Egypt to measure carbon footprint from Grand Egyptian Museum opening ceremony

CAIRO – 11 September 2025: In preparation for the official inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) on November 1, Egypt’s Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of Environment, Manal Awad, met with GEM CEO Ahmed Ghoneim to discuss the museum’s environmental impact. The meeting focused on evaluating carbon emissions generated during the museum’s operational phases and developing a future report on emissions expected from the upcoming opening ceremony.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Environment, Minister Awad emphasized the significance of the GEM as one of Egypt’s most important national projects, particularly after receiving, on September 3, 2025, an internationally certified report measuring the museum’s carbon emissions for 2024. The report was issued following approval by the Environmental Verification and Attestation Unit at the General Authority for Export and Import Control (GOEIC), in collaboration with the Egyptian National Accreditation Council (EGAC). This recognition marks the GEM as the first Egyptian museum to obtain such an eco-friendly certification.

Awad highlighted that this milestone demonstrates GEM’s commitment to international environmental standards and underscores Egypt’s dedication to integrating sustainability into its most prominent cultural and historical landmarks.

She further noted that this initiative comes as part of a broader plan to reduce the museum’s carbon footprint through improved energy efficiency, better resource management, and the adoption of environmentally friendly practices.

A comprehensive carbon footprint assessment was carried out for the museum’s trial operation phases in 2023 and 2024. The report revealed that approximately 16,069 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent were emitted during this period. These figures were verified by accredited bodies under GOEIC and EGAC.

The minister also stated that the Ministry of Environment is working closely with the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to achieve carbon neutrality for the museum during the trial phase. Additionally, coordination is underway with museum management to prepare two key reports: one on emissions from the official opening ceremony, and another covering the museum’s operational carbon footprint through 2025.

For his part, GEM CEO Ahmed Ghoneim stressed the importance of continued cooperation with the Ministry of Environment. He reiterated that the Grand Egyptian Museum is the first in Egypt to receive an eco-friendly certification and affirmed the museum’s commitment to aligning with Egypt’s 2030 Vision for Sustainable Development by maintaining environmental standards.

 Al-Shaimaa Eid, head of the Occupational Safety and Health Authority and Head of the Museum’s Workplace Environment Security Department, was in attendance and outlined the museum’s efforts to implement sustainable practices. These include the use of smart and green transportation methods, such as the metro and electric vehicles, as well as water conservation initiatives and the installation of solar cells to reduce electricity consumption.