The Community Service and Environmental Development Sector at the Faculty of Al-Alsun, at Ain Shams University, organized a symposium entitled "Green Transformation", under the patronage of Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of the University, Prof. Ghada Farouk, Vice President of the University for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs, Prof. Salwa Rashad, Dean of the Faculty of Al-Alsun, and the supervision of Prof. Yomna Safwat, Vice Dean of the Faculty for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs, within the framework of the Environment Week, in which Prof. Abdel-Masih Semaan, former Vice Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Studies at the University, lectured.

Prof. Yomna Safwat, Vice Dean for Community Service and Environmental Development, opened the symposium, stressing that going green means implementing certain lifestyle changes designed to help us live in a more environmentally friendly way. The Faculty students must become more environmentally aware and change their behavior and lifestyle to reduce the amount of pollution and waste they produce. She pointed out that the decision to go green is a gradual process for most people, and any action taken contributes to sustainable living and has a positive impact on the environment. Everyone can implement small changes in their current lifestyle to make a difference for the Earth and future generations.

For his part, Prof. Abdel-Masih Semaan, former Vice Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Studies, stressed that going green is an individual and global initiative. We all live on this earth, and we must take individual responsibility for making small changes that will prevent further damage and improve our planet, so that our children and grandchildren can inherit a tomorrow that is no less good than today.

He continued his speech, pointing out that the Egyptian state is working on the green transformation, pushing for comprehensive and sustainable recovery, and implementing the national strategy for climate change, which will provide an opportunity for more cooperation in order to finance green development projects, pointing to the measures taken by the Egyptian state to shift to a green economy and reduce emissions, expand the use of green financing methods, and target 50% of government investments to be directed to projects characterized by environmental sustainability and contribute to reducing emissions. On the path to transformation towards a "competitive" global center in the hydrogen industry, Egypt is moving forward in accelerating its ambitious plans in this clean energy that paves the way for the transition to a sustainable future, explaining that the Egyptian plan depends on reaching 8% of green hydrogen production worldwide.

Pointing out that the world has witnessed climate changes in recent decades that have negatively affected various development sectors in developing and developed countries alike, which has prompted the international community to adopt many projects and initiatives to reduce the phenomenon of global warming and the emissions that cause it. Among these solutions was the initiation of green corridor projects, especially in the transportation and shipping sector, given the significant carbon emissions that this sector contributes to.

Explaining that the Egyptian state is working to convert ship fuel to hydrogen-based biofuel or clean fuel, and to dispense with methanol, which causes emissions, by developing the infrastructure of ports to support the possibility of supplying ships with green fuel, and transporting green hydrogen to and from ships. Pointing out that Egypt was one of the first countries to respond to international appeals regarding measures related to reducing climate change, due to its great impact on various development sectors, and when countries turned to green corridors initiatives, Egypt encouraged these targeted measures to improve the climate and environment, and the matter was not limited to support, but it took a number of measures in this regard, perhaps the most important of which is the Suez Canal Authority signing special contracts with the global company "Maersk" to start supplying ships with green methanol along the global "Maersk" shipping line, as Egypt announced its actual success in supplying a container ship with green fuel at the East Port Said port, which represents the first steps towards the transition towards establishing green corridors.

The Suez Canal Authority has already adopted a set of measures to transform the canal into a green corridor, as it began developing 16 guidance stations along the navigation channel to operate on hybrid solar and wind energy - instead of traditional energy. The authority is also working to convert the authority’s fleet of vehicles to operate on gas instead of fossil fuels, and is seeking to reach an agreement with a global company specializing in the field of collecting and recycling solid and liquid waste from ships transiting the Suez Canal. These measures resulted in reducing carbon emissions in the canal by about 31 million tons during 2021 compared to alternative routes, and saving fuel by 10.3 million tons. The new Suez Canal also contributed to saving 53 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.

He continued his speech, pointing out the importance of spreading awareness among members of the Egyptian society to go green and ways to preserve the environment and rely on clean and renewable energy sources and how to recycle waste and preserve the nation's resources for future generations. The symposium witnessed extensive discussions with the students and answering their inquiries about ways to go green by members of the Egyptian society in cooperation with government agencies and others to reach a green society that is less dangerous to the environment.

In conclusion, Prof. Yomna Safwat, Vice Dean for Community Service and Environmental Development, honored Prof. Abdel-Masih Semaan and presented him with a certificate of appreciation for his contributions to enriching the Environment Week at the Faculty of Al-Alsun, at Ain Shams University.