A Roundtable Discusses Turning Climate Change into a Societal Responsibility at the Cairo International Book Fair

18 February 2026

As part of the 57th edition of the Cairo International Book Fair, the Specialized Seminars Hall hosted a roundtable on Tuesday titled: “Climate Change: From Environmental Challenges to a Shared Societal Responsibility,” with the participation of a number of experts, specialists, and representatives of civil society organizations.

The roundtable discussed the shift in addressing climate change from being viewed solely as an environmental crisis to becoming a collective responsibility that requires the integration of roles among the state, civil society, and the private sector, as well as activating governance tools, legislation, and green financing mechanisms.

Participants included Dr. Fadl Hashem, Executive Director of the Climate Change Center at the Ministry of Agriculture; Dr. Mohamed Mamdouh, Head of the NGO Development Sector at Misr El Kheir Foundation; and researcher Hamada Qaoud, Senior Researcher for Sustainable Development at the National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development. The session was moderated by Youssef Arouj, President of the Mediterranean Youth Foundation, and was attended by several officials from Misr El Kheir Foundation, members of NGOs and development institutions, and specialists in climate and agricultural affairs.

For his part, Dr. Fadl Hashem explained that the Ministry of Agriculture is working to confront climate change through a package of programs and projects aimed at protecting agricultural resources, supporting farmers, and promoting climate-smart agriculture systems. He stressed the importance of integrating scientific research with practical implementation to address the accelerating challenges posed by climate change.

In the same context, Dr. Mohamed Mamdouh emphasized the need to launch flexible programs capable of harnessing young people’s energies and engaging them in training and awareness initiatives related to climate change issues. He affirmed that building societal awareness is one of the most important tools in confronting the crisis, alongside strengthening the role of NGOs as effective development partners in implementing climate policies on the ground.