A defining moment is a particular point in a leader’s life that determines the course of their career and focus on environmental policies, ultimately leading them to become a climate leader. In a way, it is a turning point that influences their view about the climate and the approach that should be taken to tackle climate issues.
As a result, this report considers Fouad’s defining moment to be her participation at the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia Expert Group Meeting on the Harmonization of Environmental Standards, organised jointly by the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, and the Egyptian Electricity Authority, held in Cairo from 29 June to 1 July 1999.
During the conference participants discussed the integration and exchange of climate policies to tackle global environmental challenges, as well as the challenges that Egypt was facing at the moment, in particular those related to the power sector, such as atmospheric emissions, air pollution, solid waste management, solid hazardous waste management or health and safety of population. These challenges were later connected to her contributions to climate policies, like the Waste Management Law (WML). The conference gave the chance to the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency to present the climatic milestones that they had achieved since its establishment in 1982, as well as its progress since Law No.4 of 1994 on the Environment, where they set their mandate.
Further, while the conference was taking place, Egypt was drafting its National Environmental Action Plan, a moment that Fouad felt the urge to become part of. In fact, after the conference, she changed from being a participant and volunteer to being part of the ministry herself, becoming Assistant Minister of Environment for Sustainable Development in 2014. Years later, in 2018, she would be named Minister of Environment for the Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly’s government. She held this position until 2025, when she was appointed Executive Secretary of the UNCCD.
Previously, Fouad had already been engaged with the United Nations, specifically with the United Nations Development Programme as project manager of the National Capacity Self-Assessment and capacity building. Notably, according to the interview with the UNCCD, Yasmine Fouad explains that her professional aspirations regarding the environment are deeply shaped by her faith, as she sees nature as God’s creation. Therefore, after the conference, driven by her faith, she was determined to work towards this goal.
IE x RAIA Summer Research Programme:
This article is an excerpt from a report on Yasmine Fouad produced as part of a RAIA research programme on climate leaders. For a full picture of Fouad’s climate leadership, including the sources, read the full report. This project was fully financed by IE University’s School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs and School of Science and Technology.
Authors: Lucía Sobrado Louzao, Alicia Hidalgo Gonzalez & Daniela Bermudez Bolivar
Editor: Francia Morales
Project Lead: Dario Hasenstab
