources development and market competitiveness in Egypt." Corporate barriers exist where there is no separation between management and ownership, Hegazy said. Then there are language barriers. English is not Egypt’s first language, and global competition is more difficult when the population does not speak the global language. Basic flaws in the education system, improper attitudes by managers towards employees and inadequate training schemes constitute further barriers. A final barrier is financial. The slowdown in the Egyptian economy and reductions in funding by international donors have led to cuts in the funds for human-resources development. Hegazy urged the government to monitor the economy more closely and identify specific human-resources problems. Corporations, meanwhile, need to adopt a global mindset in order to appreciate the value of employees. Capacity building, training and retaining staff are keys to successful human-resources development. The role of business in sustainable development "Environmental preservation has been thwarted by human actions," said Dr. Mostafa Tolba, former executive director, United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). Dr. Tolba was the featured speaker at AmCham’s Environment Committee on February 25, where he discussed "The Role of Business in Sustainable Development." Dr. Tolba said that many developed nations in the early 1970s began to take a more active interest in preserving the environment. However, even today, many lesser-developed countries neglect the environment and concentrate on industrialization. In 1984, the UN International Conference on Population in Mexico City focused its agenda on sustainable development. Dr. Tolba defined sustainable development as "meeting the needs of the present generation without harming the future of the coming one." The components of sustainable development are economic growth, social development and environment. "These three components are known as three legs of a table; without one, the table will fall apart." According to him, businesses need to adopt cleaner production methods to meet these goals. Towards this end, a treaty was signed in Montreal in 1987, which gave developing countries a 10-year grace period to adjust and produce materials less hazardous to the environment. Management of Information Systems for Hazardous Substances: The Egyptian Case The Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) has been developing its info tech resources to deal with environmental threats. "One of the EEAA's achievements has been the implementation of the Egyptian Hazardous Substances Information and Management System [EHSIMS]," said Dr. Moussa Ibrahim , head of the EEAA's Central Department of Information and Computer Center, at a January 28 meeting at the AmCham building. The meeting, a joint gathering of the Evironment Committee and the Information Technology Committee, focused on "Management of Information Systems for Hazardous Substances: The Egyptian Case." Dr. Ibrahim stressed that as the 21st century unfolds, attitudes towards the environment must change, and laws for its protection must be enforced. Egypt's Law 4 of 1994 for the Environment stipulates - among many widely ranging environmental articles -- the safe transportation of hazardous substances. The EHSIMS computer system aims to help monitor all locally and imported hazardous materials as stipulated by Article 25 of the law. "It is remarkable that the EHSIMS was completed 10 months ahead of schedule," Dr. Ibrahim said. The system now operates in six ministries, as well as in the customs and civil defense authorities, and will expand to other agencies as needs arise. Intended to protect the environment and human health from negligent handling of hazardous substances, EHSIMS will help in efforts to secure a sustainable course of development for the benefit of generations. Ultimately, EHSIMS is intended to track hazardous substances from source to final use. In the near future, the EEAA will also help develop a system to aid in the handling of hazardous-material accidents and help with their prevention. |
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