Planning a trip to Egypt? Here are tips for sustainable travel.

Planning a trip to Egypt?

With its artifacts on display across the globe and the subject of many documentaries, Egypt is one of the most “heard of” African countries to those outside of the continent.

This year, Egypt will host the global climate change conference, COP27, in Sharm el-Sheikh. Though far away from where most Egyptians live and work, Sharm el-Sheikh will likely be a gateway for visitors to experience other parts of the country and activate solutions for sustainability. This will be an important moment for climate conscious tourism in Egypt and throughout Africa.

Some of the best attributes of visiting Egypt are its welcoming, diverse and kind people, its fascinating geography with the Nile River and desert alike, and its remnants of ancient (and not so ancient) civilizations. Some of the areas for improvement in sustainability and climate action include banning plastic bags and other single use plastics (unfortunately plastic pollution is visible on the shores of the Red Sea, along the Nile, and elsewhere); decreasing meat consumption and increasing plant based consumption (Project Drawdown lists plant rich diets as a top 10 solution to solving climate change); and reducing car use by further building out public transit including more metro/subway systems. There is an Egyptian e-car company, Matgr, that serves some of the ancient sites including the Valley of the Kings.

The Egyptian government has set targets for renewables, mostly solar and wind, to make up 42% of the country’s electricity supply by 2035. This would be a big jump from the present-day status quo of renewables making up less than 3% of electricity supply.

For a sustainable #susty trip to Egypt, consider the following:

1. If you do not want to inhale second hand smoke, be sure to request a “no smoking” room and facilities. Indoor smoking is still common in Egypt and it appears previous attempts to ban the practice have not materialized in reality.
2. Budget ample room for tipping. Though the tipping practice has troublesome, racist roots in places like the United States and there is a growing anti-tipping movement for social responsibility, tipping is common and expected in the tourism industry in Egypt.
3. Ask about modern day Egyptian culture and practices. It’s easy to get swept away by the frankincense and high priestesses, yet it’s important to remember that Egypt is a country of more than 100 million people and the third largest economy by GDP in Africa (after Nigeria and South Africa). Take time to learn about a present-day Egyptian musician, for example.
4. Try the plant-based authentic Egyptian cuisine such as koshari. Also ask for other vegetarian and vegan dishes. There are quite a lot in Egypt, but many of the menus, including those that cater to tourists, are meat-heavy.
5. Ask about ways to recycle and compost. The likelihood may be small that these services are available, but one asking helps to increase the demand and public service case.

Finally, consider supporting renewable energy projects in Egypt and the African continent and firms working on decarbonization and sustainability. These include SEKEM, Renewables.org, and youthinkgreen Egypt.

Enjoy!