ISCF prepares to participate in COP31 with a delegation of 25 Climate Ambassadors, advance discussions with the United Nations University on the Climate Ambassadors Summer School 2027, and expand internationally accredited professional qualifications into Egyptian universities.
Exclusive Interview for Watani Newspaper
As climate change increasingly shapes international trade, investment, education, and economic development, sustainability is evolving from an environmental responsibility into a strategic priority for governments, businesses, and academic institutions.
Against this backdrop, the Institute of Sustainability and Carbon Footprint (ISCF), headquartered in Cairo, is preparing to participate in the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31), with a planned delegation of 25 Climate Ambassadors.
The Institute’s participation will focus on translating international climate commitments into practical initiatives, particularly professional capacity-building, youth climate leadership, internationally recognised competencies, and academic partnerships.
Building on ISCF’s participation in the UNFCCC Paris Committee on Capacity-building (PCCB) Network’s international session on high-quality greenhouse gas accounting in October 2026, the Institute is now seeking to advance new initiatives involving the United Nations University, Egyptian universities, and international capacity-building partners.
In this exclusive interview, Ambassador Dr. Mostafa Elsayed Sherbiny, Founder and CEO of ISCF and Chair of the ALECSO Scientific Chair for Carbon Footprint and Sustainability, discusses the Institute’s COP31 agenda, its proposed collaboration with the United Nations University, the development of 20 professional certification programmes under the Egyptian Accreditation Council (EGAC) framework, and plans to integrate selected professional programmes into Egyptian higher education.
Q1. What are the main objectives of ISCF’s participation in COP31?
Our participation in COP31 is intended to go beyond attending international negotiations and climate discussions.
We want to translate global climate commitments into practical educational and professional initiatives that produce measurable results.
ISCF is preparing to participate with a delegation of 25 Climate Ambassadors, reflecting our commitment to empowering young people and qualified professionals to contribute meaningfully to international climate action.
Our agenda focuses on three interconnected priorities: developing future climate leaders, strengthening professional recognition in sustainability and greenhouse gas management, and building partnerships between universities, international institutions, and the private sector.
We believe that the effectiveness of climate action ultimately depends on the competence of the people responsible for implementing it.
Q2. You are planning meetings with representatives of the United Nations University during COP31. What are the objectives of these discussions?
We are working to advance a proposed collaboration with the United Nations University Vice-Rectorate in Europe (UNU-ViE), particularly its Pan African Cooperation and Educational Technologies (PACET) division.
We intend to hold coordination meetings during COP31, potentially within the Blue Zone, subject to the necessary arrangements and access permissions.
These discussions are expected to involve Dr. Ambe Emmanuel Cheo, Academic Officer and Head of PACET.
The primary objective is to explore a regional initiative for climate leadership, university education, and sustainable finance capacity-building in 2027.
The proposed initiative includes two complementary projects: the Climate Ambassadors Summer School and an international ISSB sustainability disclosure training programme for banks and stock exchanges.
We also intend to explore potential financing and institutional collaboration, including discussions involving the Green Portfolio Investment Fund in Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of Eng. Amin bin Mohammed Ali.
These discussions represent an important opportunity to develop an international cooperation framework. However, all institutional roles, funding commitments, and implementation arrangements remain subject to formal approval and agreement.
Q3. What is the Climate Ambassadors Summer School, and who will benefit from it?
The Climate Ambassadors Summer School is a proposed educational and youth leadership initiative scheduled for June through August 2027.
Its first phase aims to train 1,000 university students and young professionals from 20 participating universities.
Each university would select 50 participants to establish a University Climate Ambassadors Team.
The programme would provide five days of structured training at each university, with two lectures per day, resulting in a total of 200 lectures across the participating institutions.
The curriculum will cover climate change science, the Paris Agreement, greenhouse gas accounting, carbon footprints, renewable energy, climate mitigation and adaptation, circular economy, sustainable finance, ESG, and climate leadership.
But our ambition extends beyond delivering lectures.
We want every participating university to establish a permanent Climate Ambassadors Team capable of developing campus climate action plans, organising awareness activities, and implementing practical sustainability initiatives.
Our objective is to create a sustainable network of young climate leaders who can continue contributing to climate action long after the training programme has concluded.
Q4. What role could international institutions play in implementing the Summer School?
We envisage a multi-institutional cooperation framework that combines technical expertise, academic coordination, international knowledge-sharing, and youth engagement.
ISCF would contribute technical curriculum development, qualified trainers, educational materials, assessments, and programme implementation.
The United Nations University, through UNU-ViE and PACET, could potentially contribute academic coordination, educational design, curriculum review, and programme evaluation.
We also hope to explore knowledge-sharing opportunities through the UNFCCC Paris Committee on Capacity-building Network.
Furthermore, potential cooperation with United Nations Volunteers (UNV) could support youth volunteering, community engagement, and recognition of outstanding climate leadership initiatives.
Any joint certification, institutional recognition, use of partner logos, or formal partnership would require the relevant institution’s prior authorisation.
Q5. What is the second project you intend to discuss at COP31?
The second project focuses on sustainability-related financial disclosures and climate risk competencies within the financial sector.
We propose an international online training programme for 100 financial-sector professionals across 20 countries, including representatives of banks, stock exchanges, and other financial institutions.
The programme consists of four structured modules covering IFRS S1, IFRS S2, SASB Standards, and advanced sustainability disclosure applications.
Participants would develop practical knowledge of sustainability-related financial risks and opportunities, governance, strategy, risk management, metrics, targets, and reporting quality.
This initiative is particularly important as financial institutions increasingly need to understand how climate-related risks affect financial performance, investment decisions, and long-term resilience.
ISCF is an ISSB Global Training Partner of the IFRS Foundation, and we aim to use our authorised training capabilities to support the development of sustainability disclosure expertise across participating countries.
Q6. ISCF participated in an international PCCB Network session in October 2026. How significant was that experience?
Our participation in the session titled “High-Quality Greenhouse Gas Accounting: From Skills Development to Professional Recognition” represented an important opportunity to present Egyptian expertise within an international climate capacity-building forum.
The session brought together ISCF and the Greenhouse Gas Management Institute, including Dr. Michael Gillenwater and Molly White.
During the programme, we presented ISCF’s experience in developing professional competencies in greenhouse gas measurement, reporting, verification, and sustainability assurance.
One of our central messages was that effective climate capacity-building must move beyond theoretical training.
Professionals need internationally aligned technical knowledge, practical experience, competency assessment, and credible mechanisms for demonstrating their qualifications.
Independent verification and assurance are essential to strengthening confidence in greenhouse gas emissions data and sustainability disclosures.
This is particularly relevant as governments, investors, and trading partners increasingly require climate information that is accurate, transparent, and independently verifiable.
Q7. ISCF has developed 20 professional certification programmes. What makes this achievement significant?
One of our most important institutional achievements is the development of a portfolio of 20 professional certifications and qualifications in sustainability, greenhouse gas management, carbon footprint assessment, and related technical disciplines.
ISCF operates as an accredited personnel certification body under ISO/IEC 17024, within the scope of accreditation granted by the Egyptian Accreditation Council (EGAC).
Our professional certification portfolio includes qualifications such as Greenhouse Gas Consultant and Lead Greenhouse Gas Consultant, alongside other specialised competencies.
The significance of this achievement lies in the distinction between training and professional certification.
Completing a training course does not automatically demonstrate professional competence.
Credible professional certification requires a structured assessment process, defined competency requirements, impartiality, and compliance with the applicable certification scheme.
ISCF also holds accreditation for relevant validation and verification activities under ISO/IEC 17029 and ISO 14065, within its approved scope.
These capabilities allow us to contribute to a broader professional ecosystem that connects technical education, competency assessment, and independent verification.
Q8. Are there plans to introduce these professional programmes into Egyptian universities?
Yes. We are actively exploring opportunities to integrate selected professional programmes into Egyptian higher education.
Our objective is to help bridge the gap between academic education and the technical competencies required by the labour market.
One of the proposals under discussion involves developing a Professional Master’s programme in Carbon Footprint Verification, with a focus on preparing Lead Verifiers.
We have presented a proposed cooperation framework involving Mansoura National University, the Scientific Advisory Office for Chemical Warfare Management within the Egyptian Ministry of Defence, and ISCF.
The proposed collaboration would focus on applied studies, practical training, and competency-based assessment.
We also aim to make selected professional programmes available to university students and graduates, subject to the approval of participating universities.
Academic qualifications and accredited professional certification would remain distinct, with each subject to its own requirements.
Our vision is to enable Egyptian graduates to combine academic knowledge with internationally aligned professional competencies.
Q9. How could these initiatives contribute to Egypt’s economic competitiveness?
Egypt’s economic competitiveness increasingly depends on its ability to respond to international sustainability and climate-related requirements.
For example, the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) creates a growing need for qualified specialists capable of measuring, documenting, reporting, and verifying greenhouse gas emissions associated with industrial production.
Similarly, the development of sustainability disclosure requirements creates new opportunities for accountants, auditors, engineers, financial professionals, risk managers, and sustainability specialists.
Investing in these professional capabilities is therefore not simply an educational activity.
It is an investment in industrial competitiveness, export readiness, financial transparency, and long-term economic resilience.
We want Egypt to become a regional centre for developing qualified sustainability and carbon accounting professionals who can serve national, regional, and international markets.
Q10. How does ISCF’s international presence support its mission?
ISCF’s international orientation is central to its institutional strategy.
Alongside our headquarters in Egypt, our corporate network includes entities in the United States and the United Kingdom, supporting our ambition to expand international professional cooperation.
The Institute is also an ISSB Global Training Partner of the IFRS Foundation and a signatory to the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI).
Our professional activities cover greenhouse gas verification, sustainability assurance, CBAM readiness, professional certification, and climate-related capacity-building.
We also continue to develop digital solutions designed to support emissions monitoring, reporting, verification, and sustainability disclosure.
Our objective is to connect Egyptian and Arab expertise with international standards and professional practices while creating opportunities for cross-border collaboration.
Q11. What is your message to young people, universities, and Egyptian institutions ahead of COP31?
My message is that the future of climate action will not be determined solely by the number of commitments announced at international conferences.
It will be determined by our ability to transform those commitments into measurable, verifiable, and sustainable outcomes.
We need a new generation of professionals who combine scientific knowledge, technical competence, ethical responsibility, and leadership skills.
Through the Climate Ambassadors Summer School, professional certification programmes, university partnerships, and international cooperation, we aim to contribute to developing that generation.
We hope COP31 will become a starting point for new educational and professional partnerships that deliver tangible benefits in 2027 and beyond.
For us, climate leadership means building institutions, developing people, and creating the professional capabilities needed to turn climate ambition into credible action.
