Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Metini, President of Ain Shams University, inaugurated the activities of the international webinar, the Regional Action Initiative on Climate Change (RACC), which will continue until Monday, 5 September, in cooperation with the International Committee for the Development of Dry Lands (IDDC) and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA). ), in the presence of Prof. Dr. Ayman Saleh, Vice President for Postgraduate Studies and Research, and Prof. Dr. Ghada Farouk, Acting Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development, and Prof. Dr. Adel El-Beltagy, former Minister of Agriculture, Prof. Dr. Ayman Abu Hadid, former Minister of Agriculture, Emeritus Professor at the Graduate Institute of Arid Regions, Prof. Dr. Ismail Serageldin, former deputy director of the World Bank, and former director and founder of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Dr. Mahmoud Sakr, President of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT), Prof. Dr. Osama Al-Behairi, Dean of the Institute of Graduate Studies and Agricultural Research in Arid Regions, a. Dr.. Syed Khalifa, head of the Agricultural Syndicate and Secretary-General of the Union of African Agriculturalists, Prof. Dr. Ali Abu Al-Sabaa, Director General of the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry

He participated in the activities of the international webinar, which aims to discuss the impact of climate change on various agro-environmental areas, especially dry areas, and their effects on food and the global economy. Parties to the United Nations Climate Change Convention COP27.

In his opening speech, Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Metini, President of Ain Shams University, said, "The world is going through a difficult period resulting from the heavy consequences of the phenomenon of climate change, which will be reflected on the future of humanity, where 2.5 billion citizens live in dry areas, including Arab countries. The increase in temperature will lead to the migration of citizens to other areas less affected, resulting in It is an economic and political imbalance in the whole world, and it is known that the rise in temperature will affect food production in the world and increase rates of undernutrition, which interferes with the health of citizens, and their ability to confront epidemics such as Covid-19 and others.

He added, "We are now on the cusp of the 27COP International Climate Change Forum, so we have a responsibility as educational and research institutions to participate in contributing to the vision of regionalization that concerns developing countries, especially in Africa and the arid regions of the world."

He referred to the efforts of Ain Shams University in this regard, which included increasing green spaces inside the university, irrigation using treated wastewater, introducing waste recycling techniques, and relying on renewable and alternative energy such as solar and wind energy, as part of the important initiative for green transformation.

The activities of this international webinar come with the participation of 75 graduate students representing the African Elite Youth League from different African countries, six of them - representing different African regions - giving presentations with numbers and statistics to reflect the impact of climate change in their regions.

The activities of the first day included the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the International Committee for the Development of Dry Lands and the Institute of Graduate Studies and Agricultural Research in Arid Zones at Ain Shams University, and another memorandum of understanding between the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas and the Institute of Graduate Studies and Agricultural Research in Arid Zones.

The international webinar events are sponsored and participated by: Ain Shams University, Regional Action Initiative on Climate Change (RACC) emanating from the Science and Technology for Society (STS) platform, Kyoto, Japan, International Dryland Development Community (IDDC), International Research Center Agriculture in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT), Cairo, Egypt, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Rome, Italy.

In addition to the participation of a number of supporting institutions, namely: Global Peace Initiative for Women (GPIW), USA, National Agricultural and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Japan, Nizami Kanjavi International Center (NGIC), Agricultural Science Advancement Fund (TAAS), New Delhi, India University of Arizona, Tucson, USA, Arid Land Research Center, ALRC/Tottori University, Japan, International Center for Maize and Wheat Improvement (CIMMYT), Regional Office for South Asia, Kathmandu, Nepal, New Mexico State University, USA, CAR National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management, Paramati, Maharashtra, India, Agricultural Research Corporation, Khartoum, Sudan, ICAR, National Academy of Agricultural Research Administration, Hyderabad, India, Agricultural Research Authority, Sudan, Humanitarian Building Corporation, Egypt.